27 Aug 2017 Trading swimsuits for notebooks

by Brenda McClain

What does “Back to School” mean to you?  For Art on the Green, we anxiously await word what days Hendrix College sophomore Sara Hoopchuk will be free to work. Sara has worked with the gallery since high school, spearheads our digital archives and more.

We asked Sara to tell us, in her own words what it means to return to school and what she would like to say about returning to school and incoming freshmen. Her response:

“As summer begins to wind down and autumn approaches, that means one thing for kids and young adults alike; back to school. For most, that signals the time to trade in swimsuits for first day outfits, picnics for packed lunches, and floaties for pencils and notebooks. 

“For the college student, it means a time of uprooting and renewal. While it gets more routine to pack your whole life into boxes with each passing summer, the ritual never loses the excitement; after all, there are new people, new classes, a new social calendar and a world of new opportunities.

“However, it’s a little more intimidating for an incoming freshman. Though I’m now a rising sophomore, the terror I felt last August when I stepped onto the iconic bricks of the Hendrix campus was deafening. The first year of college is not just renewal; it’s reinvention. We are told from the moment we step into kindergarten to plan for college, get good grades and participate in extra-curricular activities, all for the sole purpose of getting into your dream school with your future already set; yet no one ever quite tells you what to expect when you’ve accomplished that goal.

“That’s probably the reason taking those first steps into freshman year can be so simultaneously terrifying and exciting. While we are expected to have our future itinerated by the time we start our first semester, in reality, back to school is the time to discover what we want our future to be. Each new semester presents another chance to create oneself, to find new passions, talents and friendships, and make a home, as I did at Hendrix.

“The picture of Martin Hall by alum Tim Jacob shows one of the biggest symbols of our campus traditions, but it also shows a place where friendships that last a lifetime are made. That’s what college is about, for me and so many other students; making connections that help you grow as a person.

“So for the students returning to school as freshmen once again, don’t worry. The new school year means new opportunities, ones that, while scary, are also exciting and ultimately will help you grow into a stronger person. And for those of you coming to Hendrix in the fall, well, maybe I’ll see you in Martin Hall.”