Meet your RDs

By Kristin Troyer – Horizon Editor-in-Chief

Name: Marissa Hochstetler

Hometown: Shickley, Nebraska

Education: Hesston College; Goshen College, Goshen, Ind. Communications major and graphic design minor

Apartment: I live in the apartment right off the Lark’s Nest; at the bottom of the ramp.

What were you like as a Hesston College Student? Have you changed since then?

When I came into Hesston as a freshman, I was a little uptight and always worrying about getting my homework done. Don’t get me wrong, homework is important, but relationships are important as well. Since the start of my freshman year, I would like to believe I’ve learned to be a lot more spontaneous and get much more enjoyment out of “going with the flow” than I used to.

What is your favorite memory from being a student at Hesston?

One of my favorite memories from my time at Hesston was sleeping in Stutzley. One night, a group of about 20 of us “rented” Stutzley for the evening and built a fort out of the couches and carpet rugs. We made sure the TV was inside the fort, watched some episodes of Friends and eventually got in a couple hours of sleep.

What made you want to come back to Hesston?

I wanted to come back to Hesston because of the community here. Even though the community has changed since I was a student, I have maintained relationships with the community by coming to visit and working on campus on multiple occasions. Because of those experiences, Hesston has since been a place I consider “home” for me. When I learned of an opportunity to serve in the RD role and return to Hesston, I couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather do.

What are your hopes for your time as RD?

Hesston was an extremely formative experience for me because of the way I was challenged by faculty, staff and other students to go out of my comfort zone and learn what I am capable of. I hope that during my time as an RD, I hope that through my interactions with students, I can encourage them in a similar way so they leave Hesston feeling empowered and confident in their abilities.

What was/is your favorite meal in the cafeteria?

I know it’s almost a cliché, but I still have to say chicken patty sandwiches.

Name: Michael Oyer

Hometown: Hesston, Kansas

Education: Hesston College; University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan; Goshen College, Goshen, Ind. Degree in Elementary Education from Goshen

Apartment: I live next to the bookstore at the top of the ramp.

What were you like as a Hesston College student? Have you changed since then?

While I was a student at Hesston College I would describe myself as someone who was timid and shy. I enjoyed being around people but rarely sought them out. I loved spending every evening in the library, it was my study and social space. Since being back at Hesston there are times where I run into people and I could see them thinking, “What? You are an RD??” My personality while at Hesston may not have been one that would have pointed toward me becoming an RD one day, but I feel I have changed quite a bit. In my three years away from Hesston I became a much more extroverted person. I also became more confident in who I am and what I am about. I no longer feel near as timid and shy. I’ve gone from feeling introverted in many ways to being very extroverted. I love spending almost every minute of the day with people. They give me energy and I feel as though relationships are a huge part of what makes life so great.

What made you want to come back to Hesston College?         

I wanted to come back to Hesston College because Hesston is a unique place in the way it welcomes and takes care of students. I wanted to come back and reconnect with the Hesston College community that has been so great to me throughout my life. I wanted to be a part of that for other students and I hope to be a part of the nurturing and caring attitude that makes Hesston so special. In the four weeks I have been back I have already witnessed how deeply everyone on this campus cares about meeting students’ needs, while not being afraid to step out of their normal “role” (teaching/maintenance/administration/student development etc.) and be a respectful human being in whatever way seems most useful.

What are your hopes for your time as RD?

I hope to build relationships with students and staff while nurturing and guiding students so that they too may experience the unique blessing that the Hesston College community can be. I also hope to be a good listener and learner because I believe I can learn a lot and that my role as an RD is not simply to oversee students in the dorms but also live and learn among them and from them.

What can students expect to find you doing in your free time?

I enjoy doing anything outside, playing tennis or table tennis, baking, and constantly checking the weather! Can’t wait for that first snowfall!