Name: Bryan Hoynacke
College/Major: Honors Tutorial College – Philosophy College of Arts and Sciences – Anthropology
Why did you pick Ohio University?
My decision to go to Ohio University is an interesting one. It’s interesting because I only applied to one public school, and OU was that school. Of course, my decision was partially impacted by the outstanding scholarship that OU gave me, but other schools that I applied to also gave me good scholarship offers. It all came down to a visit day for me. And on this visit day I realized a few things. I realized that OU has some nice college essentials: a beautiful campus, state of the art academic and athletic facilities, and a plethora of student organizations. The most important thing I found out, however, was how much of a community this town is.
When I was a senior in high school I decided that I wanted to go to a smaller, private, liberal arts college. I thought that this would be the only way to actually get to know my professors and fellow students. I had heard from friends and family that some large public schools treat you more like a number and less like a person, and I did not want that to happen. Well, guess what? Ohio University may be a large public school, but it doesn’t feel like one. Ohio University is the tight knit community that I was looking for.
There may be 16,000 other undergraduates at our college, but it doesn’t feel like it. People at OU care for their school and they care for each other. This is what makes college a home away from home, and Ohio University is definitely that.
What is the best part about living in Athens?
Living in Athens is fantastic. This town offers such a diversity of activities for its students and residents to participate in that you could never get to them all. In my opinion, it is a microcosm of the real world. If you are looking for fast food, bars, a movie theater, concerts, or shopping then you will want to head uptown to Court Street or drive five minutes to State Street. If you want to go hiking, rock-climbing, or camping then the local nature trails and parks will be perfect for you. If you are looking for competitive sports to watch or play, then go watch our D1 athletics at the Convocation Center or Peden Stadium, or head to the Ping Recreational Center to get a workout in. You will meet a tremendously unique group of people while you try out the things that Athens has to offer, and you will no doubt be amazed at how diverse this town in the middle of Appalachia actually is. I have experienced so much over the last two years, but I think I have probably only begun to scratch the surface of Athens potential.
Where is your favorite spot on campus?
My favorite place to go on Ohio University’s campus is something that we call “The Ridges”. When it opened in 1874, it was named the “Athens Lunatic Asylum”, and up until its closing in 1993 it housed and treated mentally insane as well as mentally handicapped patients. Ohio University now owns all of the health center’s land, and has turned it into a nature preserve, the Kennedy Museum of Art, the School of Art graduate studios, a biotechnology research center, an auditorium, and a few other university projects.
I love the feeling that you get when visiting the Ridges. It exudes history, and is absolutely beautiful in the fall and springtime. I guess you could call me an amateur photographer, and I do not exaggerate when I say that “The Ridges” is a place that landscape and still life photographers dream of being able to photograph. Plus!! It is probably one of the main reasons that Athens is considered to be one of the most haunted places in the world. And that’s just cool.
What has been your favorite class at OU and why?
My favorite class at OU thus far has been Visual Communications 221. This class was an introduction to photography through the use of a digital single-lens-reflex camera. This is the first photography class that I have ever taken in my life, and it was an amazing experience. I always thought that it would be fun to take a photography class, and I am very glad that I made room in my busy college schedule for it. It changed the way that I look at the world, and it certainly has given me a new respect for commercial photographers and photojournalists everywhere.
What advice would you give to a first year student?
I think that all first year students should know and understand that it is ok to not know what you want to do with your life when you get to school. You don’t need a major right away, and even if you think that you know what you want to do, just remember that, on average, college students change their major two and half times. Therefore, students should not be afraid to step outside their comfort zone and take a class that they think they really might enjoy, but that is not directly related to their major. I’m a philosophy and anthropology major, but, as I said in the above question, I made time to take that photography class that I never took in high school, and since then I have even taken two more photography classes. Students need to remember that THEY are paying for their college experience, and that this is not high school, so take classes that YOU want to and study something that YOU are going to love.
People are always telling me that the years you spend as an undergrad are some of the best of your life. I don’t know if that is necessarily true, but just in case it is, then all of us college kids need to make sure that we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves, both academically and socially, while we’re here.
