Hannah Cochran
Name: Hannah Cochran
Hometown: West Linn, Oregon
Year at Westmont: Freshman
Major: Political Science
Email: admsstu@westmont.edu
Hobbies/Interests: Playing the flute and piccolo in orchestra, enjoying the Santa Barbara sunshine, watching movies or playing games with friends, reading, going to the beach or State Street (downtown Santa Barbara), taking naps
About Westmont: When I began my college search, I knew I wanted to attend a college that had a strong Christian foundation and equally strong academics. A great location, strong community, easily accessible professors, a liberal arts focus, and good financial aid were also items on my college wish list. I didn’t have to sacrifice a single aspect of my college wish list by choosing Westmont College. I decided to attend Westmont after attending the Monroe Scholars competition, and thus far, Westmont has met all of my expectations.
Bio: I grew up in West Linn, Oregon, a suburb of Portland, Oregon. My family includes my parents, my younger sister, Brie, and my younger brother, Sam. One of my biggest, life-defining experiences was going on a mission trip to Maracaibo, Venezuela, when I was in middle school. In high school, I was active in the symphonic band, jazz band, and orchestra, and also on the mock trial team. Now, I’m a political science major, and hope to attend law school. But mostly, I am just waiting to see where God takes me next in life – He’s been good to me so far!
Random Fact: I have three cats all named after books of the Bible – Micah, Joshua, and Ruth.
Blogs
Hannah’s Third Blog
April 2, 2008
I recently celebrated my first birthday away from home, and consequently, my first Westmont birthday. As a first year student, living apart from family can be both exciting and daunting. I was fearful that my birthday might not measure up without my family to celebrate it with me. However, while my birthday felt different from years past, it was just as memorable.
Though I was tempted to sleep in, I went to my morning classes. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of students who remembered my birthday and stopped to give me a hug. At chapel, a group of friends even sang “Happy Birthday” to me. After class, I got a call that I had a gift waiting for me in the administration building. I went to pick it up, and discovered a huge bunch of balloons with a card from my parents. (Note: Westmont has a service for family and friends to reserve balloons for their Westmont student to celebrate a special events.)
After lunch, the first clue of a scavenger hunt was waiting for me in my dorm room. This hunt, which incorporated all of my favorite things, took me up and down the hills of campus and led me to a thoughtful gift from my boyfriend. I felt so special. But it didn’t end there…
That evening, my friends (and my dad) treated me to a delicious dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. Another round of “Happy Birthday,” a hilarious but sweet gift from my suite-mates, and a hot fudge sundae made the night complete. We were so full that we decided to save the chocolate cake (with polka dot sprinkles – another one of my favorite things!) that my suite-mates made me for the next day.
So while the transition to college involves a (sometimes) difficult transition from home, it also involves meeting a “second family” of friends who will make you feel special and loved. Honestly, the dorm-life community has been one of my favorite aspects of being at Westmont. The people you meet at Westmont will be a huge blessing. They will get to know you at your best and worst, encouraging you in your faith, distracting you from homework, and making you feel special on your birthday.
Hannah's Second Blog
March 17, 2008
The sun is shining, our second round of exams is complete, and it is time for spring break! This year, Westmont decided to combine spring break with Easter break, so we get eleven days off – March 14th through the 24th. By this time of the semester, I am ready for a break. I am also really excited to see my cats… (and my family too!) But before I go home, I am going on tour with the orchestra and chapel band.
The orchestra tour alternates every year between local, regional, and international. This year, the choir is going on tour to Costa Rica and Guatemala in May, so we get to do the local tour over spring break. Our tour stops include San Luis Obispo, Salinas, Roseville, and Chowchilla, with free time in Carmel and Sacramento. Due to the fact that next year is our international tour to Austria and Hungary, these stops sound a little less than thrilling. However, as an Oregonian, I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge of California geography. (Right now, I can pretty much only locate Santa Barbara and Los Angeles on the map!)
Since I’m a first year student, this will be my first tour, so I don’t know exactly what to expect. I’m sure playing five concerts in the course of four days will be a fun challenge. What I am most excited about, though, is getting to know members of the orchestra better. Spending time on the bus – singing, talking, napping, joking – always seems to deepen friendships.
After the tour finishes up on Monday night, I head home to Portland, Oregon. (For any parents reading this blog, Westmont makes being an out-of-state student very easy. They have both a shuttle and Dial-a-Ride service that provide rides to and from the airport.) While I dearly love the people in Oregon, the weather is going to be a sad contrast to Santa Barbara. Try comparing warm, sunny-but-slightly-breezy days on the beach to days dodging the relentless rainfall! My mom’s most excellent cooking is sure to make up for it! (She already asked me to make a requested list of meals and desserts.)
Overall, spring break will give me a chance to relax and recharge before I return to my busy lifestyle at Westmont. April has a lot to offer – including Spring Sing, Parent’s Weekend, the Inaugural Gala (an elegant dinner and dance to inaugurate Dr. Gayle Beebe as Westmont’s eighth president), Redemption History (a multifaceted senior production on church history), the Fringe Festival, another orchestra concert, a couple term papers, and final exams. I suppose being busy isn’t such a bad thing after all…
Hannah's First Blog
February 27, 2008
If you are interested in music, Westmont is a great place to pursue that interest. I’ve played the flute since middle school, and did not want to give it up during college. At the same time, I wasn’t interested in a professional music career or being a music major. I love music as art; it’s a chance to engage my creativity and praise my Creator.
As I entered my freshman year last fall, I decided to audition for Westmont’s Chamber Orchestra. I was so nervous during my auditions, but it went well, and I was asked to be one of two flutists in the orchestra.
The Westmont Chamber Orchestra is full of wonderful people, of all backgrounds, majors, and interests. The conductor, Dr. Shasberger, is phenomenal. His energy and love for God, music, and students is so evident. I have rehearsal twice a week, and that time proves to be a great break from the rest of my day. Thus far, we’ve played a wide range of repertoire, including Beethoven’s First Symphony, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, and a beautiful arrangement of Great is Thy Faithfulness, by J. A. C. Redford (who has written scores for dozens of feature films, including “One Night with the King”). We just finished a concert with music by English composers a couple weeks ago, and we’ve also had several opportunities to play hymns and worship music in chapel.
The orchestra also has plenty of opportunities for small ensembles, including string quartets, a wind quintet and octet, and a brass ensemble. Also, the Westmont flute professor, Laura Roth, organized a flute choir this year, including eight flutists. Right now, we are working on Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee, which has proven to be quite the challenge!
Another aspect of the music department is the weekly colloquium. All music students are encouraged to attend, and anyone is welcome. Basically, it’s an easygoing venue for Westmont musicians to play the solo and ensemble repertoire they’ve been working on throughout the year. Our flute choir is going to play a few pieces this semester, and I played a Mozart piece with harp and cello last semester. It’s a fun sampling of all that’s going on in the Westmont music department!
So, if you are a musician of any kind, I’m sure there’s a place for you at Westmont. I strongly encourage you to audition for an ensemble or sign up for lessons with one of the professors. It’s sure to be a nice break from your academic load, and a wonderful opportunity to use the gifts God has given you!