1. A Declaration of Love to Bethany
Bethany is simple, and simplicity forces us to focus on what is truly important. I wanted
to attend a college where people are known, not for the sports team they are on, not for an award
they once won, not for their grades and not for their style, but a place where people are known
for the merit of their heart. Perhaps, if college is to teach us one lesson, it is that human
relationships are the most crucial part of life. Good grades, internships, and strong resumes are
merely signals that- over the course of life- we have continually bettered ourselves. Strong
human relationships, however, are signals that we are capable of making lives around us better.
Remember what Teddy Roosevelt said; “People don’t care how much you know until they know
how much you care.”
When I found Bethany, I found a home that would never ask me to “stop.” I sing out
loud, I talk to everyone, I dance when there is no music on, and I walk on the curbs of sidewalks.
I am quirky, some say I am weird, but Bethany allows me to show myself as someone who cares
deeply about others, someone who stands up for what is right, and someone who works hard,
even in the face of adversity, never losing composure and never losing heart.
At Bethany, the same people are seen day to day. Bethanians who are involved know
most of the student body, staff, and faculty by first name. First impressions are said to be the
most important, but at Bethany there will be second, third, and fourth impressions, and they are
equally important. Every interaction is an opportunity to make or break someone’s day.
Therefore, above academics, above achievements, above activities and the many wonderful
possibilities that can capture time, we learn the most important part of daily life is to
INTENTIONALLY love. That is it. Make a conscience effort to care, and with practice, it may
just become second nature.

2. Seldom do people remember specific words, but they always remember the way you
made them feel. Bethany makes people feel important. Bethany makes people feel welcomed.
Bethany makes people feel capable of achieving the unachievable. Alumni can attest as they
joyfully and abundantly give back to the college and continue Bethany’s Tradition of Excellence.
The roots of Bethany are in Campbell’s church where people are united, not divided, and
where academics are not merely midterm grades and final exams but rather the development of
thought and an increased ability to problem solve and cooperate with people of all backgrounds.
Bethany College- built statuesque on this mountain- cultivates an environment where people
accept and support each other. The 1,300 acres of greenery somehow sparks loyalty and love of
country, or in this case, love of college.
The question still remains, “Why did I choose Bethany?” The first time I visited Bethany
College it was fall. The leaves were colored gold and red, and I felt immediate peace. I could
imagine myself walking on curbs of sidewalks, greeting everyone, and singing unabashed on my
way to class. I could imagine myself asking questions and seeking answers without ever being
silenced. In short, I could imagine myself being me.
Bethany has no gimmicks; it has no hidden agendas or tricks up its sleeve. It never
pressures people. Bethany is a support system. Bethany is accepting, and while at Bethany, you
can rest assured, no matter what, you belong. Is there any environment more suitable for
education than that? Imagine a place where worries of approval dissolve and simplicity allows
you to hunger for education. Imagine a place where simplicity allows you to focus on loving
others. If any place so great exists, Bethany is such a place.

3. Needless to say, I love Bethany. I always knew I belonged on this mountain. As the
most amazing personalities and opportunities have found me on this hilltop, I have been
encouraged to chase dreams I never knew I had. Lessons of life, literature, and love have taught
me to stand strong and confident in my own skin. As a result, Bethany has changed me, and I
have been changed for the better. Strangely, circumstances have it that I never chose Bethany.
From the beginning, it has always been that Bethany chose me.
Senior, Allison Snyder
International Economics Major
November 13, 2014