For Kati Baldwin, a sophomore from Conway, Ark., coming to Ouachita wasn’t exactly at the top of her “to do” list. Both her parents are Ouachita alumni, but Kati is a very independent person. “I just don’t want to follow the crowd all the time,” Baldwin emphatically stated. This statement has become her motto, and it certainly affected her while trying to decide on the right school.
Although Kati was convinced she would attend a large public university, a one-time visit to Ouachita’s campus was all it took to change her mind.
“Something just hit me when I stepped on to the campus,” said Baldwin. “I knew it was the right place for me.” With the combination of the friendliness she felt here and the unique “bubble” environment, Baldwin suddenly decided that Ouachita was where she would attend.
In addition to enrolling at Ouachita, Baldwin also followed in her mother’s footsteps of becoming a member of the EEE women’s social club. Because her mom was in this club, Baldwin wasn’t interested in joining, until she attended rush where, “[I] realized that it really is a diverse group. Not everyone fits the stereotype.”
Senior English major Laura Cox, also a member of the EEE’s, added to Baldwin’s view of the social club. “There are all types of girls in the club. We have athletes, members of Student Council, and art majors. It’s definitely a wide variety of girls.”
Since becoming an EEE, Baldwin has remained close friends with other girls who chose to join different social clubs. “I guess I’m not easily swayed by others,” said Baldwin, proving that you can be your own person here at OBU.
“I don’t think you can cookie-cut a Ouachita student as easily as people think you can. People use stereotyped because it’s easy. I don’t think its fair to stereotype a Ouachita student without knowing them as an individual.”
No matter how Ouachita students are viewed by others, there is a very real sense of diversity on campus, and people like Kati Baldwin have proving that you can and should be your own person no matter where you are.
