When transfer sophomore Michael Aavang discovered transfer freshman Frank Beranek was assigned to be his roommate, he excitedly sent Beranek an email. After a few days with no response, he sent another email.
Aavang continued to send emails without receiving an answer. When he arrived on the first day of classes in the spring semester, Beranek was not in the room.
At the transfer student orientation, Aavang began talking to a man who had served in the military before applying to Hillsdale — as did Aavang. The two had a lot in common and got along well. After a few minutes, Aavang realized that he had finally stumbled upon his roommate.
“I logged into my Hillsdale email account the first day and I had a ton of emails,” Beranek said. “I didn’t think to check it before.”
Aavang, a Marine, has forgiven Beranek, a member of the Army Reserve, for the oversight and the two have enjoyed making the transition from military to civilian life together.
Aavang decided to join the Marine Corps after his freshman year at the University of Madison. He said that he thought college was boring and he wanted to do something that was more fun.
He joined the Marines specifically because his father was in the Air Force.
“I had to one up him,” he added with a chuckle.
Aavang began his training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Calif. For the next five years he was stationed in Iraq, Indonesia, Korea, the Philippines, and Japan.
While serving in Okinawa, Japan, Aavang met a chaplain who he said, “saved his soul.” After the chaplain mentored him for a year, he suggested that Aavang think about attending Hillsdale College after leaving the Marines.
“He told me that Hillsdale would be the perfect fit for me,” Aavang said.
Beranek joined the Army Reserve when he graduated high school in 2005. He spent most of his time in Michigan and then was stationed in Afghanistan for a little over a year. There, he worked south of Kabul in support of operations.
Beranek said his decision to come to Hillsdale was “a little bit of nepotism.” He is the nephew of Ted Miller, director of lab resources. He came to visit the campus in late August of 2012.
“I came here and fell in love,” Beranek said.
Beranek currently serves in the Michigan active reserves. He frequently visits Selfridge Air National Guard Base, located in Harrison Township, Mich., to keep up his training.
Aavang is considering studying political economy. Politics is “academically too soft,” but he does not want to limit his studies to just economics, Aavang said. He has enjoyed his classes to the point that he said, “it almost just feels like I’m having fun.”
After attending a public university, Aavang is constantly surprised by Hillsdale’s religious atmosphere. In the middle of his Great Books II lecture on Erasmus, Aavang asked if the author was referencing Paul. The professor excitedly said ‘yes’ and pulled out a Bible to read the relevant passage.
“I was shocked,” Aavang said. “I was just like, ‘There’s a Bible here!’”
Beranek is considering a major in biochemistry with the hope of attending either a graduate or professional school. He also commented that the amount of homework Hillsdale professors give can be overwhelming at times.
The two men live in Simpson Hall. Although they hope to move off campus next year, they have enjoyed the experience.
“We’ve seen worse,” Aavang said.
Junior Garrett Holt, their resident assistant, met Aavang and Beranek during Student Activities Board’s Winterfest.
“They are adjusting really well,” he said. “They really enjoy being with the guys whenever they’re in the dorm.”
Both men are happy that they waited to attend college. Despite the delay, both said that students have been kind and welcoming to them.
“I’ve never seen so many pea coats,” Aavang added.
