A Student Perspective

Hannah Herman's experience with academics and debate

When Hannah Herman visited King’s for the first time at an Inviso visit weekend in 2008, she immediately fell in love with the College. Since being at King’s, however, she’s seen her perspective on the College change as she learns more about the academic mission of the College.

As a native New Yorker, Hannah wasn’t particularly impressed with Manhattan’s skyscrapers or the continual hustle and bustle. It was the mission and vision of the College that grabbed her attention. And since coming to King’s, she has learned a lot about what the King’s vision means in practice. When asked what defines the King’s educational experience, Hannah said,

“I came to King’s in the fall of 2009 as a doe-eyed freshman who didn’t really know what to expect. The school, with its big ideas and scrappy underdog attitude, enchanted me, but I wasn’t sure what exactly it meant in terms of my education. Four years later, I’ve realized it means this: King’s is hard. Big ideas are hard. Getting good grades here is hard. As a freshman, I expected it to be easy. But if wrestling with big ideas were easy, those ideas wouldn’t matter much.”

Now a junior in the House of Susan B. Anthony, Hannah is an avid writer and editor who enjoys discussing ideas in and outside of class. It is this proclivity for discussing “big ideas” that made Hannah the perfect fit for debate at King’s.

Hannah’s time at King’s is often dominated by her involvement in The King’s Debate Society. “There’s something energizing about hearing people your own age, from different countries and universities, speak so passionately about big ideas,” Hannah said. “Every tournament inspires me to go home and investigate the ideas that shape my world.” Hannah was recently awarded tenth best speaker at the British Parliamentary Debate Season Opener tournament in Binghamton, NY.

Even as an accomplished debater, King’s can be an intimidating academic environment. “It’s hard when you’re constantly surrounded by brilliant students who have killer internships, great friends, and phenomenal GPAs.” Still, she admits, that’s probably a good quality for a College education to have.

The King’s College educates students in the ideas upon which nations rise and fall. With a focused curriculum in the liberal arts tradition, students are prepared to help shape, and eventually to lead, the institutions of government, civil society, media, law, business, education, the arts, and the church. King’s is a Christian college located in New York City.

For more information about The King's College please contact: Matthias Clock
Communications Coordinator
212.659.3602