Laughing At Yourself
By: Danae Sollie
Give us a little of your background at Hillsdale. What was unique about your experience?
My mom drove me to my classes in the family minivan for two weeks during my sophomore year. She cruised our honda odyssey right up to the doors of Strosacker so I could crutch my way to class. That felt pretty unique. I had just returned for the last three weeks of class after reconstruction surgery from a blown-out knee. Throughout my five years at Hillsdale, three of the years were spent concussed/recovering from head trauma, and just under a year was spent in a knee brace. By god’s grace, I still managed to graduate with a degree in biology. I was involved in intervarsity, outdoor adventures, RAed for Benzing and New dorm, and worked as a barista at Rough Draft.
You’ve had a few very serious accidents in your life. What was your reaction to them? How did they shape your attitude toward life?
My initial reaction was to laugh. After slipping down an incline and falling off a ledge while hiking in remote Alaska, I sang “stayin alive” as my head wound was cleaned and field dressed. The Wilderness EMT cleaning my cuts, and the leader of the program, told me later it was at that moment she worried I might have a brain injury. (Because what sane person sings the BeeGees while bleeding from the head?) It was my faith in Christ that kept fear at bay and allowed for laughter in suffering. As I was taken to the Juneau ER, I was not afraid because I knew no matter the outcome, my soul rested secure with Christ. Death simply meant I would be with Jesus in the splendor of heaven. Life, no matter what it looked like, no matter the extent of the brain injury, would be lived each day with Christ. This conviction has remained with me, challenging me each and every day to live this life for Christ.
How did you keep a positive attitude while dealing with a lot of injuries during college?
I can’t take much credit for staying positive and laughing through pain. A lot of it had to do with the friends who supported and loved me; most importantly, my best friend Jesus. When I blew out my knee, my house mom, Sue Postle, came to the hospital and danced for me and the nurses while we waited for X-ray results. That kept me laughing. But through my accidents, I also had moments of weeping and crying out to God. It was in one of these nights that I was reminded of 1 Peter 1 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while… you have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith… may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Two things are true for a Christian in suffering. It is being done for your good. God is building up your faith and your character. Second; God is being glorified. I felt an unmistakable dignity realizing that the trials I was going through could glorify God. I have seen him at work through my pain and I wouldn’t change any of it.
You were still able to have a lot of fun in college. What advice would you give to a college student about balancing academics and fun?
Work hard. Play harder. Post graduation I am thankful for all of the long hours I spent in the library reading things I thought far beyond my ability and slogging through the intricate world of microbiology. The hard work of Hillsdale has helped shape me into the person I am today. Being able to put the books down and fully engage in friendships and spontaneous adventures formed my character just as much. It was in the fun that I developed friendships that shaped my character. Shoving a friend into a tree out of terror during the annual zombie run, trekking up to saga for a “chicken snack”, and walking down half-moon lake road picking wildflowers, these are the seemingly insignificant moments that forged friendships. Those friendships have demonstrated to me the kind of woman I hope to become. Someone who is as devoted to God’s word as my roommate was, who loves and cares for others as much as my dearest friend.
Danae Sollie is a 2021 graduate with a degree in biology. After graduation, she moved to Bellevue, WA to teach middle and upper school science at a Classical Christian School.
