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Hello, my name is Brian Randolph Freiberger and I come from a one blinking light village called Onsted, Michigan, approximately 60 miles southeast from Olivet, located in Lenawee County.
Where I grew up I was blessed with many experiences from being a cowboy at Stagecoach Stop U.S.A., cooling off in the countless lakes, eating the best barbeque, listening to good country music, and working away my summers at the fastest track in Nascar, Michigan International Speedway.
In my free time, I enjoy eating Ramen noodles, watching “The Office,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Trailer Park Boys,” and, well, anything that makes me laugh.
Most of my time is spent in the basement of the Kirk-Center or what I like to call the Dungeon. I’ve spent countless hours down there, thanks to my favorite beverage Red Bull, and eating a slice of pizza with a side cup of nacho cheese from late night.
This is my first year being editor of the Echo. I am a sophomore. Throughout my freshman year, I served as a staff reporter writing sports, features, news, and just about anything else I could get my hands on. I take over the editor’s position from the legendary Mitch Galloway who graduated this past spring (2016). Galloway is now a reporter for the Ludington Daily News.
I first got serious about journalism as a senior in high school. I remember sitting in my first journalism class with my high school teacher, Gretchen Rynearson, and immediately fell in love with the process. Before this class, I was a lost senior not knowing what I wanted to do with my life.
In high school I didn’t have the best grade point average and an average ACT score, so not many schools were throwing themselves at me. Almost every single day I changed what I wanted to do with my life, from going into the military, community college, or just leaving it all and going to school somewhere down south.
Then, during my senior basketball season, my coach Brad Maska told me about this school called Olivet. I’d never heard of this school, and after looking into it more I decided to take a visit. In late January, my grandfather and I decided to make the hour-long trip in the middle of a snowstorm just to see what Olivet was all about. I fell in love with the old-school feel immediately, and it didn’t take me more than a week or two to decide that Olivet is the place I wanted to further my education, earn a degree, and live my dream of playing college football, which I do as a strong safety with the Comets.
Looking back on the decision now, I can honestly say I have no regrets, because Olivet wanted me when nobody else did.
During my freshman year I kept on getting asked this question: “why would you want to go to a school so small in the middle of nowhere after you came from the middle of nowhere?” The answer was pretty simple: I have the opportunity to better myself I’m not just another face in the crowd, I have a voice here, and I appreciate that more than anything. Sure, Olivet isn’t the most exciting place at times, but the people I’ve met here have made this the best decision ever. I can’t thank the people in my life enough for always being there for me and pushing me to be my best.
I hope I make you proud mom, I love you!
The Echo is published every other Friday during the school year. It is also available online at www.ocecho.com. Submissions are always welcome: ocecho@olivetcollege.edu.