A regular student with an extraordinary responsibility

By: Dylan Souhrada

  If someone were asked to describe a college student, they might accurately describe Ohio University senior, Aaron Hite, at least in appearance. At first glance Hite seems like your average college student. He wears a ball cap, T-shirt and jeans any time he can and describes himself as a redneck. He works hard during the week and likes to go out on the weekend, but he bears a responsibility most students won’t need to handle for many more years, a child.  

What was childhood like

  Hite spent his entire childhood living in Mount Vernon, Ohio, a small city about an hour north of Columbus. He spent most of his time with his Dad who gained custody after his parents were divorced when he was only one year old. He went to East Elementary School, before attending Mount Vernon Middle School and High School. He would spend every other weekend with his mother, with whom he still has a rocky relationship with.

What’s going on today

  Hite is 22 years old and is in his fourth year studying engineering technology and management at Ohio University. During breaks from school, he returns to Mount Vernon to work for the city, doing odd jobs. “When I graduate, I don’t really know what I want to do as far as a job, Hite said. “But I want to get custody of my son.”

Aaron at the bar with his cousin and aunt during mom's weekend 

  Hite has a one year old son named Jackson who he had with a high school girlfriend. “It’s weird because the same thing happened with my parents. They had me when they were in college at OU,” Hite said.

What to do for fun

Aaron watching the Cleveland Indians

“When I was younger I really liked riding my bike and after I was old enough to drive I got really into cars, though,” Hite said. “My first car was a bright green 1978 Dodge Aspen that I fixed up.”

Hite was also an athlete for most of his life, playing baseball, football, and basketball. “I played a lot of sports when I was younger, but I eventually just stuck to baseball in high school,” Hite said. “I played catcher from the time I was five years old, all the way through high school.”

Aaron hanging out on the couch with his dog

  Hite also enjoys fishing, hunting, working on cars when he’s home and going out and drinking with his friends on the weekends. The highlight of his time now though, is getting to spend time with his son.