My time at UT Martin is coming to an end, and though I am excited for what lies ahead, I can’t help but feel bittersweet.
My experience at UT Martin has not been quite what I had expected. I had never dreamed of finishing my sophomore year online, and having solely online classes for the following two semesters. Although there have been difficulties that came along with COVID-19, it helped me learn a lot about who I am as a person.
I have always been an introvert, and I struggled initially after coming to UT Martin. The semesters spent online taught me that I function best in my own setting, and many things I had previously thought had to be done in an in-person group setting could be accomplished from the comfort of the space I had created for myself.
While my experience at UT Martin has been wonderful, from being involved with wonderful groups of people to insightful lectures from professors, there was still a fair share of hardship. I could have given up many times, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to.
I began at UT Martin as a Communications major with a Public Relations sequence. I realized in that first semester that that wasn’t going to get me where I wanted to be, so I transferred to Social Work. I remained a Social Work major until the fall following the outbreak of COVID-19, when I transferred to Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in behavioral and social sciences. My mental health was beginning to suffer, and I needed to get done as quickly as possible.
I am so thankful to have had the support from friends and professors during those times. My time at UT Martin would not be what it was without them.
I met the person who would become my best friend at SOAR the summer of 2018. Madison, you were a trooper and suffered through a summer of dry text messages but still gave me a chance once the fall semester of our freshman year started. I am so grateful for the chance to have gotten to know you. You are an incredibly strong woman and I look forward to seeing where your life and career take you. Thank you so much for being there for me throughout it all.
That same summer I had the pleasure if meeting the woman who would become one of my favorite people. Ms. Tomi was my very first advisor at UT Martin, and she strongly encouraged me to take her Intro to Media Writing class that fall. I am so glad I did because I rediscovered my love for writing. She must have thought I had a knack for it, as she asked me to join the Pacer staff.
I began working for the Pacer in January of 2019 and immediately fell in love with it. I found a passion for editing, and was very fond of the layout process as well.
Ms. Tomi, you have been so wonderful in the time I’ve known you. I have so much more I want to say to you, but I’ll save that for another time. Thank you for taking the chance on me that fall and giving me the opportunity for one of the best experiences in my life.
I would also like to thank Lindsay Anderson, associate professor of Sociology. I met Dr. Anderson in my second semester at UT Martin in General Sociology. It was because of her I discovered my love for social sciences. Her passion for sociology is inspiring. I have enjoyed every class I’ve had with her. Dr. Anderson, I don’t know if you realize how much of an inspiration you were to me to truly find my passion and do what I needed to remain physically able to do so. Thank you for working with me this semester, and for simply and unapologetically being you.
Finally, I would like to thank the Pacer staff. I have enjoyed these last three years with each and every one of you. Some of you I have gotten to know better than others, but I am so grateful to have known each of you. Thank you for making long layout nights pass by quickly with all the laughter and deep conversation. I hope you all continue to love Pacer as much as I have, and I wish you well in the rest of your college career. For those graduating with me, I wish you all the best.
