As a transfer student and a college kid running back to their hometown, I didn’t feel like any less of a failure. My childhood dreams and ideas of living in a big city for undergraduate classes and becoming a veterinarian were gone.
However, one thing remained true in both my time in Knoxville and Martin. My love to write.
When I realized that UTM had a campus newspaper, I jumped at the opportunity to email Ms. Tomi, and I soon became a staff writer. Over the summer, I was promoted to the News Editor position and soon both News and Features Editor. I have now been a student at UTM and on The Pacer staff for two and a half years, and my only regret is not transferring sooner.
Throughout changing my major to natural resources management, working for The Pacer, and becoming more involved on campus, I slowly found myself, my goals and my future career.
However, I didn’t make it this far without quite a few people.
To all of the wonderful Pacer staff, thank you. I have seen this organization grow so much since my first semester here, and it is filled entirely with passionate people who work so very hard. A few specific thank you’s to Ms. Tomi, who was always there to support me, even when I wanted to give up, so thank you for taking a chance on me. Thank you to Sarah Cornwell for always answering my questions and being a shoulder to lean on, and thank you to Marques Rice for always checking in on me and being there through it all.
To my advisor, Dr. Pelren, thank you for pushing me to do my best and become involved within the major. I would not have had half as many opportunities without you or the courage to do all of the events, conferences and presentations that came my way. To Dr. Grubaugh, thank you for all that you do. Your genuine concern and love of your students shines through, and your classes would always make my day.
To all of the friends that soon turned to family that college has brought me, as well as, my parents and siblings, thank you. Thank you for motivating me, loving me and staying with me through my fears and changes.
To all reading this, it is okay to fail, it is okay to be confused, to change as long as you always get up and try again. For my parting words from Walt Whitman, “Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know. Perhaps it is everywhere – on water and land.”
