Before I transferred to UT Martin, I had no idea that this would be where I find my passion and blossom into the woman I am today. I had always been a shy kid who did her work and stayed to herself. And even though I had been working hard academically, I wasn’t completely aware of what I was working towards.
One year, I wanted to be an interior designer and the next, a biomedical engineer. I thought I got somewhere with software engineering but ultimately decided against majoring in computer science altogether. The cycle repeated, and I carried this sense of uncertainty with me until I got here. When I got here, suddenly everything became clear.
Words cannot describe how grateful I am to all of my Mass Media and Strategic Communication professors for not only teaching me everything I know, but for also helping me carry out my newfound purpose. I couldn’t have chosen a better program or people to surround myself with. Shout out to my group of girlfriends and my very own William Dent!
My first experience feeling genuinely close to my major was the moment I sat down at the big conference table in the Reading Room with Ms. Tomi and the rest of The Pacer staff. I didn’t know most of the people in the room at the time, but the vibrant energy and warmth I felt from them is what eventually made them family to me. Thanks to the Organization Fair, I found home among some of the smartest, most passionate individuals.
The Pacer has instilled in me a multitude of rules that I will hold myself to for the rest of my life. When given the opportunity to do something new, I found that it is more beneficial to search for value rather than focusing on how daunting the task ahead would be. I’ve learned to stop underestimating myself and decided to step out of my own way.
My two experiences at the Southeast Journalism Conference have restored my confidence in my design work and what I know about media tremendously, and I appreciate Ms. Tomi and my friend Sarah Cornwell for pushing me. On top of this, I feel blessed to have had the chance to be The Pacer’s executive editor this semester, and I’d like to thank many members of the staff for their support as I wrap up my time here. I couldn’t have done any of this without my team.
I’d also like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Tracy Rutledge, my professor and advisor, who’s been an enormous help in getting me to this point. She’s made the planning process of entering a new major to graduating this fall fairly simple. I’ve learned so much in her media design courses, and I can’t wait to utilize the tools that she and my other professors have given me over the past two years.
I like to believe that my inner child is smiling at me. I can’t say that my younger self saw any of this coming, but I think she’d be proud of how I navigated my time here. I chose a path that satisfies her thirst for creativity. Oddly enough, it took me years to realize that all of the fun things I did as a child were actually mini-media design projects. I’m relieved that I can finally put a name to it.
As this era comes to an end, I can’t help but reflect on all of the memories I’ve made here at UT Martin. College has been such an enlightening experience, and I’d say every peak and valley was worth it. Parting is bittersweet, but I’m optimistic about God’s plan for my future. Thank you all. Until we meet again.
