Solomon Watkins is a graduating senior majoring in Political Science while also being extremely active around UT Martin. He is involved in many organizations along with being a familiar face that you may see walking across the quad.
Watkins began his college career in 2018 as a computer science major. He went very far in his degree plan but would realize that he was no longer passionate about the career field he had chosen. This would lead to a degree flip for him, landing him majoring in graphic design. He would only stick in this area for a little while, but he still was not able to find that same passion he came into college with. This resulted in his final major change, putting him in political science, where he would stay and finish out his college career. Watkins said, “If I realized how many research papers I had to do, [I] probably would have reconsidered. But, ultimately, I am glad I changed majors. It led me down a path of great mentors and peers to look towards and make me strive for greatness.”
Watkins stuck with UT Martin throughout this entire process, because he saw many great aspects of the school. Watkins said, ”Honestly, I liked the size of it. So, the teacher to student ratio was important to me. I wanted to feel like I just wasn’t in a big class and they were trying to get me out. I wanted that personal connection. UT Martin was a great choice, one of my best decisions for that reason. I also really just liked the look of the campus, especially in the spring, when all the flowers start to bloom and trees start to bud. It’s just a beautiful campus.”
During Watkins’ time at UT Martin, he created and joined organizations from all different areas of campus life. He grew up participating in Scouts BSA, formally known as Boy Scouts of America, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout, which instilled ideas of leadership in him from a very young age. He would continue to show this leadership in all his efforts in college life. Watkins said, “The first organization I joined was Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi). We are the oldest business and commerce fraternity in the world. I bring in the new interns to the organization. The second organization that I joined was Alpha Phi Omega (APO). We are a community service organization. I joined that one because I really loved community service.” Watkins is also an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., following in the legacy of his father, who is also a member.
Watkins also joined Men of Excellence (MOX), and he would later become the president. He states his goal as president is to create a safe environment for men coming to college and also give them mentors to help lead them in the right direction.
Watkins gave insight into the shift from being at home with his parents to stepping into adulthood. Watkins said, “I had to learn how to do things by myself, learn how to make those connections, learn how to get out and go talk to people, and learn how to get up out of my bed by myself, to go to school every day, and make sure that I don’t skip just because I feel like it. Honestly, the UTM experience has molded me into the adult I am now.”
Watkins finished off by talking about what is next for him after he leaves UT Martin. Watkins said, ”So far as of right now, I just kind of want to go straight into the work field, probably [going to] get a job somewhere. My mother is running for the US Senate right now, so I’ll probably be here as interim campaign manager and chauffeur almost until the elections. But after August, I want to get back into what I wanted to learn, which was computer science, like security data and computer security or computer data.”
Watkins wanted to give a word of advice to students, ”The one thing I would say to the readers is: communication is key. If you can communicate, it will solve 98% of your problems. Whether it’s you communicating to your teacher that you’re not doing so well in the class and seeing how they can help you, or seeing how you communicate with your friends when you all are having a falling out, sometimes just communicating when you don’t feel like you are in the right mind. You need to have that person that you can go and talk to. Because, if you don’t have that person, regardless if you’re in college, or if you’re just out there in the real world. If you don’t have that person or persons to talk to, then life is just a little bit more tough.”
