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Travel down memory lane with me as I talk about my favorite memories and traditions from the past four years
Today, I walked to the last class I will ever attend as an undergraduate student.
For me, college was never something I thought would impact me and change me into the person I am today. Here in Tennessee, I learned so much and grew to be a person I can confidently say I am proud of.
There are so many moments from your time at Tennessee that you will always remember. I am going to discuss some of my favorite memories from each year I spent at Tennessee, and I encourage you all to attend and truly enjoy these events.
Starting from freshman year, I will never forget the first night in the dorms, meeting all of my neighbors and becoming close with my roommate. One thing my freshman year roommate and idea look back and laugh about often was the amount of stress we experienced putting together our first day of class of class outfits and making sure we knew where every class was going to be. While not everyone has the perfect relationship with their roommate, the time in the dorms is when we learn a lot about ourselves and others.
I was able to attend Torch Night in Neyland Stadium with all of my new friends, and that night continued to make more. I met my three best friends that night, which blossomed into four years of friendship and fun. Going to university-sanctioned events in your freshman year is an amazing way to meet new friends who are going through the same adjustments as you.
When it comes to tradition here at the university, it is something we take very seriously. As I have already spoken of Torch Night, it is important to remember what that torch means throughout your four years, as well as graduation.
Being a torch bearer is so special to Tennessee. In your first Torch Night freshman year, you are committing to embody the true spirit of a volunteer, and that is something you are to remember during your time.
Yet as seniors, we get Torch Night as well, Torch Night: A Farewell to Thee. During this time, we get to repledge our loyalty to the university and what it means to become a Vol for Life. During this time, we get to look back and share these moments with the same people we shared them with four short years ago.
Another common tradition for students would be to go paint the rock. Whether you are painting it as a happy birthday or bringing awareness to a cause, painting the rock is something a lot of students take part in. While I have yet to take part in this tradition, I will before I graduate in a few short weeks with some of my best friends.
A well-known legend throughout the student body here is that we all know to never step on the seal. Most schools have their superstitions, and ours, of course, is our seal on PED next to Hodges. As the rumor goes, if you step on it, you will not graduate from the University of Tennessee. Now I can not tell you whether or not that is true, but I can say I was awfully scared to step on it for the first time during my senior pictures.
Another sillier, unsanctioned event that a lot of students take part in is reconvening with your friends and jumping in the HSS plaza, normally for pictures and to celebrate all your achievements. For my friends and me, this was paired with a trip to the torch bearer and to roast some marshmallows over the torch, which means so much to us, to enjoy a treat and recap all our memories here.
When deciding to attend UT, I was looking for somewhere that cultivates a family-like atmosphere and a type of big campus that makes it feel small. There are so many options for clubs, intramurals and types of organizations where you can meet others, which are so beneficial to your college career. Creating a sense of community is very important when you are somewhere new.
While being a part of Greek Life was a large part of my college experience so was playing club soccer or cornhole with my friends. Getting involved is one of the greatest ways to find new friends with similar interests. True to the cliches, Tennessee is what you make of it, and the people who make the place.
As I talked to other seniors about our four years here, one memory seemed to stand above the rest - that night we beat Alabama in 2022. For the first time in sixteen years, Tennessee was finally victorious against Alabama. At the moment of that final field goal where the ball sailed through the uprights, the field was flooded with students and fans who truly love this school and program.
While it seemed chaotic, what stood out most was the unity, teamwork and fellowship in Neyland that night. Students helped each other over the walls, making sure no one got hurt, and continued to celebrate alongside complete strangers. There were tears of joy, shared cigars and an overwhelming sense of unity. In that moment, Tennessee truly felt like home.
To experience this once was unforgettable, but being able to experience it twice during our four years really is something that we will never forget. Storming the field one more time as seniors, this time with the same friend we celebrated with before, is a feeling that words can hardly capture.
As our four years came to an end, it isn’t always these big moments and events that made Tennessee feel like home, but smaller moments too.
Whether that be a walk to class in great weather and stopping to talk to a friend, or the joy of a cancelled class so we can all go play in the snow, just like we are little again. Any moment, big or small, can be the one you always remember.
For myself and many others, it feels surreal that it is over, and honestly, I experience a little bit of jealousy watching tours on campus, seeing these high school students about to embark and some very memorable four years.
These four years are everything, an experience that you remember for a lifetime. Many people see it as just school, but it is a building block to the rest of your life. Enjoy it while you're in it, and don’t take being a volunteer for granted.
