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| Connor Tracy |
By Connor Tracy, Class of 2016
I have spent much time reflecting on my personal growth as my first semester as a freshman in the McConnell Scholars Program at the University of Louisville nears its end. The McConnell Program has been the key facilitator of these changes in my life, providing me with an atmosphere of intellectual stimulation and prompting me to challenge the accepted ways of the world. Along with my reflections, I have begun to look forward to the future. Looking ahead, I know that my generation will play a pivotal role in the path that this country and this world will take.
I have spent much time reflecting on my personal growth as my first semester as a freshman in the McConnell Scholars Program at the University of Louisville nears its end. The McConnell Program has been the key facilitator of these changes in my life, providing me with an atmosphere of intellectual stimulation and prompting me to challenge the accepted ways of the world. Along with my reflections, I have begun to look forward to the future. Looking ahead, I know that my generation will play a pivotal role in the path that this country and this world will take.
My generation faces many issues that must be resolved in order for us to have a positive impact on our future. We have evolved into a culture that faces constant distractions and limited personal interactions. The amount of time spent using social media, cell phones, and other forms of technology has grown to a level to which it can be considered as our main means of communications. The days of handwritten notes, letters, and in-person meetings have been slowly replaced. I fear that this will have a significant impact on our social skills. Instead of focusing on social, personal, and societal issues, we as a culture seem more interested in investing our time in popular culture and trashy reality television shows, including, for instance, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.
Likewise, sometimes we accept what we are told as to be true, without contesting the information or the credibility of the source. I have learned through many McConnell Seminars, as well as several courses, that if we only rely on an ontological evaluation of something, we become ignorant of how the world works and can be easily taken advantage of. We must force ourselves to take an epistemological approach, and actually have the confidence to stand up for our findings. In order for this generation to have an impact, we must be able to stand behind what we believe in. We must overcome the fragmentation of society, have confidence and persistence, and most importantly, return to valuing the personal connections that have fueled change throughout the history of this great nation.
I fervently believe that there is hope for my generation and the future of this country. The McConnell Program not only has opened my eyes to many issues, but has exposed me to what it truly means to challenge my thoughts and the thoughts of others. I believe that this program will continue my growth as an individual, and ultimately will provide me with the skills with which to make a major impact on the future. I am honored and blessed to be a part of this program, and look forward to what the next four years have to come.
Connor Tracy, of Graves County, Ky., is a freshman McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville. He is studying political science.