Recollections of College Senior, Hopes for a Growing Adult

Joel Thomas
Class of 2015

It seems like I was in China just the other day—it’s difficult to believe that I’ve already started my “last-first semester" of college, and even harder to believe that I’m no longer a Freshman! Nonetheless, the start to my senior year has been nothing short of fantastic. A full, course load, an exciting internship, and tons of applications all make for, what I think will be, a memorable year. My advice to those just starting to college—cherish every moment and seek to better yourself whenever possible.

As I settle into the groove of school, I’m doing my best to balance the time I have left here with my obsession with planning for the future. Between applying for a Fulbright grant, the Peace Corps, Graduate school, additional internships, and even jobs, I’m king every effort to enjoy and invest in the friends and faculty members who care about me most. Occasionally it’s difficult, but ultimately I know that it is a top priority for myself—no one wants to look back on the end of their undergraduate experience with regret. By the same token, no one wants to reach the end of their undergraduate career without an idea of what will come next. And so, I’m doing my best to balance both.

When friends or family ask me about my experience at UofL, inevitably all of my top memories come to mind. And when I think about these memories, I realize they all trace to three main organizations: the McConnell Center, my fraternity (Sigma Chi), and Student Orientation Staff (SOS). What’s even greater is when experiences and friends from these organizations overlap. If it weren’t for the friends and experiences I’ve made, as a result of involvement in these organizations, I would not be the same person I am today. I am sure I will never realize just how impactful they have been on my personal growth, my education, and my  career ambitions. It is with utter thankfulness, that I continue to step forward into the culminating year of a defining time in my life. Here’s to fond memories made, and those to come.

Joel Ben Thomas is a senior McConnell Scholar from Cadiz, Ky. He is studying political science and anthropology.