Senior Reflections

Sam Whittaker
Class of 2015

Roughly one month ago, I completed my last retreat as a McConnell Scholar at Carter Caves State Park near Ashland, Kentucky. In the time that has elapsed since, I have also completed my last Fall Fraternity Rush and begun my last fall semester at the University of Louisville. It was not until very recently that I came to terms with the fact that the twilight of my undergraduate career at U of L and the McConnell Center is now upon me. Over the past several years, I have written serious blog posts on topics such as the use of drones, the two party system, and the potential minimum wage increase. I decided that, as this is my last hurrah at the University, it would be appropriate to hearken back to my lighter blog posts of Freshman year and write a short blog on my personal experience as a McConnell Scholar and U of L student. In this capacity, I would also like to offer a bit of personal advice to students within the McConnell Program and the University at large.

Before I even arrived on campus, I heard a piece of advice that is commonly imparted to incoming freshmen: Get involved. Join organizations on campus, meet new and diverse sets of friends, and find a community that suits your goals and interests. It may seem like a cliché after a certain point, but no cliché rings truer in my opinion. Over the years, I have been blessed to serve as President of my Fraternity, an SGA senator, and on SGA staff. This semester, I have even taken on the role of a REACH tutor. My wide range of experiences have not only provided me with a large and diverse group of friends but also with skills that will help me as I apply for graduate programs and prepare to enter the real world. Whatever you do in college, do not waste your time. Chances are you won’t remember that series on Netflix you spent hours completing in your dorm room. What you will remember are the people and accomplishments that hard work and campus involvement bring to you. I urge you to join SGA or SAB. I urge you to join Greek Life. I urge you to do anything on campus that suits your goals, values, and interests. You will not regret the organizations you chose to be a part of, but you will regret those that you wish you joined but did not.

On a similar note, take advantage of all your opportunities. I beg my fellow McConnell Scholars and others at the University to never miss a chance to expand your horizons. In regards to the McConnell Program in particular, if you just show up and complete your requirements, you’ve missed the point. College is about enrichment, becoming a better person, and broadening your horizons. Go to the lecture on Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton rather than the movies on a Friday night. Take advantage of the visiting lecturers the McConnell Center brings in on a rich variety of topics. During my time as a McConnell Scholar, I have read widely from Tolkein to Plato to G.K. Chesterton. I have sat in on seminars regarding inequality in America, the two party system, fairy tales, and gender roles. Some experiences may be more valuable than others to you personally, but I do not regret attending a single seminar or lecture.

Learning is as important outside the classroom as it is inside the classroom. This may mean something as simple as doing the reading assigned to you in class. (By the way, do the reading. It’s made me 100 times smarter and is assigned for a reason.) It can also mean reading books that aren’t assigned in class, crazy, I know. These may be as deep as Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France or as entertaining as the Game of Thrones series. The act of reading independently outside the classroom expands your knowledge base and opportunities (almost) no matter what it is. Finally, I encourage every student to study abroad. This is one aspect of the college experience that I feel I have missed out on, to a point. Spend a whole semester in a part of the world you’re intrigued by and learn firsthand rather than from a powerpoint or a book. I am so thankful that I had the chance to spend a month in China with the McConnell Center, but I wish that I had given a whole semester over to a study abroad experience. Take the leap of faith and see somewhere new and exciting, all the while improving your Instagram considerably.

In conclusion, my advice is to stay busy. Get the most that you can out of campus, your classes, and your time in college. The McConnell Center has shaped my life goals and my career path. Kappa Sigma Fraternity has given me the best set of friends and brothers that I ever could ask for. The University of Louisville has given me a quality experience thus far, and I plan on staying involved and making my last year count. Generally, I believe people regret more the things they missed than the mistakes they made. Take the four years you have at the University of Louisville and squeeze the most you possibly can out of your time here. It is hard to believe over three-fourths of mine has already flown passed.

Sam Whittaker is a senior McConnell Scholar from Paducah, Ky. He is studying history and economics.