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| Travis Wilson Class of 2016 |
Some people at this stage of life are already living in the pattern that they will hold for the next fifty years until their retirement: simply go to work, put in the required time at some menial task, and then return home to watch television to pass the evening. On the other hand, those of us here in the McConnell Scholars Program and at the University of Louisville at large are incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to expand our minds every single day that we step on campus. From extraordinary extracurricular programming through the McConnell Center, to dynamic teachers in many of our classes, we are able to enjoy a wide variety of thought and experiences that is certainly unique to college students. Many of the students at this university and in this program are working to become capable of taking on a challenging career, leading those around them and truly making a difference in their workplace and their community.
With this great opportunity, comes even greater responsibility to make the very most of your experience and of yourself. Personally, my Junior year has been eye-opening. I have had the opportunity to consider my priorities and to focus on what I believe will allow me to be successful in the long term. Grades, which were a top priority in theory during my first two years, became a top priority in practice this year. My internship and the expansion of my professional network has become a priority that consumes much of my time, yet is very much worth it to sow the seeds of a long successful career. Finally, my service through Helping Hands Serving Hearts, Inc. has become extremely important to me personally, both as a way to give back to a wonderful Louisville community that has given me so much and as a way to leave a positive legacy at the university.
My motivation this year has shifted from fulfilling a vague understanding of success in college to a strong desire to achieve admittance to an elite law school by doing everything within my power to build a meaningful and balanced resume. Many people would say that at my age, to simply enjoy your youth, however, this philosophy often begets laziness and mediocrity. On the contrary, I would urge my fellow students to live with a zeal for success while living in the present, applying yourself and enjoying all the trials in your quest to achieve your goals.
Travis Wilson is a junior McConnell Scholar studying political science and history. He is from Burlington, Ky.