A Blog on McConnell Center Life

By Jacob Banta As I sit down to write this last testimony as a McConnell Scholar, I stop to pause and reflect over what a blessing this program has been for the past four years. I came into the scholarship program thinking I had just added another achievement to the list of my pride. Entering college, I desired to pursue the greatness of my own name and image. Thankfully, God had other plans. Many life circumstances had left where I would attend college up in the air. In the Lord’s providence he brought me to the University of Louisville through the McConnell Program. For that I am eternally grateful. In college, God dashed my pride on the rock of his sovereignty and goodness. A work not yet finished. I realize I am not the main character in my life. God is. He has shown me how wonderful and how grand the story is that he is writing with humanity. And he desires to include me in it! What a wondrous mystery! For that matter, he wants to include you too! I have grown more and more to rea...

By Mary Catherine Medley As I wrap up my last semester of college, a lot of pressure and anxiety has been weighing heavy on my heart. The process of applying to law schools, interviewing, and waiting impatiently to receive a decision has been daunting to say the least. I worry each day about making the right choice and also have an irrational fear of what others will say about what that choice is. What this process has reminded me of, however, is exactly how I felt four years ago to this day. At this time in 2020, I was frantically preparing for my McConnell Scholars interview. My anxiety had hit a peak and I felt an immense sense of pressure to do well. My freshman year of high school, I made a promise to myself that I would go to college and find a way to get it paid for, and this scholarship had become my dream. About two weeks after my big interview weekend, I received the best news: that I had been admitted to the McConnell Scholars Program. As equal as I was thrilled, I was anxio...

By Caleb Aridano In order to gain admittance to the McConnell Scholars program, one is asked to write an essay detailing “What person from the past would you like to meet and why?” Four years ago, I wrote an essay about former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court William Brennan- today I would like to revise my answer.   This being my final blog as a McConnell Scholar, I find it only fitting to write a new, updated answer to the same question I was asked all those years ago, which could potentially serve as a yardstick of my own growth. While Justice Brennan was certainly an unusual answer that suited my delusional ideas about justice and the Constitution, my personal judicial philosophy has strayed lengths from his pragmatism. However, for the first time in four years, I will set the Supreme Court aside and write an essay on who I believe to be America’s most profound patriot, and someone I would truly like to meet: John Adams. Adams is often overlooked by those studying the fou...

By Yelena Bagdasaryan My whole life, I've had an interesting relationship with faith and organized religion. I originally grew up in a non-religious household of parents that came from the Soviet Union, where atheism was the established belief. However, despite this absence of religious practice, my family adhered to the traditions of Armenian Catholicism and Russian Orthodox Christianity, as these beliefs are deeply ingrained in our cultural heritage. On the other hand, this doesn't necessarily mean that we subscribe to these organized religions; in fact, I've grown up in an agnostic household that values humanism. Agnosticism, a philosophical position that acknowledges the limitations of human knowledge, particularly regarding the existence of deities or supernatural phenomena, has been integral to my upbringing. Unlike atheism, which asserts the non-existence of gods, or theism, which posits belief in one or more gods, agnosticism emphasizes uncertainty rather than disb...

By: Logan Bibby In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to highlight a Black female-founded and led organization that is near and dear to my heart and the heart of the Louisville community! In 2019, Staychelle Bussey founded the non-profit The Hope Buss with rented vans and a dream to provide resources and food to those who are houseless or living in food deserts. She drove those who did not have access to efficient and effective transportation to grocery stores, so they could shop comfortably. After buying a used school bus, she began working to deliver the resources to those in the community! Their bus, handpainted by community members, with its signature black coat and bright embellishments, now brings the resources to those who need them. It holds enough food to feed 75 families for two weeks, with pantries and a fully functional refrigerator and freezer.  As The HopeBuss has grown in impact and recognition, the organization has expanded its infrastructure and its mission. T...

 By: Greta Noble  I have never considered the second Sunday in February to be my Superbowl. No, my Superbowl takes place just one week prior. It has all the elements of the Superbowl most would look forward to: sitting down for hours to watch, everyone rooting for one person or another to win, a performance that each person doesn’t want to admit they are most excited for. Yet in my Superbowl, cleats are replaced with Dolce and Gabbana heels, and the Vince Lombardi Trophy is replaced with countless golden record players. The Grammy Awards each and every year brings together the greatest artists of our time to perform and be rewarded for their incredible accomplishments. The Grammy Awards are my Super Bowl and this year's awards went above and beyond what I ever could have expected. As I sat surrounded by some of the people I love most in the world, I wanted to reflect on what made this show in particular so incredible. Billy Joel performed his first new song in over 3 decades....

By: Allie Rose Phillips   I knew when I came to college there would be many things about my home that I would miss. One aspect of home that I did not expect to miss so much was a home-cooked meal made by my granny. When I start to miss home, the first thing I think of is one of Granny’s amazing meals.  These meals mean so much more to me than just food though. For every special occasion, she will cook a meal to celebrate. A special occasion could be a birthday, anniversary, graduation, etc. So, while I do love my granny’s cooking, it’s the thought of my whole family around the kitchen table enjoying this meal that makes me miss home. I recently missed my parents’ anniversary supper because I couldn’t travel home that specific day. Missing moments like this makes staying at college extremely difficult.  Even though I miss my granny’s cooking or my family, I know that completing college is extremely important for my future and my family. I am blessed with such a supportive ...

 By: Shelby Disney   Introduction : In today’s rapidly changing world, the fabric that binds communities together seems to be unraveling at an ever-increasing rate. With the rise of digital communication, the shift toward urbanization, and the pressures of global economic competition we have transformed the way we engage with our communities, participate in civic duties, and distorted our perceived place within society. Within this backdrop of change, the question of what makes a nation strong— Is it a nation’s economy, its military, or its political systems? — often overlooks a fundamental component: the strength of its communities. The bedrock of a strong nation lies not just in its material wealth or power but in the strength of its communities. Drawing upon the thoughts of Edmund Burke, Alexis de Tocqueville, Wendell Berry, and Robert Putman, we will explore the importance of community in fostering social cohesion, civic engagement, and a sense of belonging among its citi...

By: Jack Moseley   The Orange  By Wendy Cope  At lunchtime I bought a huge orange  The size of it made us all laugh.  I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave  They got quarters and I had a half.  And that orange, it made me so happy,  As ordinary things often do  Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.  This is peace and contentment. It’s new.  The rest of the day was quite easy.  I did all the jobs on my list  And enjoyed them and had some time over.  I love you. I’m glad I exist.  While we chase fulfillment, happiness often slips through our fingers, hiding where we least expect it—in the mundane, the ordinary, in an orange shared at lunch time. We live in an age of unparalleled opportunity, a time where anyone can do anything they dream of—and yet many of us aren’t satisfied.  Everyone is familiar with the feeling that their life isn’t as it should be. Maybe you aren't competitive enough; y...