“When they go low, you go high”
College. What a daunting concept to consider. We’ve all had that one teacher in college who tells us:
“What you just did would NOT fly with your professors in college!!”
It turns out, this was the biggest lie of the century. I’ve seen everything from students eating cereal in the middle of a lecture to students passed out in the back of the room after a wild night. And you know what? That’s been the best part about it all. College is a place where you take charge of your own life. You truly are responsible for everything on your agenda(This can seem both encouraging and scary at times).
You have an essay due in two days for Freshman Composition? You could do it early and put it to the back of your mind for the rest of the time, or you could wait till the night before and marathon the entire thing to an equally passing grade. College is the place where you realize that ninety percent of the time, no one really gives a crap about the intricacies. Things just need to get done.
Is this an encouragement to coast through and graduate with a 2.2 GPA? Not necessarily(unless that fulfills you, in which case, to each his own.)
Brady Jordan, April of 2022
All of this may sound somewhat nihilistic in a sense, but it’s truly not. This freedom you gain puts you in charge of where you end up. Those who aspire to the average standard will achieve completion. Yet those who continue to aspire to more, will soar beyond the wildest dreams of their goals.
If I could sum up all 4 years of my time at UNA to an incoming freshman, I would encourage them in this way. If there is a direction you want to go or a goal you desire to achieve, the only thing standing between you is your willingness to relentlessly pursue it, your passion for that dream, and your resourcefulness to adapt it to the surrounding environment. My time as a UNA lion has taught me that you truly can accomplish anything you set your mind to. This sounds really cliche and tonedeaf in some cases, which is why I propose an addition to this notion.
“You can accomplish anything you set your mind to, but the path and time it takes are different for everyone, and that’s okay.”
I know those admission brochures made things look like paradise, but unfortunately things won’t always be easy. At some point you’ll likely have problems with family, struggles with physical/mental health, and you’ll probably run into toxic people along the way. These all fall into the same category with the one thing we are guaranteed in life: struggle. Handle all of these with care. Find time to spend with your family, take time for yourself, and maintain as high of a standard of character as possible. It will be your most truthful defense in any situation.
To quote former first lady Michelle Obama,
“When they go low, you go high.”
Another cliche notion:
“These next four years will absolutely fly by.”
Being at the tail end of a four-year degree, In some ways this is entirely true.
Yet in other ways it’s entirely false.
Continuing on the topic of connections and available resources, seek out everything you can that’s made available to you during your time here. The world is changing rapidly, and experience is a critical component to success. The university understands this, and has countless resources available to you in many areas. I’ve gotten connected with high-profile video production agencies through UNA alumni, which has led to internships, and countless work opportunities still ongoing to this day.
In terms of my campus involvement, I’ve written for Flor-ala off and on for about a year and a half while holding other positions until being named to my current role as Social Media Editor. I’ve also been a part of the Cole Honors College, RSO’s like Encounter, the Collegiate Entrepreneurial Organization, and the Photography club.
The skills I’ve gained from this university have also translated to other outside accomplishments.
I’ve built a creative media contracting business from the ground up during my time here. I’ve been honored to have worked with clients as big as Business Insider, Members Only, and local agencies with a national presence like Armosa Studios.
In the past year, I’ve been flown around the country to places like Boston, New York, and Orlando for videography services. These are places I had always dreamed of visiting, and I was humbled by the opportunity to get paid to do what I’m passionate about through of it.
Some semesters will pass you by quicker than you expect, but others will drag on due to workloads, hardships, and other factors that you don’t always expect. Time has a funny way of communicating to the human race. Sometimes it robs us of fleeting moments. Other times it leaves us with way too many. Sounding nihilistic again? Yet one thing in all of this “temporal soup” of sorts remains consistent. The greatest irony in the story of life is that inconsistency is the most consistent part of it all. Fun seasons may pass, but so will difficult ones. You know that euphoric feeling you get gazing into a beautiful landscape on top of a mountain peak? It wouldn’t be possible without the valley below. Life is a journey of ups and downs. Each time you go through a valley, you learn to appreciate and gain greater value from the following peak than the last.
Things are hard, but they will always get better. At the same time, don’t let that be an excuse to pick up a guide for your journey. Taking care of your mental health is a vital component to doing life correctly. Go see UNA counseling services. They are the most caring and open people you’ll ever meet, and they’ve let me vent about things in life for hours while offering support and resources for students that would cost hundreds(maybe even thousands in some cases) of dollars to the average person.
I detail all of this not to embolden myself, but to encourage others. You absolutely can reach those goals you set for yourself. The drive and discipline I developed during college helped me to achieve all of the dreams and goals I had set for myself within the span of 2 years. We all start at a different place and walk of life, but the resources at this university can help you do the same.
Another component to success: the kindness you show to people and the value you deliver to them. I once asked one of the best people I’ve ever worked with how he grew his company and took such good care of his employees. What he told me has stuck with me and helped me on every occasion since.
“You just treat people well, and give them a good product.” - Wes Wages
This same thing rings true in every area of life. If you treat people well, the sky's the only limit to your success and fulfillment in life.
You may be just starting at UNA, halfway through, or nearing the end of your time here like me. This leads to my final piece of advice. Don’t wish the days away in favor of a tomorrow that hasn’t been built yet. You’re a college student in this season. This is a special time of growth, fun, and opportunity.