What an experience this truly has been. I cannot believe that me, the Traveling Admissions Counselor, is moving on.

My last day will be today. Four years ago I stepped into this job not knowing what road (literally) it would lead me down.

Now and maybe always, I am known as that dork that comes and sits in our cafeteria at lunch and has food thrown at him (thanks Adamsville)!

Nonetheless, I have some challenges and thanks to several students, faculty, and staff that must be voiced. If you don’t know me by now, I get the last word in always!

Some Challenges

1. To the current student body, whatever you do, don’t bad mouth this university in your hometown or high school.

The worst thing that a perspective student wants to hear is a negative comment. I have yet to find alumni to talk ill of this place, probably because they stayed and toughed it out.

You can do the same. Sure we all say, “there is nothing to do in Martin”, but I will take that any day over the whole “party school” scenario. WE HAVE IT GOOD HERE!

2. To the Greeks, start to stand up for yourselves and take back your leadership of campus life.

Yes, I am a member of a fraternity, but that does not mean that it is for everybody. We must remember that when we start looking for our members.

The good ones are out there, I promise. Use that to your advantage in recruitment and don't depend on the Rush chairman to do it all. Last time I checked, we were all contributing members.

Honestly, I think this university relies heavily on the Greek system to do everything, but will be the first to voice their opinions when we do wrong. It is a natural response considering we are a RISK.

3. To the faculty, keep doing what you are doing. As long as you take the time to get to know your students and call them by their names and not their student id number, Martin will always remain on top in my opinion.

I truly believe this is what sets UTM apart from any other university in Tennessee.

On with the THANKS

1. The admissions crew, the hard part about leaving this job will be my hilarious interactions with you.

It has been difficult this year because I have been in Memphis, thank goodness for email and phones!

Each one of you has some quirky quality I will always remember. Thanks for the training to help me succeed in my future plans.

To CB, I am proud of you. To Mel, the “belt” talk; WC, “my boy”; Karen, “very well”; Baker, “Winstead”; Deidra, the “ex- SOAR queen” and HG, AS, CH, you are my “phone buddies.” Lastly, JR, the “boss.”

2. To the SAE’s, what I learned in college came from this place on Lee Street. What I learned after college came from this place.

You have taught me much. Keep plugging away, MAKE YOUR GRADES, and be the true gentleman I know you are, can, and will always be.

Awards are great and I am humbled, but it's the “bond of friendship that we thus symbolize that grows firmer and stronger each day of our lives.”

3. To the faculty, I hope I have been a positive person to work with when it was time for me to call in my favors.

Except for that one female history professor, I have had smooth sailing and greatly appreciate all of your help in my recruitment efforts. Once again, keep doing what you are doing and be nice to my replacement.

4. To all of my former recruits, please make me proud and walk across that stage and shake Chancellor Dunagan’s hand.

Even if I had nothing to do with you coming to school here, in my mind, I would like to think that I did. I am indebted to all of you and still remember who you are.

I leave you with one last thought, and it is my life statement. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all of the difference.” -Robert Frost

William Winstead is an Admissions Counselor and a 1998 graduate of UTM.