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Welcome to UTM; write for the Pacer


Welcome to UTM!!!

I know that is probably the thousandth time that those words have been uttered to you in the past week, but hear it is again.

I guess we’ll start off with introductions. Hi, my name is Matt Crouch and I am the executive editor of The Pacer. This will be the second semester that I have held the position, third semester on Pacer staff. This is my fourth year at UTM and I will be graduating in May.

I am a Communications major with a minor in Political Science. There, that pretty much wraps things up with me. I am a busy person on campus, so hopefully I will be seeing you guys around and getting to know you all.

This year is not only a special one for me because I am graduating but also because my little brother is starting his first year at UTM this semester.

Jacob, I am very proud of you for making the decision to come here and I cannot wait for this year to get started. I think we will have a great time together.

I have not yet made it to Martin as I worked this summer at a camp in Virginia, so at the moment, I am on a mountainside with screaming kids in the distance. I will make it back in time for classes though.

  1. Remember that this is college. For most of you, your parents are not here so this is an adjustment. For the love of God, do not go home every weekend.

I would hate to have to personally set up barriers on the roads leaving Martin on Fridays just to keep you all here. There is a world of learning and opportunity to be found here, most not within the academic walls but in the socializing with others and trying new things.

The most important things you will learn here will not be in a classroom. Some of you will spend this time in college, some will spend it in school – the difference comes in where you spend your time outside of class, at home with the parents or out trying something new.

  1. GET INVOLVED. If there is one thing UTM is not short of, it is unused opportunities.

There are several campus organizations of all types and there is no reason that you should not join at least one. It does not matter if it is Greek, academic, or departmental, you should all join and be involved with something.

Remember that Freshman Council applications and interviews are coming up soon, so don’t miss out on that.

College, like many things, is something that you get out of what you put in. If you only put in a little, you will only get back a little.

If you give a lot, it is very rewarding.

P.S. – Write for The Pacer.

  1. Go into this with an open mind. Get out there and meet new people, experience new things, and try something you have never done before.

You will get nothing from your time here if you spend all of your time in your dorm room playing video games. Get out, go across the hall and knock on the door of one of your new neighbors. These are people that you are going to be living next to for the next nine months so find out who they are.

There are plenty of new things to be found here, if you close your mind to them then you are doing yourself an injustice.

  1. Lastly, I will pass on some advice given to me during my first year from a professor here at UTM who has since retired.

The key to college is finding the balance between the partying and the books. If you party too much you will flunk out and will be living in your parents basement working at the local convenience store. This will lead to thinking that the girl/guy who has most of their teeth is one of the finest around.

If you study too much your brain will explode and will be useless. Find the balance – a little of both is necessary.

Also, remember that when it comes to GPA the easy classes count just as much as the hard ones, so don’t slack off on a class just because it isn’t hard.

That is about all that I can think of, but do not worry, if I think of more I will let you know. Most of all though, have fun!

College is loads of fun, take every chance you get to enjoy it. It does not matter if it is a 3 a.m. trip to the gas station to get food, a spontaneous road trip or just time hanging out with a good friend in their dorm room – enjoy it.

I hope that you all have enjoyed Freshman Studies and are looking forward to your first year at UTM. I will see you all soon.