First person

BY TESS CHAFFEE, A&S ’21

When I first stepped foot on campus as an official Bearcat one hot August day three years ago, I’ll be honest, I had no idea what I was in for.

I originally chose UC because of its exploratory program and sprawling urban campus — a stark and refreshing contrast to Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, the small river town with a dog for a mayor (seriously), where I grew up. They call it the center of the universe, and as a kid, it certainly always had been the center of mine. My childhood was spent darting through dusty creek beds and sipping foaming root beer from a thick glass bottle, and my high school years were most notable for dancing under the Friday night lights. But, looking back, I feel like I was drawn to UC for a greater purpose.

The last assignment in my “Discovering UC” class freshman year was to formulate an academic plan for the following semesters, and as I pieced together that final paper, things finally started to make sense. My long-held appreciation for writing drew me toward a major in journalism, but I knew I didn’t want to be a reporter. So, I paired my chosen major with a legal studies certificate and decided on a path to law school. I wanted a career that would be interesting and challenging. I wanted to use my strengths to make a difference in peoples’ lives. These days, I truly believe I’m on the road I was always meant to travel, and now I’m preparing to apply to UC’s College of Law this fall.

It’s crazy how fast the past few years have flown by. It was definitely weird when life came to a sudden halt mid-March as a global pandemic swept the nation, and it’s definitely been weird corresponding with my colleagues and peers solely online. I worked as an intern this summer in UC’s Marketing + Communications department writing student profiles for UC News, and despite the current state of the world, it’s worked out really well. Operating remotely has allowed me to connect with a student in Washington, D.C., and one on the other side of the world in Hong Kong. They’ve all had unique stories, but we’ve also held one thing in common with our college experiences: personal growth.

I came to college simply because it was expected of me. I was just an 18-year-old kid, after all, living on my own for the first time and looking for purpose. They say college is the time you find yourself, and (as cliché as it sounds) I think they’re right. Becoming a lawyer seemed like a lofty goal, but with encouragement from one of my journalism professors — a gruff, seasoned Southern reporter with a Pulitzer, at that — I came to believe that not only could I pursue my newfound career, but I could tackle it with a vengeance. If this professor could see that I have what it takes, then why shouldn’t I? The students I interviewed echoed these sentiments of encouragement and coming into their own. UC was a place where we felt inspired, a place that helped us come to know what was always true: that we, as students, are capable of greatness. Through the study and practice of law, I look forward to investing in myself for the greater good of those around me.

These times have no doubt lent a new perspective. Transitioning to online classes has made me really appreciate those vibrant classroom discussions. It’s made me realize just how much I learn from the people around me. And it’s also brought some pleasant surprises along the way, like being able to spend more time outdoors, andslowing down to appreciate the little things that too often go unnoticed as we dash madly through everyday life.

With just a few undergraduate semesters left, I’m going to enjoy returning to campus, seeing the friendly faces of my peers (behind masks of course, but we’ll take what we can get) and roaming through the cool UC architecture that has seen centuries of enlightened minds travel its halls. Most of all, I look forward to going after my purpose and seeing where my education, and the future, will take me.