In this heat? Yep.
It didn't start out that way. I drove the 1 1/2 miles to the UT Martin campus with the intention of walking inside the Elam Center, where I could enjoy air conditioning while I stretched my legs.
When I got out of my car, however, I turned right, drawn to the heart of the campus, the quad. A friend and I walk there occasionally on Sunday afternoons. The huge trees shade the wide walkways, and it is never crowded. It's great.
But today I was alone. And as we often do when we're alone, I did a lot of thinking. Mostly about UTM.
I love my alma mater. It was and is a great university. It is safe. The campus is beautiful. The professors know you by name. You make friends there, friendships that can last a lifetime.
The graduates include the great, like Pat Head Summitt, and the average, like me. I'm sure there are some not-so-great mixed in there, and maybe a few more greats, but most of us ended up being hard-working, responsible citizens, doing what we were supposed to do. Make a life, make a living, do what's right.
College, if done right, is hard. I studied. A lot. Not everyone parties, but even those who choose that path have to spend time studying just to stay in school. I am proud that both of my sons graduated from UTM. I traveled 230 miles to attend the university; they traveled across town.
They likely don't appreciate it as much as I do because they grew up here and UTM was always there. They probably regret missing the experience of leaving home and being more a part of the campus scene.
UTM has changed. There is am amazing fitness facility across from the main campus. They've put more money into the baseball and softball programs. They've built the first phase of the fine arts building.
One thing many people don't realize is that UTM students, when they graduate, are considered to be graduates of the University of Tennessee. That's what your degree reads. We're a satellite campus. True, most of us never set foot on Knoxville's campus except for a sporting event, but we are still part of the UT system and proud to be a part of it. That makes it easy to be a Skykhawk fan and a Vols fan. No conflict of interest there.
Our town doesn't have a mall, and we don't have chain restaurants on every corner. But talk to the kids who go to school here. They have plenty to do. Back in my day, we had Tony's and the T-Room. Now they have La Cabana, Huddle House, and countless fast food places. KN is still here and still has the best burger, according to some.
Maybe having those options is important to some. But if I had to do it all over again, I would choose UTM--a place where people knew my name, a place where I received an excellent education, and a place that will forever be in my heart.
