Life is good at Tennessee Tech to begin our second century. As we wrap up our first week of the fall semester, it is a beautiful late summer day in the Upper Cumberland. The 10,000-plus new and returning students animate the campus landscape and hallowed halls with their unique forms of positive energy. We feel the promise of this new academic year from the classrooms to the athletic fields. It is truly a special time of year.
Reading a common book serves as an annual ritual designed to welcome and acclimate our new freshmen class. This year’s committee selected This I Believe II, a book of short essays written by everyday people from all walks of life to express their personal perspectives about life. The effort originated with Edward R. Murrow in the early 1950s and has since seen a number of iterations in books, radio broadcasts and TV shows.
As you might guess, it is an easy but very thought provoking read. I was challenged by the freshmen orientation staff to write my own personal essay to share with incoming freshmen. It is actually much harder than I expected to condense my personal perspectives on life to 500 words, but I found the effort very rewarding. I encourage anyone not only to read the book, but to take the time to write your own personal essay for your own benefit. If you care to read mine, here it is.
Best wishes to everyone for a healthy and productive 2016-2017 academic year.
Go Eagles! #WingsUp
If you do write your own personal essay and would like to share it, you can do so at https://www.tntech.edu/machform/view.php?id=295994. The essays will be reviewed, and possibly posted online for public view.
