As I write my final piece for The Daily Helmsman before graduating and reminisce on my time at the University of Memphis, I realize that my time spent here is probably much different than many other students.
I have been given the amazing opportunity to lead a main student media outlet and serve as a voice for U of M students. I have made seemingly the entire student body want nothing to do with that same media outlet due to outrage about our coverage.
I was called “not responsible” and “salacious” by university administrators for my reporting. I have been called “one-sided” in my coverage.
I have written a story that sparked major local news coverage and protests on campus. Not many college students are the cause of a protest on their campus, even though it was not about me.
Looking back, I have embraced every moment that I have been a part of at this paper on campus; no matter how difficult they were for me to deal with at the time.
Through my unique experiences, I think I have learned a few things that I would like to pass down to U of M students to come.
Experiences matter more than grades
There is so much emphasis on taking extra credit hours and tougher courses for new students; don’t fall for that.
What employers look for most is the hands-on experience a candidate has. Take time with what will be shown on your résumé. That is what employers look for; not what grade you made in music appreciation class.
Of course your GPA matters, but that is not what sticks with you during your career. What does stay with you is the knowledge you gain from classes in your field of study.
Get involved but also focus on academics
Everyone who comes to college has, or should have, one goal in mind: stop going to school. Employers want to see an extra effort being made to progress in your field, so get involved in extracurricular activities related to your field of study.
Greek life and campus involvement can be good, don’t get me wrong, but what I think is more important is making strides towards what you want to do in life. If you take the time to learn more outside of classes, employers will notice.
There are so many campus involvement opportunities that relate to studies. Find one and join it. I found mine at The Daily Helmsman, and I am glad to say it has landed me a job in my field upon the conclusion of the semester.
No one knows what they want to do
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t know what you want to do in life; almost no one does. I started school thinking I would be in the College of Business and Economics, but that clearly did not work out.
After leaving there, I still had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. Keep your mind and eyes open for opportunities. If you think about what you love to do best, something will pop up.
I did not know journalism was for me until it was too late for me to try to switch majors. I fell in love with the field, and it has served me well.
Get to know professors
Coming from someone who typically does not like to speak up in discussion classes, an easy thing you can do for your future is get to know professors in your department. They want to see you succeed; that’s why they chose to teach college students.
When you are out looking for jobs, they will often ask for references, and there is only so much your manager at Kroger can say about your academic abilities. If they try to contact a professor, you’ll want that professor to know who they’re talking about.
Speaking of employers, many of your professors have been in the profession for a while, so chances are they know people in the city in that field. They can help you find opportunities when you’re looking for jobs.
Don’t buy coffee every morning
Freshmen, I know it’s easy to see 300 “free” dining dollars on your card, but those go away in a hurry. Save that money early in a semester because it can be helpful later in the semester if you have to take time off your part-time job for school or exams.
Anyone living on or near campus, it’s easy to blow through those. Conserve them. I can’t stress that enough.
Add about two semesters to construction estimates
There is so much construction right now and coming soon to the U of M campus. Most of the time frames for completion feel unrealistic. That is because they are.
It is usually not due to the university but more due to the time it takes for state buildings to get approved and constructed. If you’re counting on something being finished in a few months, be prepared to wait a little longer.
Enjoy your time as an underclassman
Freshmen and sophomores, I know it is easy to get stuck in a rut of gen-ed classes and get bored. Just know that there is much more to come, so enjoy those while you are in them.
Sometimes I wish I could go back to the times when I had less responsibilities or worry about my career. Your first two years in college should be enjoyed making connections and finding yourself.
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To close, I want to thank everyone who has helped me throughout my time here. My professors have guided me along this journey, and I will have to get used to not having them upstairs to answer my questions. President M. David Rudd, though we have disagreed on an issue or two, has the university’s best intentions in what he does, and I wish him and the university the best going forward.
As for me, I am going on to join WREG News Channel 3 as a digital reporter, so I will be around the city for a little while.
Mitchell Koch | Editor-in-chief
