I am a Louisville girl, born and raised. I grew up in the Possibility City spending each day finding something new to love about this beautiful place. Louisville is my safe haven. There’s no where else in the world I’d rather be than Louisville.
But coming out of high school, Louisville was the last place I wanted to be. I wanted to get out of dodge fast. I loved high school. I loved my friends. I loved my home. But I was ready for a wonderful new adventure. My adventure led me an hour and a half south to Bowling Green, Kentucky and Western Kentucky University.
There’s nothing quite like moving away to a small town to make you realize how much you miss home. Don’t get me wrong, I loved everything about Bowling Green and WKU. I loved the small town feel. I loved the beautiful fall days on the Hill. I loved my sorority sisters. I loved my major, Broadcast News. I loved the freedom I had being away from home for the first time in my life. But something was missing.
Home.
As a child, my parents had me at UofL football and basketball games. I remember watching football games in Old Cardinal Stadium. I remember the electricity in Freedom Hall. As a child, I didn’t know there were other universities. It was all UofL.
I was the little girl who wore UofL cheerleading outfits & red bows in my hair to games. Put simply, I was a die hard from birth.
The decision to come home wasn’t easy. I was leaving behind a spectacular Broadcast News program, a sorority that I loved, friends that loved me and freedom. I was worried coming home to UofL would feel like high school.
I could not have been more wrong.
Transferring home to UofL was the best decision of my life. I flourished. I joined the UofL chapter of my sorority my first semester at UofL. I met new sisters that I loved and I introduced them to my WKU sisters. I threw myself into every organization possible. I was involved in Greek Life, spending two years on the Greek Week Board, one of which I was the overall chair. I held positions in my sorority and in Panhellenic. I became a member of an honors society due to my involvement. I became a REACH Ambassador and had the opportunity to mentor first year students. I never had the passion to get involved until I came home to UofL. I had the confidence to lead.
My professors challenged in ways I never thought possible. Professors like Stuart Esrock and Charles Zimmermann were instrumental in my time at UofL. I’m convinced the Communication department has the best professors. But I’m a little biased.
But it wasn’t the professors, organizations, sports teams or friends that made my UofL experience possible. Don’t get me wrong, all those things and those people I hold dearly in my heart. They MADE my college experience amazing. But my mother is the reason I had the opportunity to attend UofL. And for that, I am truly thankful.
Now, as an alumna, I’m able to give back to my mom. I have a great job at an amazing company. I get to write about the Louisville Women’s Basketball team for a national blog. I have opportunities that some people can only dream of. All of which I attribute to my education and my love for Louisville. All of which I owe to my mother.