USI — constant, faithful and true. This is the chorus to “USI’s Alma Mater” that is played at convocation and graduation.
With Fall Commencement nearing, this chorus has been singing in my mind. “Constant… faithful… and true.” What does this mean to me?
While I won’t give you my in-depth definition for each of those words, I’ll tell you what USI has been to me for the past three and a half years — a place of knowledge, wisdom, friendship and opportunity.
I’ve always thought of USI as a “hidden gem.” I would’ve never considered USI if my high school hadn’t taken my class on a college tour here. I would’ve never applied if my mom hadn’t encouraged me to “see what would happen.”
All in all, USI has treated me very well.
Three and a half years, and I ended up double majoring in journalism and English and double minoring in radio and television and literature. It’s become a routine phrase when anyone asks what I’m going to school for.
“I’m a double major in journalism and English, and I have two minors in radio and television and literature … I’m a double major in journalism and English, and I have two minors in radio and television and literature.”
I’ve probably said that hundreds of times at this point, and I get the same reaction every time — everyone is astounded by the amount of work I willingly do (not to be cocky, of course).
In reality, the only reason I even took on two majors and two minors is because the option was open to me. I aspire to be a “renaissance woman,” and USI has the resources for me to do that. I admired my professors so much because they encouraged me to learn more — to leave my comfort zone and explore uncharted territory. I have new passions and skills now because of the educational opportunity placed before me — the place just happened to be USI.
Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight on “The Office,” once said that your 20s are a time when you definitely won’t have everything figured out. I had solid after-graduation plans when I was a freshman. Those flew out the window a while ago. But that’s not a bad thing — it’s okay to let things change as you change.
Surrounded by peers who helped break me down and build me up again, I’d certainly say I’m more wise than I was three years ago. I still don’t have everything figured out, but I’m glad I could learn to fail and succeed, to make mistakes and get back up again, right here on campus.
Speaking of peers, some of my best relationships were made on campus. Not only did I meet someone I love to love, but I grew to love everyone I saw on a daily basis. The community at USI is something you can’t get anywhere else. I waved to at least five to 10 people every day when I lived on campus — some people wave way more.
I’m thankful for all my classes and student organizations because, without them, I wouldn’t have made some of my best friends. I’m also thankful for the residence halls, apartments, lounges and dining areas where bonds were formed and memories were made. Connection can happen anywhere on this campus — even the most mundane of places.
There was always room for new opportunities on campus. Here, I established myself as a journalist, poet, screenwriter and mentor. I found networking opportunities in unlikely and unintentional places that helped advance my writing career.
There were just some things I got at USI that I couldn’t get anywhere else.
Sure, there were times I wished I had gone to a bigger school like Indiana University or the University of Illinois when I watched college football and saw how spirited the student section was, but would I have had the same college experience? Probably not.
USI was my college experience, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.
As terrified as I was when I started, I always knew that graduation would be a rewarding and bittersweet moment moving on from this university.
“Constant… faithful… and true.”
I once heard a senior say, “Hum Screags forever.” As a freshman, I didn’t know what that meant at the time. I still don’t have a solid definition for it — but I’ll give you this:
Bring the drive of USI with you wherever you go, even after you graduate.
Good luck, Screagles. I’m always rooting for you.
Hum Screags forever,
Tegan Ruhl
