There was a picnic in the park complete with free ice cream, live entertainment and dozens of men and women dressed up like pirates.
There were numerous poets, writers and filmmakers visiting campus offering their words of wisdom (not to mention their autographs) to students.
There was a forum with business executives from around the country.’ It was free for all UT students, but just like these other events, was free of UT students.
These events are just a small percentage of the opportunities offered to students at the university, yet students are rarely in attendance.
Are we missing out?
Absolutely.
On any given day, you can find dozens hanging out by the pool.
On Thursday nights, check any club and you’ll stumble across hundreds carrying the Spartan ID.
Drive by MacDinton’s on Fridays and observe many classmates making the most out of $10 happy hour.
Nothing comes between us and our social habits, be it the pool or the pub.
What is it that motivates us to be so committed to these habits that get us nowhere but forces us to ignore experiences that could better our college life, our resumes and our futures?
Any major interest is supported by a number of events that happen each and every day on campus and in the downtown area.
Few of us have valid excuses for not attending: most of us count on good old-fashion laziness to keep us from these chances to network and further our potential careers.
It isn’t just the academic opportunities we skip out on.
Today I attended the Picnic in the Park. Aside from the school’s band members who were performing, I counted six students there. Just six.
Only a handful of students took the opportunity to enjoy free ice cream (who turns down free ice cream?), an afternoon of entertainment and an opportunity to support the UT community that so often supports us.
I’m not saying I’m perfect here. Heck, I’ve only made it to a few Honors Symposiums this semester and even fewer Writer’s Series presentations.
But why do we continue to miss out on these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities but consistently find time to hit up the hottest concert or Day Glow night at the club?
I wonder if we all realize that after our relatively short four years here, these things just stop.
No more free movies. No more free networking opportunities. No more free ice cream.
I’d like to blame it on poor advertisement, but anyone who takes a few seconds to visit the university’s website can find a dozen or so interesting events to check out in the coming month.
I’d like to blame it on poor scheduling, but we all know that isn’t that case either.
It comes down to us.
We’re a live-in-the-moment kind of generation, perhaps.
We’re not thinking about how quickly we’ll be pushed out into the real world where ice cream costs money!
Our lack of prioritizing may be to blame.
Whatever it is, it is about time we stop ignoring opportunity and start to embrace it.
Ybor can wait.
Kadie Hayward may be reached at khayward@ut.edu.
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