Now at the end of 2017, I’ve begun reflecting on the tremendous semester I had. One highlight was on November 17, when I was honored to be the inaugural Jefferson and Mary Shreve Scholar, as well as the student speaker for the Alumni Scholarship Banquet at the NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis. As I looked out into the crowd, I saw so many familiar and friendly faces. I saw the faces of higher education, the faces of generosity, and the faces of strangers who soon will feel like family.
But IU has a funny way of doing that, turning strangers into family. Just since the beginning of the semester awkward hellos have now turned into heartfelt hugs of what will surely be lifelong friends. This would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and the IU Alumni Association.
I come from Terre Haute, Indiana. I went to Terre Haute South and worked at Honey Creek Mall across the street after school. One highlight of this time was serving on the Hall of Distinction Committee. The Committee took nominations and brought back South Alumni to speak at a school assembly we held in the spring.
One of the Terre Haute South Alumni being honored my senior year was J T. Forbes. Even though he wasn’t my alumnus to escort at the ceremony, I kept him in the back of my mind when I decided I wanted to go to IU.
Fast forward to August 17, 2015 when my mom and dad were helping me move into Eigenmann Hall. I cried as they pulled away because I still had no idea what I wanted to do and was terrified I was making the wrong choice.
I went to my classes and felt lost 90% of the time. I didn’t know what I was passionate about and seeing those around me burn bright with passion and direction made my flame burn lower.
Sophomore year was filled with several more pitfalls while I lived on 17th street. While I would take my morning bus ride to campus, I would zone out and look outside, whizzing past the DeVault Alumni Center. Eventually, it struck me that I knew this place. J T. Forbes! I knew that name! Maybe he would remember me. I took it upon myself to schedule an appointment with him for coffee. It was 8 am on February 13 when we met at Scholars Inn Bakehouse. I didn’t realize what that meeting would hold, but my life would have been very different if it had never happened. He told me about the internship opportunities at the Alumni Association and figured it was worth pursuing. In May, I was hired as the Administrative Intern and brought into a group of scholars, creatives, and some of the most brilliant people I have ever met.
J T. was instrumental in getting me here, and due to the generosity of Jefferson and Mary Shreve and the scholarship they funded, I get to stay here. People like them and all the generous alumni out there make a difference, and together, I believe we can be the difference for others – in 2018 and beyond.