The first gift my dad ever bought me was a University of Kentucky bib. Being an avid UK fan, he envisioned me attending his favorite school. But much to his surprise, I became an Eastern Colonel.
Barbourville is a very small town in eastern Kentucky. Having lived there my entire life, I was very accustomed to small town traditions. I wanted to attend a university that had plenty of activities to offer, but the thought of moving to a huge campus made me uneasy. Eastern is the perfect fit for me because our small campus has a big campus feel.
When I came to Eastern, I immediately became involved by attending Colonel Camp. Later, I became involved in Greek life by joining Alpha Omicron Pi and got an on-campus job as a tour guide in the admissions office.
The most important advice I give to every student coming on a campus tour is to get involved on campus. Eastern gives students so many opportunities to get connected through Greek life in our 200 clubs and organizations, intramurals, and campus events. If you’re predominantly staying in your residence hall room, you’re not taking advantage of college life.
Although my dad misses the student price for UK tickets, he is very happy with my college decision. With the help of an amazing campus community, Eastern truly has become my home away from home.