There’s an old saying: “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.”

For some reason or another, we have all ended up at UTM together. We’ve come from all over the country, and globe for that matter, to form a small community of Skyhawks.

Sure our community’s got it’s problems, like no parking, small budget, etc. etc., but what community doesn’t?

Now, take where you’re from. I’m from Paducah, Ky., and I know everything wrong with the city. But, I love it anyway. It’s shaped who I am today.

I’m sure many of you could say the same about your hometown, whether it be somewhere small like Dresden or big like San Diego.

Like it or not, UTM is now your “town.” It’s where you’re stuck for four to seven years. But unlike your hometown, you CHOSE it. You don’t HAVE to be here. So, keep the griping about something you CHOSE to a minimum.

I might be one of the few people who openly admits that they love it here. It’s small, but that’s a point in the plus column. You get a chance to get closer to more people. There’s a sense of safety and security in that.

Where else could I leave the office at 4:30 in the morning and not worry about getting attacked? Where else can I go for a run at midnight and not take my pepper spray? Not my hometown.

So, I guess what I’m getting here is, try and make the best of your situation. If you sit around and say this place sucks, it will for you. If you think you can have a good time here, you will. It’s that simple.

GO SKYHAWKS!