Too Good to be True

Being a recent graduate of the University of Jamestown means that I no longer get to go to class, interact with professors who truly care, sleep in cramped dorm rooms, or go to baseball practice at 9 p.m. I will miss being a student at UJ a great deal because being a Jimmie has truly grown on me in the time I have been at UJ- A place that is truly too good to be true.

Even though I have not been here long, I still have been able to experience many things that have made it seem like I have been here longer. Being a Jimmie has given me the opportunity to meet my wife, earn a degree in Information Technology, accept the job of Helpdesk Manager, play collegiate baseball, and make lifelong friends. However, being a Jimmie does not mean you do not have to work for it.

Given that most of you who read this are probably older than I am, I will let you take my words for what they’re worth to you.

Be imperfect.
Got a few cracks? So does everyone. You will truly be more at ease with school, friends, your team, etc. if you do not have to worry about living up to something you will never be. You do not have to prove yourself to anyone. You are perfectly imperfect and be happy with the imperfection. Do not strive for a perfect grade on that paper, but rather strive to do the best that you can do without comparing yourself to others.

Explore.
Coming into college, I fully expected I would be here for 4 years until the night I sat down and read the academic catalog. I then realized I would be able to graduate early. Without exploration, you will never know what could have been. If I had not talked to Jodi Grugel at my high school career fair, I would not have even considered UJ, meaning I would not have graduated early, played baseball, or, most importantly, met my wife Rachel.

Assume the best.                                                                       
I realized something this past fall right before my last final—the University of Jamestown is too good to be true. The saying goes: If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Well, UJ has proven it infallible in my case. If someone had told me 3 years ago when I was a high school senior that I would be able to play baseball until my knees gave out, graduate college early, work with great people, and get married, I probably would have said that it was too good to be true.

So, as I walk across the stage in May to get my diploma, I am glad that I will continue to experience being part of something too good to be true, something all Jimmies are welcome to be a part of.