[Music]
My name is Uriah. I'm a Knoxville native
and I went to Fulton high school.
I am graduating from UT with a double major
in Africana Studies and Sociology with a
concentration in Critical Race and
Ethnic Studies.
I've been a part of so many different organizations. One of the most notable ones is the Pride of the
Southland marching band. That was the
first organization that I became a
member of. Being in Neyland on the field
at halftime in front of thousands of
people; it was absolutely overwhelming
but it was so exciting and so
exhilarating and absolutely terrifying
at the same time. I've also been a part
of 1794 Scholars and the National
Society of Collegiate Scholars. I was the
vice president of PACE. I've also been a
part of Apples for Kids. I'm an RA at
Massey Hall. I also spent a little bit of
time and NAACP. My goal is to
become a civil rights attorney but long
term I also eventually want to be a
state representative for the state of
Tennessee because there... there's still so
much work to do in my community here.
To me being a Vol means giving back and
putting others before yourself.
Harboring a lot of negative energy; that
takes too much time; that takes too much
energy and it's not good for your skin.
So being positive; why wouldn't I want to
do that? And I think that's what being
a Vol is is being positive to yourself
and to the people around you.
I've grown to appreciate my experiences here, good
or bad. I am so incredibly grateful for
all the amazing people I've met here.
Oh, I may cry thinking about it. I've
met so many amazing people during my
time in college.
UT has taught me resilience and UT has taught me
independence and UT has reminded me to
stand up for what I believe in.
Neither one of my parents have degree and I'm
getting mine. I'm finally getting mine
and it's bit it's bittersweet it's
bittersweet because I'm so sad to be
leaving but I'm so glad that I'm finally done.
I'm so happy. I'm so excited. I'm very
glad that I chose UT and that I chose to stay here.
[Music]
