By Nick Kucholtz | Contributor
Last Tuesday, I put on a pair of worn tennis shoes and took a run around my cherished University of Texas campus.
There were no throngs of college students filling Speedway. No noisy buses passing by DKR. No students climbing the steps in front of the Tower. Not even the sound of chirping birds.
The entire run was met with complete silence.
I regret every time I ever voiced my frustration about how crowded campus felt.
In my imagination, I always envisioned a storybook conclusion to my four years at UT.
This was not that conclusion.
I was familiar with the Eyes of Texas before I learned my ABCs. I knew the seating capacity of Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium before I could tie my shoes.
From my first day of kindergarten until I graduated from Wakeland High School in Frisco, I wore burnt orange almost daily. My classmates can attest to that.
I skipped three of my four high school homecomings to watch a Texas football game on TV. At the one I attended, I left my date in the lobby to catch the game. My apologies, Mariah.
On February 19, 2016, six months after submitting my application to the University of Texas, I sat at UFCU Disch-Falk Field for another Texas Longhorns baseball opening day. During the game, I received an email from UT, and I knew immediately what it was.
I can’t recall a single pitch after that, but I remember we lost. Any other day, a Texas sports team’s defeat would have sent me away upset. But not that day. Even if we had lost 100-0, I would have still been beaming.
Later that night, my Dad repeatedly told me how proud he was of me. I couldn’t sleep that night; I was unable to stop smiling and crying.
I had achieved my lifelong dream. I was headed to the place I had always wanted to be. I was a Texas Longhorn.
These past three and a half years have been the best of my life. I met incredible people from around the globe. I experienced what I consider to be the most remarkable school and city.
I daily took in the sight of the stunning UT Tower as I made my way to class. I roared and cheered with over 100,000 fans on game days. I interned with the Longhorn Network and covered unforgettable sporting events. I studied at one of the top journalism schools in the nation – though I admit, I could have devoted more time to studying.
And yes, I spent my fair share of time (and money) on Sixth Street.
I lived my dream.
Now, it’s all come to an end. Just like that. And it stings.
Almost everyone I know has returned to their hometowns, but I refuse to go. I’m simply not ready to part ways yet.
There are far more pressing matters in the world right now, and while no one was prepared for this, it’s still difficult to accept this conclusion.
Our graduation will be held over a laptop. We never had the opportunity to bid farewell to our friends and professors. We can’t attend any more games as students.
However, I find solace in the memories created at the best university in the world. Regardless of how painful this sudden ending is, I will always be thankful for that.
Hook ’Em – now and forever.
Editor’s Note: Kucholtz graduated on May 23, 2020 from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism. Congratulations, Nick!
This article was originally published in the Austin American-Statesman.
