Working hard for something is often rewarded in many ways. Sometimes with gifts, awards and other material things, sometimes just words of encouragement and the presence and attention of someone important to you. This semester, I’ve been lucky enough to be enlightened by an Honors Thesis Presentation, to have sat in the bleachers of a Special Olympics basketball game, and to have cheered on the first base line for some of the funniest boys I’ve ever met. No matter what the occasion of event, the UMass Lowell community is bursting at the seams with encouragement and support for others.
Being in the Honors College here at the University of Massachusetts Lowell is both an honor and a daunting task. I’m grateful to be able to be recognized for the hard work and dedication that I put into my school work, but also am overwhelmed by the idea of what the Honors College will bring me in the future. I know that senior year, I’m going to be required to come up with an Honors thesis or an Honors project. Now, as an almost-19-year-old freshman who doesn’t even know what I’m doing for dinner tonight, the thought of coming up with an entire thesis or project that will determine whether or not I graduate from the Honors College makes my stomach hurt. However, some of that nausea was eased a few months ago when our FYSH class took a field trip to O’Leary library to watch a senior named Megan present her Honors Thesis. Her presentation was heavily media based, which was nice to see. Not only did it make the presentation more interesting, but it helped relieve the idea that I’d have to present a paper the length of the entire Harry Potter series without any sort of aid. In high school, I was active in the TV Media department, anchoring the morning news, acting in Homecoming and March Madness videos, as well as the filming and editing portions. Learning that Megan had no media experience prior to her Honors project yet was able to learn how to film and edit with the help of her advisor to create a project that was as awesome as it was gives me the confidence I need to know that when the time comes, I’m sure I can create an Honors Thesis or Honors Project that I can be proud of. Learning about the work Megan did in regards to technology in the classroom and utilizing modern technologies to help students learn and understand was very cool. Having gone to school back when there were just dry erase boards and loud, wheezing projectors as well as more recently with iPads and SmartBoards, her presentation explaining how technology often helps students comprehend in a more dynamic way was understandable. Watching Megan’s Honors Project not only related to me and my learning style, but also made me feel more comfortable being in the Honors College having to face a Thesis. Being able to support her in her presentation was as beneficial for her as it was for me.
Also during high school I played a very active role in our school’s PALS program, which is our version of Best Buddies. I’ve always had a passion for helping and interacting with those with special needs, so being able to attend UMass Lowell’s Special Spirit Basketball Game was a amazing experience for me. In high school, the boys in our PALS program participated in the Special Olympics at Fitchburg State every year, and every year the day before the event, we’d have a school wide pep rally for them to show our support. Being co-president of PALS, I often was the MC of the pep rally, introducing the boys and rallying cheers from all the grades. Being able to watch the smiles on not only their faces, but also the faces of their parents, is one of the greatest feelings for me. Everyone involved with PALS was always so grateful to my high school community for standing behind the boys and giving them unconditional support, and being able to sit on the bleachers and cheer on basketball players from Londonderry and Pinkerton gave me that same feeling. Unlike in high school, I didn’t know these athletes or their families. I was surrounded by parents and loved ones cheering on their athletes, and that made it an even more unique experience for me. Witnessing the elaborate set up for the event, the balloons and streamers, the UMass Lowell cheerleaders there to support, and even the A Capella groups performing between quarters, showed me and the athletes how much support UML has for the special needs community. My favorite part about any Special Olympics event is the genuine kindness and compassion the athletes have. They don’t care about winning, they're only there to have fun. At one point in the basketball game a younger girl fell in the midst of a scuffle for the ball. Immediately, an older player at least 6 feet tall stopped the game and cleared space around her, very intent on making sure she was alright. She immediately popped up from the ground, smiling from ear to ear, gave him a high five, and the game proceeded. The sportsmanship of the athletes is something you’d have to see to believe. During the break times in between quarters there would be different performances, the cheerleaders showed off their flips, the A Capella groups sang beautiful harmonies, and there was even a karate demonstration. As the audience and players waited for the next quarter to begin there was always music playing, and that can only mean one thing: dancing. Athletes and spectators (including myself) alike got up on the court and showed off their moves with Rowdy the Riverhawk. The atmosphere in the Campus Recreation Center during that event was electric. Being able to watch and cheer and support Special Olympics athletes doing something they love in our UMass Lowell community was the highlight of my week. 
The Special Spirit basketball game is not the only sporting event I’ve attended. Spring intramural sports recently began and you can bet I love sitting front row for those. Granted, teams don’t usually have fan sections, but our boys sure did. Some of my guy friends from the floor above me made a softball team for UML Intramurals. Their team name is something ridiculous that none of us girls got but cracked them up. Their first game was Wednesday night on the blue turf under the lights. Caroline, our friend Kaleigh, and myself were the only fans there. We sat next to the makeshift first base line and cheered on our boys, shouting out nicknames and obnoxiously cat calling as they ran by us, racing to beat the first baseman’s catch. Although they were acting tough and macho, you could tell they loved us being there. They relished in us being there to support them as they stood next to home plate, fixed their shirt, and smugly lifted the bat to their shoulder. One of our friends, Ryan, likes to put on this cocky facade where he acts like he’s the greatest thing to walk the earth. It was his turn to bat, so the girls and I were whistling and cheering and making him blush, although he’ll deny that until the day he dies. As he got up to the plate, he set his feet, blew a kiss in our direction, and swung at the approaching pitch. There was so much wind with that swing my hair was messed up. The boys were all laughing at his whiff of an attempt and he laughed it off, playing cool. He swung too hard at the second pitch and threw himself off balance, but still made contact. He tried to act cool as he got out at first, claiming “It’s all good, I moved Sean along, it’s all good”. We high five him as he shuffled back to his team, the three of us giggling at his ridiculous macho man act. Typical Ryan. Nights spent like that, sitting on the track beside the blue turf, making fools of ourselves as we cheer on our friends, are the ones that are my favorite. Being able to go and support the boys in their silly softball games that no one takes seriously is on of my favorite things about college.
No matter what event you’re at or where on campus you are, the UML community is filled with people to support and encourage you. Often times, like during Megan’s Honors Thesis Presentation, you can learn something while offering support. Other times, like during UML’s Special Spirit basketball game, you know you’re making someone’s day and making someone smile by simply cheering them on and giving encouragement; and finally, giving support at silly things like intramural softball games are the times you remember 4 years from now when you’re reminiscing on the glory days of college. The University of Massachusetts Lowell has an incredible atmosphere and an incredible community that can give support and encouragement in any situation whenever it’s needed.
