A lot of my good friends moved away to out-of-town colleges, then there’s me…who decided to stick around.
There’s a common stigma that El Paso’s hometown college experience isn’t as valuable, but I’ve found that’s not the case.
UTEP might not have the flash or funding of bigger schools across the country, but just like any experience — and yes, this sounds cliché — it’s what you make of it.
What many overlook is the rich history of our school. UTEP has produced Olympians, professionals and innovators who’ve left their mark on the world. That type of legacy makes me ask, why not me next?
I’ve always had the dream to play in the Sun Bowl before thousands of fans, bringing passion and traction to the Sun City like no one else has done. Unfortunately, Head Coach Scotty Walden wants big dawgs, and this short king didn’t meet the cut.
Through my eyes, being a Miner means adapting to any random circumstance, environment or issue that pops up. So, I found another way to channel my love for football through journalism and have future plans to continue being around the sport.
Even if the ideal position doesn’t always come right away, there are still countless ways to make an impact.
Sometimes being a Miner means scrambling, like starting one of two assignments at 10:35 p.m., both due at 11:59 p.m., while also getting left on delivered by someone in your DMs claiming they “wanted you”—not me, though, stay safe out there, y’all.
A part of being a Miner also means society looking at you as an underdog and proving them wrong to come out on top.
In many aspects throughout my life and even currently, I felt overlooked and compared to others.
Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I use it as motivation with a ‘go-get-it’ mentality.
It may be tempting to covet someone else’s position , but as a Miner, it means digging deep for the drive within yourself to make your goals come to fruition.
Knowing that pushing myself mentally and physically will reap rewards in the long run, but most importantly, honoring the effort people have made in my life, getting me in this position of higher opportunity.
I’ve noticed real changes when I hold myself to a higher standard. My grades improve, my perspective on home life feels livelier, my relationships with friends and family are more appreciated, I find passion in my job, and my parents worry less about me roaming around at 4 a.m. (bless their hearts).
Everyone’s “piece of gold” may shine a little brighter or carry a bit more dirt, yet gold is still gold—and every experience has the chance to shine its own unique light on the world.
For me, being a Miner truly means digging through challenges and tackling them head-on, constantly pushing myself and the people I care about to grow.
So, pick up your pick, and go Miners!
Cameron Mason is a staff reporter for The Prospector and can be reached at [email protected]
