My most memorable experience

As I listened to Pat Conroy’s words I was filled with a sense of inspiration that he must have felt after reading Wolfe. Conroy reminded me why I love to read and why I love to write, and re-instilled in me my desire to be an English major.

Choosing one of my most meaningful experiences at Carolina is nearly impossible; I love the small aspects of daily life as a Tar Heel. I love hearing the bell tower chime as I walk through campus at sunset, waking up early on Saturday mornings for basketball distribution and huddling in the cold with hundreds of other fans, and wandering down Franklin Street on Saturday afternoons. A handful of experiences, however, stand out as particularly eventful.

Early this fall, I noticed a poster outside of my English classroom announcing that Pat Conroy would be coming to speak at UNC. He was to receive the Thomas Wolfe Award and deliver a speech to the public. As an English major, I was especially excited to learn of Conroy’s visit to campus. I love his books and I knew that the opportunity to hear him speak was truly unique.

When the night finally arrived, I hurried toward the auditorium with excitement and managed to find a seat despite the growing crowd flooding into the room. Students, faculty, and community members anxiously awaited Conroy’s address. The introduction ended in uproarious applause as Pat Conroy stood to receive his award and positioned himself at the podium.

For the next hour, Conroy shared with the audience the significance of the award. Thomas Wolfe was an enormous inspiration to him as a young man and Look Homeward, Angel was one of the most important books Conroy was ever given. As I listened to Pat Conroy’s words I was filled with a sense of inspiration that he must have felt after reading Wolfe. Conroy reminded me why I love to read and why I love to write, and re-instilled in me my desire to be an English major. I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to hear him speak, and as I stood and applauded at the conclusion of the speech, I was also grateful to be in the University environment.

I am presented daily with the opportunity to attend seminars, meetings, and renowned figures from all disciplines. Hearing Pat Conroy speak is representative of the myriad unique experiences that the University of North Carolina has to offer to the community.