Senior E-News

If only I knew then what I know now...
Words from a recent grad.

Name: Matt Hearne
Class: 2007
Major: Political Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Currently: Attending law school at the University of Miami, FL.

1. What is a “must do” before you leave campus?

The one thing you must do before you leave campus, no matter what your plans are for after graduation, that you more than likely haven’t done is to head over to the Alumni Center and check out the Sports Museum. The Museum houses all the awards and history for all sports programs the University has to offer. The National Championship trophies that will come up every time you meet someone new? They are located there. I spent four years working at the center as a student and it never got old to go check out all the sports memorabilia and history the museum has to offer. You’ll be surprised how much the athletic department has besides basketball and football. ESPN used UConn sports as a launching pad when it was first getting started. The athletic department has brought a lot of great pride to the university and you should take full advantage of the history the Alumni Center presents.

2. What do you wish you knew before entering the “real world”?

I am only in my second year of law school so I have one more year before fully hitting the “real world”. However, life as a graduate student brings about so many more responsibilities than life in undergrad. People always say that you need to master time management in undergrad, but I never knew how hard that would be to do it outside of undergrad. In undergrad you normally knew someone in your class so if you got held up at the library or couldn’t find a parking spot you always knew someone was there to make sure you got notes. However when your new to a school and your focusing on getting assignments done, your not always watching the clock to make sure you get to class on time to get notes. Being able to manage my time effectively in grad school was much tougher to master than it was in undergrad. Maybe it’s because the assignments are much harder now but make sure you are prepared to change the way you manage your time when you leave school.

3. What do you miss most about life at UConn?

There are many things I miss about life at UConn. I currently attend the University of Miami in Miami, FL so the weather is one thing I certainly don’t miss. The football program at the University of Miami is much more “renowned” than UConn’s but the football games are not nearly as fun, so I would have to say the thing I miss the most is UConn’s football games. Granted, waking up at 7am on a Saturday morning to go tailgate for a noon game was never easy, it was always a great time. Sitting in the student section for some great games always led to meeting new people and having a great time with the people you went with. There was also always a ton of alumni around the parking lots tailgating with the students and always telling stories about their times at UConn. When you go to grad school you don’t feel as connected with the sports program at the school and being a huge sports fan, it makes me miss UConn sporting events the most.

4. Why are you a member of the Alumni Association?

I decided to become a member for numerous reasons. I worked at the Alumni Association for all four years of my undergraduate career and grew to love the center. The staff their always treated me with respect and became a second family for me. They helped me with a lot of stuff and always supported me. Through working with them I got to learn a great deal about what the Alumni Association has to offer. Besides the great game watches and happy hours they host throughout not only the state of Connecticut but throughout the whole country, they offer great networking opportunities for you to meet people in a various array of fields. All graduates should definitely become a member. Besides the discounted rate of being a young alumni, you get great deals. Discounts at various hotels and restaurants, discounts at numerous stores throughout the state, and more. It’s really a great deal. The amount you pay for a membership will be a bargain when you realize how much you are saving on all the discounts you receive. In addition, the Alumni Association is a great organization that doesn’t just take your membership dues and pocket them. They give the money back by holding events and giving you chances to connect with the school that gave you a great education.