“Survival is insufficient”At first glance, I, an incoming freshman from Memphis, Tennessee, have nothing in common with Kirsten Raymonde, the protagonist of Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Kirsten Raymonde perseveres as her world collapses around her due to Georgia's influence; he watches worldly concerns, such as fame, money, and luxury, become obsolete and replaced by the need to survive. But a life based only on survival is missing. This thirst for more is why, in Station Eleven, the Traveling Symphony is formed. In a world defined by loss, Kirsten and the other members of the Traveling Symphony remind people that there is beauty and richness in life when you strive to thrive instead of survive. This lesson, however, doesn't stop with the survivors of Station Eleven; surviving the University of Tennessee is not enough. I want to thrive and succeed. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Soon, my life will be drastically different when I move from Memphis, Tennessee, my home for the past eighteen years, to Knoxville, Tennessee. I will leave my parents' house to go to a dormitory to live with someone who is not from my family. I will trade home-cooked meals for dining hall food and move from a small private school to a large public university. It's true that starting college is far less life-changing than surviving a pandemic, but the motto “Survival is insufficient” still holds true. I can easily survive my first year. I'm mature enough to wake up, eat, go to class, exercise, study, and sleep without my parents telling me what to do and when to do it, but I wouldn't truly live if my life were defined by these events. If anything, I would be a “high-functioning sleepwalker” (St. John Mandel 163) as Dahlia would say in Station Eleven. I want to be able to reflect on college and remember something more meaningful than just lessons: I want to reflect on authentic relationships, spontaneous adventures, inspiring conversations, and teaching mistakes. The Traveling Symphony exists to remind survivors that art enriches lives beyond just survival, and as I transition to life as a college student, I will prioritize opportunities that transform the University of Tennessee from a school to a home. First off, I completed Ignite Outdoors; I chose to participate in Ignite Outdoors because I enjoy hiking, camping, and paddle boarding and thought it would be a unique way to meet like-minded people. I arrived knowing no one and unsure of my outdoor abilities; just like Kirsten, I was lonely and anxious, but this quickly faded. I camped, hiked, and talked with my team for hours; we survived together, and as Ignite continued, we went from strangers to friends. Ignite is special to me because it gave me a group of friends who enriched my experience as a UT student before my first day of class. Ignite was the first of many steps toward UT immersion, and I know the benefits firsthand. I put time and energy into participating and Ignite, and in return, I received memories, friends, experience, and confidence to further engage with UT and the outdoor program. Once I arrive on campus, there will be many new ways for me to get involved: Greek life, clubs, classes, student ministry, volunteer work, and more. These opportunities, if I engage and apply myself, will be what enhances my UT experience beyond the point of alone.