Being from Connecticut, UConn is always a common topic of conversation. I get the same reaction every time I tell someone new that I attend University of Connecticut. It is always “Oh it is beautiful up there!!” “How about that women’s basketball team?!” “Oh, do you know so-and-so? He/she goes to UConn too!” I am lucky to attend a college that has a special place in my heart as well as many others. I feel the energy and love in air when someone mentions they are an UConn alumni.
Although I often meet people who have attended UConn, last summer at my work place, I met some alumni who particularly sparked my attention. The elder couple came from western Connecticut and met while studying at Storrs and fell in love. Since then they made a life together and moved to the shoreline of CT. The first time they came into my work place they stayed for the entire duration of my shift, chatting with me about the campus, basketball, and how much husky pride they have. It was so amazing to feel the genuine excitement and love they have for UConn. The couple continued to come into my job every week or so and would request to sit in my section so I could talk more about UConn with them. They called me their "UConn gal". At the end of the summer the couple knew my entire life story as I knew theirs and on my last day of work, they left me extra money to put towards my books or school work.
When I came back home from school this year the couple came into my work and was overjoyed to hear about the girls basketball team, all of my classes, and the new construction happening on campus. As the summer went on they didn’t come to visit me as often as they usually had, but I didn’t think anything of it. On my last day of work for the summer, the woman showed up without her husband. She looked like she had aged 6 years within the month I had not seen her. She approached me and immediately started thanking me for all the memories. At first I was confused, but then she explained to me that her husband had passed away three weeks ago. She thanked me for sharing the love for UConn with them and for listening to their stories and old memories. She told me that some of the happiest times within the last few months of her husband’s life were sharing these stories with me because they reminded each other why they fell in love. The woman didn’t stay for dinner this time, instead she handed me some money and said, “I hope UConn brings you all the happiness it brought me and more, GO HUSKIES!”
This old couple reminded me how my days at the University of Connecticut may be numbered but the memories and relationships I build here will serve me long after graduation. I have been proud to be a Husky since the day I got my acceptance letter, and I will be a proud be a Husky my entire life.
