
Author: Rachel Moore Information Sciences, ‘26
Each semester, Welcome Week infuses students with a sense of belonging and connection. For those who feel a little different, this can be truly transformative.
My early childhood was spent isolated in homeschool, and the long-awaited transition to a classroom setting brought bullying and depression. Decades later, as a first-generation student in her 40s studying online, that feeling of not-quite-belonging only intensified.
It was time to challenge it. With a mix of trepidation and hope, I decided to go to my first-ever UT event: the Welcome Back Bash, presented by the Center for Student Engagement with assistance from the Campus Events Board.
As I approached the crowd, my mind listed reasons why I wouldn’t fit in—but the event’s infectious joy quickly replaced my fears. Music and laughter filled the air. A wide grin spread across my face, my senses overwhelmed by the lively scene. Crafts! Games! Axe-throwing! Photo booths! Is that… roller skating?! My heart raced, trying to keep up with the excitement.
The aroma of the food trucks was tempting, but I assumed they’d be expensive. A fellow student clued me in—they were free! Those tacos were some of the best ever, and I couldn’t believe we didn’t have to pay.
Normally, a sea of students might spike my anxiety, but this felt different. Every interaction was a warm welcome, making it a true Welcome Back Bash. In those moments, amidst the laughter and camaraderie, the powerful truth hit me: I’m a Vol now.
Welcome Week is much more than fun and games. It fosters a vibrant community where everyone, regardless of their differences, can feel at home. For non-traditional, online students like me, it invites us into a world we might have thought was beyond reach.
Some people carry the weight of never feeling like we fit in. Events like Welcome Week chip away at that feeling, helping us feel accepted and included. Even in a crowd of strangers, we can find our place, our people, and a sense of belonging that heals.
I left campus not just with good memories; I took my first steps as a member of the UT community, excited to embrace my future as a Volunteer.