Matson: Looking back and moving on
- May. 2, 2012
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On Thursday, March 5, 2009, my friend and I took an eight-hour drive from the Twin Cities to Lawrence for the Kansas men’s basketball game the following day against Texas. At the time, I was a freshman at the University of St. Thomas, unsure of my career aspirations.
My friend graduated from Kansas in 2008. He was eager to take me to a game at Allen Fieldhouse and to show me around Lawrence and KU campus. He knew how much I loved college sports. This three-day vacation in Lawrence, highlighted by the Kansas basketball game was life-changing.
Before my friend and I drove back to the Twin Cities, one of his friends, who I eventually befriended, asked me if I would transfer to Kansas. I said no because I was afraid transferring out-of-state was unrealistic.
As I was finishing my freshman year at St. Thomas, I pondered transferring to Kansas, but I had doubts that my family and I could make it work financially. After much contemplation and discussion with my friends and family, I decided to transfer to Kansas after my sophomore year to enroll in the school of journalism.
Transferring to Kansas was the biggest and best decision of my life.
Leaving my friends and family in Minnesota was difficult, but transferring to Kansas was in my best interest since I was serious about pursuing a career in sports journalism. Plus, I wanted to make the most out of my college experience.
When I arrived in Lawrence at the start of my junior year, I hardly knew anyone, so meeting people and forming friendships was imperative. I am incredibly blessed to have met many great people and to have made special friendships during my time at Kansas that I’ll always cherish.
My greatest joy at Kansas was my sports journalism work and sharing my thoughts with you, whether it was sharing my University Daily Kansan Sports articles or my KJHK Sports articles, PJ 2 CJ podcast episodes and radio show archives. I thank all of you who took time to read and listen to my work, regardless of whether you agreed or disagreed with my opinions.
The Kansas men’s basketball team and Allen Fieldhouse will always have a special place in my heart. Countless, indelible memories were created watching and covering the team, ranging from covering it in the Champions Classic and NCAA men’s basketball Tournament to witnessing the stupendous final Border War game at Allen Fieldhouse.
I grew up during my time at Kansas. I learned to overcome my fears, my Asperger’s Syndrome and the absence of my father.
I thank everyone in my life – my mother, sister, relatives, friends, colleagues, etc. – that supported me through good and bad times and sacrificed a lot to put me in a position to succeed. I owe a debt of gratitude to all of you as I embark on the next chapter of my life.
