“Survival Is Enough” At first glance, I, a new student from Memphis, Tennessee, have nothing in common with Kirsten Raymonde, the protagonist of Emily's Station Eleven St. John Mandel. Kirsten Raymonde perseveres as her world collapses around her due to the Georgia Flu; she sees worldly concerns, such as fame, money, and luxury, becoming obsolete and replaced by the need to survive. But a life based solely on survival is lacking. This thirst for more is the reason 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 we strive to thrive rather than survive. This lesson, however, does not stop with the survivors of Station Eleven; surviving the University of Tennessee is not enough. I want to prosper and succeed. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essaySoon my life will be radically different as I move from Memphis, Tennessee, my home of eighteen years, to Knoxville, Tennessee. . I'm going to move out of my parents' house and into a dorm to live with someone who isn't family. I will trade my home-cooked meals for restaurant food and move from a small private school to a large public university. Sure, starting college is a lot less life-changing than surviving a pandemic, but the motto “survival is not enough” still rings 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 really live if my life was defined by those events . Rather, I would be a “high-functioning sleepwalker” (St. John Mandel 163), as Dahlia might say in Station Eleven. I want to be able to reflect on college and remember something more meaningful than my classes – I want to reflect on authentic relationships, spontaneous adventures, thought-provoking conversations, and teaching mistakes. The Traveling Symphony exists to remind survivors that art enriches lives beyond mere survival, and as I transition to life as a student, I will prioritize opportunities that transform the University of Tennessee from a school into a home. First, I finished Ignite Outdoors; I chose to participate in Ignite Outdoors because I love hiking, camping, and paddle boarding and thought it would be a unique way to meet like-minded people. I arrived not knowing anyone and was unsure of my outdoor abilities; Like Kirsten, I was lonely and anxious, but that soon faded. I camped, hiked, and talked to 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 even before my first day of classes. Ignite was the first of many steps to immersing myself in UT, and I know the benefits firsthand. I dedicated time and energy to participate and Ignite, and in return I received memories, friends, experience, and confidence to become more involved in UT and the outdoor program. Once I arrive on campus, there will be many new ways to get involved: Greek life, clubs, classes, student ministries, volunteering, and more.