When I first transferred to UW-Superior, I was both excited and nervous, while practically sweating black and yellow. The excitement of attending my first Yellowjacket hockey game coupled with meeting new friends and professors was almost overwhelming. As I enter my final semester however, I cannot help but notice how much my school spirit has diminished. I am far more concerned with graduating and securing jobs and internships then I am with wearing a school mascot sweatshirt and cheering at a hockey game. While this is partly because I am coming to the end of my time as a Yellowjacket, I feel that the school does little to encourage school spirit among the upperclassmen.

As an on campus student, I also find it discouraging that residential living communities are offered for freshmen, but not upperclassmen. Freshmen are not the only group of students interested in academics, creative arts, and adventure. Upperclassmen can benefit just as much from these opportunities.

While my school spirit may have diminished since I entered UWS, I feel little motivation to be passionate about being a Yellowjacket. I admire the school for its commitment to liberal arts education, but I cannot help but be a bit selfish about desiring my own academic success above spending time promoting school spirit.