Up@dawn 2.0

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Introductions

Let's introduce ourselves, Fall 2015 CoPhilosophy collaborators. (I'll tell you in class why I call my version of the Intro course "CoPhilosophy." But maybe you can guess, from the William James quote in the masthead.)

I invite you all to hit "comment" and reply with your own introductions, and (bearing in mind that this is an open site) your answers to two basic questions: Who are you? Why are you here? (in this course, on this campus, in this state, on this planet...)

Our first class meeting will consist mainly of introductions and a heads-up that this is an unconventional course in ways I hope you'll find delightful, instructive, and rewarding. If you don't like to move, breathe, and converse in the open air, this may not be the course for you. But if you don't especially like the conventional lecture-style academic model in which I talk and you scribble silently in your seats, it may be just what you're looking for.

We'll not go over the syllabus or get bogged down in the nuts and bolts of course mechanics on Day #1, there's plenty of time for those details later. But do peruse the blogsite and syllabus (linked in the right margin) before next class and let me know what's unclear. Meanwhile, read your classmates' intros and post your own.

I'm Dr. Oliver, aka (despite my best efforts to discourage it) "Dr. Phil." I live in Nashville with my wife, Younger Daughter, a dog (Angel) and a cat (Zeus). Older Daughter is a film student in another state.

My office is in James Union Building 300. Office hours are Mondays thru Thursdays from 1 to 2 pm, & by appointment. On nice days office hours will probably be outside in front of the library (in  the "Confucius" alcove, if it's available.) I answer emails during office hours, but not on weekends. Surest way to get a quick response:come in or call during office hours.

I've been at MTSU for over a decade, teaching philosophy courses on diverse subjects including atheism, childhood, happiness, the environment, the future, and bioethics.

My Ph.D. is from Vanderbilt. I'm originally from Missouri, near St. Louis. I was indoctrinated as a Cardinals fan in early childhood, so I understand something about religious zeal. My undergrad degree is from Mizzou, in Columbia MO. (I wish my schools weren't in the SEC-I don't approve of major collegiate sports culture or f
ootball brain injuries, as I'm sure to tell you again.)

My philosophical expertise, such as it is, centers on the American philosophical tradition of William James and John Dewey. A former student once asked me to respond to a questionnaire, if you're curious you can learn more about me there.

What you most need to know about me, though, is that I'm a peripatetic and will encourage you all to join me in that philosophical lifestyle as often as possible during discussion time. (If you're not sure what peripatetic means, scan the right sidebar or read the syllabus or ask me. Or look it up.)

I post my thoughts regularly to my blogs Up@dawn and Delight Springs, among others, and to Twitter (@osopher), and am planning to experiment with podcasting as a classroom tool this semester. Follow me if you want to.
 
But of course, as Brian Cohen said, you don't have to follow anyone. (Extra credit if you get that reference... and real extra credit if you realize that my "extra credit" is usually rhetorical.) However, if a blog or podcast link turns up with the daily quiz (which will always be posted on this site no later than the night before class), you might find it helpful to read or listen.
 
Enough about me. Who are you? (Where are you from, where have you been, what do you like, who do you want to become,...?) Why are you here? (On Earth, in Tennessee, at MTSU, in philosophy class)? Hit "comments" below and post your introduction, then read your classmates'... and bear in mind that this is an open site. The world can read it. (The world's probably busy with other stuff, of course - Kardashians and cooking shows and other examples of  what passes for "reality" these days.)

Please include your section number in your reply, and in all future posts on this site: #8-TTh 8 am, #12 MW 2:20 pm, #11-MW 4:10 pm - turns out I'm the one who was confused about the section #s. Sorry!

102 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:23 AM CDT

    (#8-TTh) Hi, my name is Adam! I work two jobs, one at Amazon and the other as a manager at Arby's. I have a cat (Dora) and live on my own. I am here to become a drone pilot, I also plan to pursue a career in the Air Force and am on my way to try and improve the quality of my life!

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    1. Thanks for boldly going first, Adam. (I'll bet you get jokes about being the first man all the time.)

      Looking forward to hearing more about drone piloting, the Air Force, and how you address the ethical concerns I'm sure you've already thought about.

      jpo

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  2. Haley Harwell1:29 PM CDT

    For starters, my name is Haley Harwell, section 12( 2.20-3.45). I’m an accounting major, and I’ll be graduating this December. I live in Murfreesboro with my best friend, although we’re both originally from a small town near the TN/AL border, where my Mom and miniature dachshund (Madam Albus Dumbledore “Albie”) still live.

    I’m taking this course because I’m very interested in learning the material (because I’m pretty sure I know little to nothing) and also having a short break from my accounting courses.

    As for why I’m here, on a larger scale, I’m not entirely sure. A cliché answer would be to make a difference, but there’s more than just that. I want to be a voice of reason, but sometimes that’s difficult. Although I question a lot, that doesn’t mean everyone does, which I’m beginning to realize. I’m a liberal, strong-willed, humanistic, intersectional feminist, and I’m also very receptive to other’s opinions and points of view. How could I ever expect anyone to show me respect and listen to what I have to say if I never do the same? Ultimately, I believe that this life is all I have, so I want to make the most of the time I have while I’m here. Oh, and I’m pretty sure Netflix is my better half.

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  4. You sound like a stereotype-shattering pre-accountant; and your openness to alternative PsOV will serve you well in philosophy!

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  5. Lucas Rogers4:20 PM CDT

    (#11-MW) Hi, my name is Lucas Rogers, and I am from a little small place called Soddy Daisy, which is an outskirt of Chattanooga, TN. Most of you all have probably never heard of it. I am a freshman who is majoring in mechatronic engineering. I hope to get an internship at Nissan before I graduate to jumpstart my career, and I will hopefully start working there upon graduation.

    To be honest, I am not really sure how I managed to get in philosophy class. I was looking for a class to take as one of my Gen Eds, and philosophy sounded a lot better than dance or music.

    Well one reason I wanted to attend MTSU, was to get away. I love my family and friends in Soddy, but I wanted to start something new. I also really liked the campus here, and I also wouldn't have to sell my kidney to be able to afford it. Overall I hope I really like it here, and can't wait to see what future holds for me at MTSU.

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    1. I always see the signs for Soddy Daisy when I'm C'nooga, always wonder what it means.

      (You're listed in sec. 12, not 11.)

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  6. Anonymous9:53 PM CDT

    (# 12-MW 4:10) Hi, my name is Sierra Cox, I am from Johnson city, a small college town also known for being mentioned in the famous song 'wagon wheel'. I am a freshman who plans on majoring in biology. Like most I took this class because it sounded better than art or dance, but I have always thought philosophy seemed pretty cool. I love traveling and that is what has led me 5 hours from home to MTSU. I can't wait to see what all MTSU has to offer!

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    1. I taught for a year in J City, made that 5-hour trip on many a weekend. Pretty country, great music!

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  7. Kaitlyn Hardy11:31 PM CDT

    (#8 Th 8:00) Hi, my name is Kaitlyn Hardy, and I am born and raised right here in Murfreesboro. I'm a freshman this year at MTSU and am majoring in Speech Pathology and Audiology to focus on Speech Therapy. A lot of people give me a weird look when I tell them my "major of many words", and always ask why that one so I always give them the same answer. My little sister is autistic and hard of hearing, so I've been learning quite a bit of sign language with her and I also go to Vandy's Children Hospital with her for her Speech Therapy. I absolutely adore kids, and I want to help the ones that can't communicate as well as the of us.
    On another note, music is a very important hobby of mine, and I play a multitude of instruments such as clarinet, saxophone, and piano. But I also love playing uncommon instruments like my ukulele, ocarina, and my favorite is the melodica (an air controlled, hand-held mini piano).
    And finally, I took this class simply because I want to learn materials that have deeper meanings than numbers in a calculator.

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  8. Anonymous11:59 PM CDT

    #8 Greetings, fellow humans. My name is Steven Sheffey. I'm originally from Florida, although I've lived in Tennessee for 11 years. Despite this, I feel no strong sense of attachment to the state. I feel most comfortable on the Internet, or in an academic environment like MTSU. I'm a computer science major, so I appropriately like computer programming, but much of my free time is spent exploring the internet or watching anime. I'm always a sucker for anime or shows in general that feature an unreliable narrator. Seeing a world through the eyes of someone with a radically abnormal perspective fascinates me. I'm liberally aligned on most political issues, although given a solid argument, I would change my opinions on most things if I'm proven wrong. I try to avoid making statements if I can come up with a way to refute them. I want to go into some sort of research in the field of computer science, whether it's academic, government-based, or private.

    Proceeding to the question of "why", I'm not sure why I'm here in the universe. I'm skeptical of the idea that there is any sort of purpose to my existence, besides that which I assign to myself. Even then, I can decide what I believe the purpose of my existence is, but what isn't decided by my own actions is up for rest of the universe to control. If I had to decide some sort of personal purpose for my existence, it would be to make an academic or intellectual contribution that betters humanity in some way, or at the very least, contribute some sort of new thought to the world. As for why I'm in Tennessee, my family has lived here since 2004. I'm at MTSU because it's both affordable and has one of the best computer science programs in the state. However, I like MTSU's campus more than any other environment I've inhabited because it's an academic environment where I can be exposed to the ideas of both my peers and superiors. Lastly, I'm in this particular philosophy class because philosophy seems to be the most interesting of my general education requirements. I took PHIL3170 last semester and enjoyed the content. Much of my ability to make coherent arguments regarding social issues comes from what I've learned in that class. Additionally, Dr. Oliver has been given glowing reviews from many of my friends, and I'm excited to experience his class. I look forward to learning from everyone here.

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    1. Thank you friends for their referrals!

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  10. (#11-MW)- Hi, I’m Morgan Blair. I’m a recent graduate of Mt. Juliet High School. I’m originally from Huntington, West Virginia. When I was two months old, my parents and I moved to Nashville so my dad could pursue a career as a songwriter. Growing up around music and creative individuals led me to follow a path towards the business side of the industry. MTSU is one of three schools I considered that offered a Music Business program. It was also the school where I felt the most at home when I walked on campus.

    One of the reasons I’m in Philosophy class is because I tend to question everything. I believe that some questions don’t have obvious answers, and that some of those answers just lead to more questions.

    I like to read books, but don’t particularly like when the good ones end. I enjoy serial watching TV shows and re-watching movies, sometimes to the point of being able to quote them in their entirety. However, music remains my go-to passion. Be it live shows, iTunes, or just driving with the windows down and the radio up, it’s what truly inspires me. I’d like to one day work on Music Row and hopefully find my place and purpose in this world.

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    1. Being around creative people led you to business? I guess it can be an outlet for creativity too, though, right?

      (You're also listed in sec.12.)

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  11. Hey, Everyone! My name is Blake, and I will be in section 11 on MW at 4:10pm. The first thing you'll notice about me is that I'm a large guy; I have been large and in charge since day one! I was born in Nashville weighing 12 pounds 4 ounce. I have been to a couple of colleges before landing at MTSU. I was a pre-med straight out of high school, but I caught mono my first semester. I didn't go right back to school out of fear I screwed up my chances of getting into med school, so a semester later I went to culinary school. In July of last year, I was in a car accident going down I-24 that resulted in knee surgery. It made me realize life is too short; I came to the conclusion that being cooped up in a kitchen for 16 hours per day wasn't for me. That brings me here to this class at this school. I don't really know what I want to do as far as careers go; I just want to strive to be better.

    I like sports more than just about anything on earth. However, I'd say my favorite thing is spending time with my family. I also enjoy spending time just reading and relaxing when I'm not at work. The most enthralling thing in my life right now is being able to discover who I am.

    I want to become someone that isn't afraid to stand up when life gets tough and say I may not have it all figured out right now, but I'll get where I'm going one day...that's all the fun in life...the in between stuff.

    Also, I am here simply because of who I am.

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    1. You sound large-hearted!

      (Sec. 11's at 2:20, 12's at 4:10. Happy to have you in either or both.)

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    2. Well, I will be in the class at 4:10. The MTSU app must be backwards because it says that the 4:10 is section 11.

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  12. (#8 Th 8:00) Hey y'all I'm Janet Peoples, I'm a criminal justice major and hopefully one day be in either the TBI or FBI. I grew up in a small town called Shelbyville, tn, it wasn't the best place so that is one of the reasons why i went to mtsu and moved here. I work at Kroger so if I look familiar you might have seen me at Kroger because I'm either there or on campus. I live in a college apartment with one of my good friends and her younger sister. This is my second apartment I've lived in and i'm hoping this time around is better than my first experience with living in a college apartment. i'm a very quiet and shy person and usually don't talk first or even talk at all unless you talk to me first or make me talk. I signed up for Philosophy because i needed another ged ed and I was hoping to learn more about Philosophy because I don't know anything about it. Two things pretty much everyone first notice about me is my very bright blonde hair and my height ( i'm under 5 foot). I hope to make a difference and be a "somebody" one day.

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    1. My late father-in-law went to the Walking Horse celebration in Shelbyville every year, I went once. I'll be interested in hearing your opinion of the "soring" situation, animal rights is one of the topics we address in our course.

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  13. Hey guys I"m Rushdi Al-Hasan, I was born and raised in Nashville, TN. Originally I am from Palestine. I am a computer science major for multiple reasons. My dad is a computer science major from MTSU as well and growing up I was always in his office and very fascinated with the field. I am taking philosophy because its a subject I want to learn more about. Currently living in Nashville and driving to Murfressboro. Not to bad of a drive. I'm a freshmen and looking forward to meeting new people.

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    1. You'll be one of my go-to guys when I can't figure out how to run the machines. Of course, just about everybody your age is better with computers than I am.

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  14. Grady Burnham3:20 PM CDT

    Hello everyone, my name is Grady Burnham. I am an incoming freshman. I am from Spring Hill, TN. My goal is to graduate in four years with a degree in commercial construction management, but I am enjoying college so much, I might just stay for six. I chose to take philosophy because I have always enjoyed discussing ideas with others and listening to their opinions. I am looking forward the walk and talk classes. See you soon.

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    1. Don't leave 'til you're ready. It took me five years to get my undergrad, because I didn't discover philosophy until my jr year. If I'd graduated in four, I'd have gotten more alright: more career/life disappointment.

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  15. Heyo, I'm Courtney Branum and I will be in the section #12 class at 4:10pm on Monday's and Wednesdays. Presently I'm majoring in English with the intent on someday teaching the subject.

    The majority of my free time (of which I have an almost alarming abundance of) is spent writing, both individually and collaboratively, and likewise I have been hosting a collaborative writing/story-telling group based online for a little over two years now. Aside from writing, I've also had a long running interest in learning foreign languages. Danish is probably my most proficient language (besides English, of course) and one thing I've found that I enjoy with this skill is translating Danish music into English and hosting it on YouTube, where I've received a substantial amount of positive feedback from both native speakers and other people trying to learn the language. So, I guess that's pretty cool. Apart from Danish, however, I've been studying German for the past few years, and know just a minuscule amount of Spanish and Russian.

    In regards to the second question, I don't really have anything profound or interesting to say other than I thought taking Philosophy would be pretty rad.

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    1. We're all short of time, I think, or at least of optimized time. Speaking of Danes, Kierkegaard said we must live forward and understand backward (he ran out of time at age 44).

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  16. Anonymous8:28 PM CDT

    Hello! My name is Ashley Stancil (#11- MW 2:20-3:45). I am from Memphis, TN, and I am a transfer student from UTC. I am in school to become a neonatal nurse practitioner. My goal is to get a BSN within the next two years. Afterwards, I will pursue a MSN followed by a PhD. I am taking this class because I think it will be fun.

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  17. Pres. McPhee told us at the Fall Faculty Meeting that our nursing program is the best in the state. True?

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  18. Anonymous10:51 AM CDT

    I've heard that it is, but I'm not sure. Hopefully I will be starting the program next fall.

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  19. Anonymous12:16 PM CDT

    My name is Misha Sweet (#12- MW2:20-3:45) I am lucky enough to live in a great apartment in the heart of downtown Nashville with my best friend and our 45 Gal aquarium( which is an amazingly relaxing hobby I recommend to everyone) and our 3 cats ( Rasta, Cheese, and Wallie) . In addition of being in the Professional Pilot program I also work two jobs( pathology group billing & downtown bar tending ). I am taking this class because I am a very Type A person and would like to expand/improve my way of thinking/ approach at life- and feel like this may be the class to help with that. In what little free time I have I fill with music/arts/brewery festivals and friends and family.

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  20. Doesn't look like you've got much room for expansion! But as Emily Dickinson said, "the brain is wider than the sky..."

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  21. Anonymous3:00 PM CDT

    Hello I'm kali Sunstrom (#11) I'm here in tn because my step father had brain surgery and wanted to be closer to family. I graduated from Smyrna high. I wanted to live with my family and save money that is y I chose mtsu. I chose this class because it was the most interesting choice out of the ones I could choose from to completely my major requirements. I hope this class is fun!

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  22. Hey! I'm Mikey! (11)
    I am a music business major. I am also a transfer from a community college in Bloomington, IL (headquarters of State Farm and birth place of Steak n' Shake). I am in Tennessee because I love it here! It's beautiful! Also because the music business program here is rad and close to Nashville. I'm taking a philosophy class because I had to fill a requirement, but I specifically chose it over the others because I value thinking. I always love conversations or books that get my mind going. I aspire to be a better thinker and I hope that this class will add a bit to that.
    Looking forward to conversations and new friendships this semester!

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  23. Anonymous5:43 PM CDT

    Hey my name is Arol Zague, I am Biochemist major here at Mtsu and my interest in psychology and philosophy brought me here. My ultimate goal in life is to proceed and succeed.

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  24. I'm Trent Dillihay, and I'm a freshman Psychology major. I'm endlessly fascinated by philosophy, psychology, history (particularly of the medieval/Renaissance variety), and mythology and religion. I'm studying Psychology because I find the complex, intricate thing that is the human psyche really interesting; I like to try and figure out what makes people tick, and I want to work in a field that enables me to study and discover more about the human mind and hopefully help some people in the process. I also want to say that I am a very opinionated person with some fairly strong and maybe a bit controversial views on some things. As for why I'm here: I'm in philosophy because I want to understand more about this fascinating topic; the fact that personal philosophy and worldview can be of psychological importance, both in how it affects and is affected by their mind, also helps.
    I'm at MTSU because it's a good college in an area I'm familiar with.
    I'm in TN because my family moved here from Florida about 10 years back.
    Beyond that, I'm not going to really go into that right now because 1) it would take up too much space, 2) I don't really have my answers for a lot of the really big picture kind of answers right now, as I still need to do some more internal philosophizing in order to actually articulate what's really just kind of an inherently understood but inexpressible gut feeling, and 3) I've been fighting some technical difficulties trying to get this uploaded and am a little angry with technology at the moment. This class does seem like it's going to be really fun though.

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  25. Anonymous6:20 PM CDT

    (#11) Hi, my name is Fatima Rizvi. I am a chemistry major. I'm from Pakistan. I'm going to school to become a pharmacist because it is my passion to be involved in the improvement of others health, to gain knowledge in the field of medicine, and to obtain a meaningful career in the medical field. I am taking philosophy because ethics, religion, politics, and other similar topics fascinate me and help me think outside the box.

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  26. Anonymous8:40 PM CDT

    Hi, my name is Eli Price and I'm in section 12. I'm a Global Studies major here because I want to travel lots of places. I'm from a small town called Sparta, Tennessee. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone while we walk around campus and talk about philosophy.

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  27. Hey guys! My name is Jeri Radford (#11). I am from Murfreesboro, and it is very convenient having such a great school right down the road from my home which is one reason why I am here. This is my first year here at Middle Tennessee State University. I attended Oakland High School where I was able to dual enroll with Motlow State Community College in the Mechatronics program. I took on and completed the first four basic engineering classes. Now I am continuing my interest in Mechatronics Engineering at MTSU and minoring in Aerospace Technologies. Of course like most, I had to chose a Humanties/GenEd class; this philosophy class seemed the more interesting one out of the bunch. Therefore, here I am.
    Nice to meet everyone.

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  28. {8} Hello, my name is Karol Saleh. I am a chemistry major in my sophomore year. I am originally from Egypt and my family moved to U.S.A. in December 2005 for better life and better education.
    i have chosen to become a pharmacist in the future because the main point is to help the poor people in my country Egypt, by have my own pharmacy and a medicine factory and giving medicine for free. this is my number one dream that i have to work hard for it because God has a purpose for me to send me to U.S.A.

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  29. Hey yall! My name is McKayla Boatwright (#11), I am from Knoxville, and am a junior here at MTSU. I am a biology major with a concentration in pre-med and a double minor in chemistry and Spanish. I get asked on a regular basis why I chose MT over UTK and the answer is really simple, I needed a change. Growing up in Knoxville, I've pretty much done everything there is to do, and after awhile it got boring. When I came down to Murfreesboro for the first time I knew it was a place I could call home. When I graduate I plan on attending medical school and from there, hopefully becoming a doctor.

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  31. Hey, my name is Justin Kinsey (section 12). I am from Franklin, TN. My major is Business Administration. I work full time and go to school full time so I am generally pretty busy and take full advantage of my time off of school and work. I needed to take a Humanities class and this class was the only one that piqued my interest simply based on the fact I have no idea why philosophy is important and figured I could learn that and why some philosophers are so revered.

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  32. Hey, my name is Blake Crafton (section 12). I am from Chapel Hill, TN. My major is chemistry. I took the last year off from school to work and see if i wanted to go back. I decided to come back to better myself. I chose philosophy as a class because it is something that has always interested me.

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  33. Justin Fox9:35 AM CDT

    Hello everyone, my name is Justin Fox(section 11). I posses many defining traits such as enjoying anime, being a gamer, a love of reading, a passion for cooking/baking and many more. I'm in philosophy because I believe that it could be useful to me during my career and in life. I'm at MTSU because it is a wonderful school that made me feel as if i could fulfill my full potential. I'm in Tennessee because it is where I was born and have lived here ever since. Originally I'm from Franklin, Tennessee but now reside in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

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  34. (8)
    Who am I?
    My name is Sophia Britt, I am a 30 year old TN native and finally learning what happiness really is.
    Why am I here?
    This is a difficult question, many times in life it has been a challenge to know WHERE I am, let alone WHY I am.
    Perhaps the basics: I am at university to learn, study and grow. Biochemistry and yoga are my chosen fields of study, these fields seem to best answer my questions, make me feel whole and continually inspire me to be more of myself. Philosophy aids in my understanding and also fulfills an educational requirement.

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  35. Anonymous11:04 AM CDT

    What's up guys! My name is Zachary Cavaness (Section 11) and I'm from Grayson Georgia. I'm here at MTSU to get my degree in Music Business and hopefully start a career. Looking forward to all of our discussions!

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  36. Hello my name is Matthew Drescher, in section 12. I work at a movie theater, the Smyrna Malco Cinema as an usher and box office worker. I am in my third year of college, i spent my second at MTSU and first at TN Tech. My major is computer science and my minor is Japanese Language. My interests are anime, manga, video games, programming, and bike riding. Every morning i go for a 5 mile bike ride around where i live, La Vergne. I'm here to fulfill my graduation requirements. Philosophy seemed like a fun class, so i took it. My main goal in life is to own an indie game development company and produce my own video games. I would also like to spend some time in japan in the future. If any of my classmates want to chat online with me, message me on google hangouts.

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  37. Anonymous12:06 PM CDT

    Hey everyone, my name is Noah Silver (section 8). I'm from Cleveland, TN (right outside of Chattanooga). I'm a history / art history major that also enjoys literature, philosophy (hence why I'm in this class) and playing / listening to music. Looking forward to this class a lot!

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  38. Anonymous12:46 PM CDT

    (#8 TR 8:00am) Hello, my name Is Nicholas Fulford and I am a first time freshman at MTSU. I was born in southwest Florida but I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in the seventh grade to receive a better education. My passion has always been in technology and I plan on majoring in Computer Science. Even though I spend the majority of my time staring at a screen I enjoy the social dynamics people have with each other. I decided to take philosophy to not only better understand society and its people, but to give clarity to my own life.

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  39. (#8 TR 8:00am) Hey, my name is Alex Baker and I am a transfer student-athlete from Lee University. I am originally from Columbia, South Carolina and moved to Murfreesboro, TN a week ago due to my dad's job! I am majoring in business management to later open my own wedding-event planning business. I enjoy the outdoors, soccer and dance! Looking forward to this class!!

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  40. Anonymous2:25 PM CDT

    Hello everyone! My name is Brad, I'm a freshman, and I'm from Manchester Tennessee. When i'm not in school, I'm working at First National Bank. My favorite thing to do in my spare time is relax with my best friends, and listen to music or watch movies. I took this philosophy class because I am currently undeclared, and I want to try a lot of different classes.

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  41. Anonymous2:38 PM CDT

    My name is Samantha Smith. I'm a freshman from Franklin, TN. I came to MTSU for the music program and now the RIM program. I'm really excited to be in this class because I love discussing profound ideas in small and large group settings.

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  42. Anonymous3:23 PM CDT

    Hello everyone! My name is Austin Wilson and I am a pre-law major here at Middle Tennessee. I am very excited to be taking a philosophy class because I feel its studies go into a deeper aspect of life. I enjoy to work on cars, play video games, and to go fishing. My dad is a Lawyer in Shelbyville, my mom is a stay at home mom, and I have two brothers who are 11 and 13.

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  43. Anonymous3:33 PM CDT

    Hello, My name is Megan! (sec. 11) I am a freshman and my major is Business Finance. I'm from Nashville so I commute to MTSU, and I currently work at a credit union. I decided to take philosophy because it is an interesting subject. I look forward to get to know everyone's ideas on their own philosophy.

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  44. Hello, my name is Lucas Pennington. (#11) I'm from a small town in Tennessee called Manchester. Until recently, I worked as a lifeguard at my local recreation complex. My major is undecided at the moment. I took Philosophy because it seems like it will be an interesting class and I look forward to it!

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  45. Hello everyone, my name is Alexis Arriaga. I am a sophomore majoring in Concrete Industry Management with a concentration in Concrete Construction and a minor in Business Administration. I am originally from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; however, at the age of the 3 my parents and I immigrated to the United States, so I've been living in good 'ole Murfreesboro, TN ever since. I find myself in this class due to the fact that, like most others, I had to choose a gen. ed. class and philosophy has always intrigued me, so here I am.

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  46. Anonymous5:16 PM CDT

    Hello, My name is Brandon Holley. (#11) I'm from Jackson, Tn, and I'm a senior this year. I'm here to learn as much as I can, and to utilize the knowledge and skills I acquire in a way that makes the world a better place. I'm studying psychology, because it is a subject that be used to improve the lives of everyone.

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  47. Hello, My name is Josh King (#11). I am a sophomore but I spent my first year at Columbia State. My major is health education with the goal of eventually becoming a teacher. I am from Nolensville, TN. I spent four years in the Marine Corps before I began my collegiate endeavors. I decided to take this class because I enjoy listening to other people's views and perspectives. it also seemed like it could be a pretty fun class.

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  48. (#8 TR 8) Hi my name is Whitney Ingle. I have lived in Murfreesboro for most of my life, but my parents adopted me from China originally. I am currently undecided but hopefully through classes and experiences will find my "calling". I played soccer in high school; I love pizza and adore reading in my downtime. I am very excited for this class and learning in a new way.

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  49. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  50. Anonymous6:31 PM CDT

    (#11) My name is Brian Wulf. I am in what is hopefully my last year of college as a Music Industry major. I am here because I enjoy expanding my worldview and finding new topics to think about, however painful that process may be. My ultimate goal is to make my life story a story worth telling.

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  51. (#12) My name is Davis Denney. I'm from Nashville and this is my third undergraduate college. Over the past four years I've lived in Knoxville, New York, and greater San Francisco. I initially tried to take philosophy at my first college, but left midway through the semester. I'm here because after two years out of school, I'm ready to take my higher education more seriously and a course in philosophy seemed like a good choice for my first semester back.

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  52. Anonymous8:08 PM CDT

    (#12) My name is Kyle Flamm. I'm a sophomore from right here in Murfreesboro. I've recently transferred to MTSU from Tennessee, majoring in Sports Management. I'm taking philosophy to broaden my horizons, develop better critical thinking skills and also to discuss ideas with other fellow students.

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  53. Hey my name is Lucas Little I'm from Mckenzie Tennessee, I'm a sophomore studying international relations, minoring in Italian, I'm in this class because it seemed like an interesting elective to take. I'm excited about the class and pondering "why" and all that jazz.

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  54. My name is Aimee and I am a sophomore from Kingston, TN. I am a Biology major with a minor in Neuroscience. I am in this class to full fill my general education requirement and I took it with Dr. Oliver because I really enjoyed the Bioethics class he taught in the spring semester.

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  55. (#8) How's it going? My name is Robinson Sabir, but you can call me Robby if you want. I am a junior at MTSU in pursuit of a degree in Biology (Pre-medicine). I plan to attend medical school in the near future. Asides from my school life, I consider myself and avid gamer that loves to "kick it" with the boys and eat a lot of CHIPOTLE. Anyways, that's a little bit about myself; I am looking forward to broadening the way I perceive the world through this CoPhilosophy class.

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    1. I heard that Chipotle is going out of business, I also heard by someone else that it was owned by McD's. Since you are an avid fan, perhaps you know the real story?

      Delete
  56. Anonymous8:52 PM CDT

    My name is Vincent Thompson , and i am a freshman from Nashville , TN. I am majoring in Business Finance. My dream is to become a financial analyst and to eventually work on Wall St. I am a lover of music and i love cars. I often go on cruises just because. I'm looking forward to sharing my ideas and beliefs and being able to gain knowledge and understand from my peers.

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  57. Hello Everyone!!!!!

    My name is Shavika Randall, LPN and I'm currently working on my BSN as a stepping stone to my CRNA. I am an Air Force brat (in ever sense of the word). I have had the pleasure of live as far as Spain.

    Why am I here is still being determined. I understand there is a purpose for my life, and the reasons are revealed at a calculated time. Currently my purpose is to ease the pain and comfort those that I come in contact. Sometime I have to be creative to make this happen, but it is well worth it when I'm successful.

    I'm hoping this class will help me continue to broaden my ways of thinking and creativity. Lets all have a great semester.

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  58. Hi, Im Lucas Wharton. I'm an English education and Japanese double major. I do freelance work on side while attending MTSU. I'm here, in this class, mainly because I need to take it for my general education course; but I also enjoy enjoy reading philosophical for fun. I don't know how many people consider him a bonafide philosopher, but I really enjoy the works of Albert Camus. I also like the book, "Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through Those Pearly White Gates."

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  59. Hello everyone, my name is Nick Bilavarn, and I am a freshman majoring in chemistry with a concentration in pre-medicine. I like to do adventurous things that thrill the mind. I chose to take this class because I felt it could open up my mind to new ideas in various ways.

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    1. Almost forgot to add that i'm in section 11, MW 4:10 class

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  60. Anonymous10:25 PM CDT

    Hello, my name is Imran Khan, and I am currently a Biology pre-medicine major with aspirations of becoming a general surgeon. I love to travel the world. I recently just visited Europe this past summer for a month and a half. I also love being outdoors kayaking and hiking trails all across Tennessee. I hope that philosophy will open many new doors for me!

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    1. Anonymous10:27 PM CDT

      I forgot to mention I am in section 8.
      -Imran Khan

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  61. Tynisha Lewis10:27 PM CDT

    Hi class! I’m Tynisha Lewis. I am a Junior PreNursing major and a Psychology minor, which means I’ll probably end up being a 5 year college student. I plan to specialize in neonatology, because I absolutely love babies and the Labor & Delivery process. I’ve always known what I wanted to be since I was a little girl, and I am very determined to make it happen no matter how long it takes. I am from Covington, TN which is in West Tennessee. I am very family oriented, and my family is very close to one another.
    I’m not very sure what my purpose for being in this class is other than it being a required course for me and wanting to experience something new. I enjoy viewing others perspectives on life, so I think that is a bonus for me in this class. I am looking forward to this semester with you all. I have faith that it is going to be a good one.

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  62. Zachary Hyche12:14 AM CDT

    I am Zachary Hyche, a Freshman at MTSU and football walk-on tryout hopeful. I am here because it is significantly cheaper than UTK.

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  63. You guys are a very interesting cohort! Looking forward to this semester!!

    (And again, to sections 11 & 12: the 2:20 class IS section 12, after all, and the 4:10 class is section 11... sorry about the confusion. But the good news is: this means we're all where we're supposed to be.)

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  64. Katelin Simmons9:38 AM CDT

    Good morning! My name is Katelin Simmons. I am from Ft. Bragg North Carolina, and am in section 12. I am a freshman English major , and I am a first generation college student. I am a military child and was in the process of enlisting when I was permanently disqualified because I have sensorineural hearing loss in my right ear. I believe that I am at MTSU because there is a bigger purpose than what I had planned for myself, and MTSU can help me reach my goal of teaching high school English.

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    1. HS teachers have such a great opportunity to make a difference - read Mark Edmundson's book "Teacher" for example... Good luck! And let me know if you ever need me to speak up!

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  65. My name is Chris Redditt, but i like to be called Rico. I am here because a college graduate is more successful in the world.

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  66. Anonymous10:44 AM CDT

    Hello, my name is Will Nelson and I am currently a PreNursing major, with hopes of being a RN in the emergency room/trauma unit or on a lifeflight team. I was born and raised in Murfreesboro, so MTSU felt like home for me. I spend a lot of my time outside fishing, hunting, working, things of that nature. I am taking philosophy because I needed one more Gen Ed and I have always wanted to know what philosophy was really about. (Section 8)

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  67. Brandi Laney11:28 AM CDT

    My name is Brandi Laney, I am here currently at MTSU simply because it is close to home and relatively cheap. I am a political science pre-law major, who has hopes to attend law school after my undergrad is complete. I would like to because a political advisor/ consultant. Basically, I want to run political campaigns. I am in philosophy simply because it is a requirement, like I previously noted this philosophy thing seems weird to someone like myself. (Section 12)

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  68. Matthew Powers11:39 AM CDT

    (#8) Hello, my name is Matthew Powers. I am a finance major here at MTSU planning to become a financial analyst or portfolio manager. I still live at home because it is cheap, and relatively close to campus. I chose to take philosophy because I thought it may be more interesting than general music or theatre. I am also a 1st assistant manager at a fast food restaurant.

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  69. Hi everyone! My name is Chelsea and I am an Entertainment Marketing major and I am in section 11. A little bit about me, I am originally from the County of Saint Louis. I moved to Tennessee 3 years ago to attend MTSU. I currently work at Jared the Galleria of Jewelry as a Salesperson but started as a Repair Liaison, so I can talk about jewelry all day at this point. I live in Murfreesboro with my fiance, Ryan, and our dogs.

    I am a die hard Cardinals fan but I will be okay if you want to talk down about the Rams we all know the Titans should have won anyways.

    I'm hoping to find the purpose of my participation in this class will be to open up my perspective on thinking and society as a whole. I don't like to view the world and life itself as a horizontal line, there is so much more out there that I don't understand and I hope this class will help me take one step closer to understanding it.

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  70. Hello, my name is Charmika and I'm a psychology major and I'm in sections 11. I was born and raised in Nashville, Tn. I hope to become a Mental health psychologist and one day soon move out of Tennessee. I am in philosophy because I was curious on what it was about it.

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  71. Our younger daughter, a HS jr, is a Cubs' fan. (Can you believe that?!) And she's very excited about this being THE YEAR, as forecast in "Back to the Future." We'll see.

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  72. Hi everyone! My name is Loreal. I am a international relations major and I hope to become a international trade specialist. I was born in Michigian and lived there for 11 years then moved here. I took philosophy because it seemed like a interesting course.

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  73. Anonymous1:48 PM CDT

    Hi everybody,
    My name is Elaine Champion! I'm in the Philosophy 1030 Section 11 class at 4:10 on Mondays and Wednesdays. I am 17 years old; I graduated high school a year and a half early not realizing how difficult it was going to be being on my own at the age of 17. I was born in Murfreesboro, but raised in McMinnville, Tennessee. MTSU is not too far from home, but just far enough. I chose philosophy because, honestly, it looked like the best of my options. I do not know anything about it, but I am super excited to learn everything that is to it!

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  74. I'm Vanessa Beard (12). I am a second semester sophomore and a biochemistry major. Philosophy is personal thought on the meaning of life, morality, and more. My current philosophy is to leave the world a little better than you found it.

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  75. My favorite philosopher is John Locke.

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  76. This is actually my third time typing this comment so it won't be as intriguing as what my first comment would have been. My name is Yad Ahmed (11) and I hope to get a better mind set by the end of this class. I hope to become a professional soccer player. To achieve a great goal like this one needs a great mindset, which I intend on acquiring from this class.

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  77. Anonymous6:39 PM CDT

    My name is Morgan, (section 8) and I am a nutrition and food science major. I hope to one day become a dietician as well as a yoga instructor and help people nourish their bodies and their souls. As for the questions "why am I here".... that is difficult to answer in a few short sentences, or really at all. I believe that we are all in one continuous circle of life and death. I like to think that I, as well as others, all have a special place within that circle.

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  78. My name is Ty Clemons and I'm currently a business management major. I'm here attending Middle Tennessee on a football scholarship. I hope to change my major to mass communication to become a producer. The reason I am here is to learn more about life, and be able to process more things in life.

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  79. Anonymous8:54 PM CDT

    Hey, I'm Tyeisha (section 8) and I am majoring in early childhood education aiming to be a 2nd or 3rd grade teacher in a few years. I am taking philosophy pretty much because it is a gen ed requirement but i've also always been into it. I actually wanted to minor in philosophy but it would keep me here an extra year and who wants that lol. I have lots of thoughts and questions about what we are and our purpose... the earth's purpose, hopefully this class will give me some what of an answer.

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  80. Reyna Shellhart9:40 PM CDT

    Hello, my name is Reyna Shellhart (#8) and I am an accounting major. Although I am originally from M'boro, I actually just transferred to MTSU from WKU this semester and am excited to where this new journey goes. I am a huge Kentucky Wildcats fan and when I'm not at school or with friends, you can usually find me at Fazoli's where I am currently a manager. I took this class because it intrigues me as to how so many things can be taken differently and people can have such different views.

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  81. Hello! My name is Kaylee Herrington (#8), and this is my third time typing this so I really hope it only shows up on here once. Well I'm a freshman this year majoring in Elementary Education, and I hope to be a special education teacher one day. I'm from the little town of McMinnvile, which I moved away from about a week ago barely knowing anyone. To say the least I'm missing home like crazy. Since I'm missing home so much that makes me wonder why I'm even here. Being here is completely out of my confort zone, which I feel like this class will be no different. Anyways I guess why I'm here is pretty simple, I believe God has a divine plan for everyone. So as homesick as I am and as hard as this journey might get, I truly believe this is the place God wants me right now.

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  82. Anonymous10:59 PM CDT

    For starters, Hello! My name is Monee' Preston, I am from a small, but scenic city called, Chattanooga. I'm a sophomore, majoring in Business Admin. I haven't narrowed it down specifically, but HR sounds decent for now. Mainly, anything dealing with Business can and will interest me. In love with shopping, and listening to various genres. Overall, looking forward to a great semester with my diverse classmates. Never thought I would be taking Philosophy, but here I am and willing to learn and explore the aspects of life.
    (#12)

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  83. (11) I am Kara Stallings and I’m from Clarksville and Dickson County TN. Currently I’m a sophomore majoring in Studio Art with a concentration in sculpture and a minor in Psychology. This course is allowing me to fulfill a humanities gen-ed requirement while simultaneously entertaining my thirst for a deeper sense of knowledge and exploration.

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  84. (#8) My name is Alynn Barbee-Thrash. I am from Murfreesboro, TN but, I have originally been born and raised most of my life in California. I'm a freshman majoring in Studio art and really hope to improve my skills in many mediums. I guess I've just been curious about philosophy personally since everyone has their own way of seeing and defining the term. I hope to soon find my own definition during my time in this class.

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  85. Anonymous3:35 AM CDT

    Hello. I apologize for my tardiness and also the hour, not that it will really affect any of you, but still my most sincere of apologies. I am Aevan (that's pronounced "Evan" for any curious souls) and I believe I am in section 11, however can and will not say that with entire confidence. As far as the question of why I am here is concerned, the answer is quite simple: the complexity of life. I am a music performance major (clarinet for any returning curious souls) and everything just worked its way to where I am now. I am from Memphis and first arrived at MTSU and really first heard of the university furing my Governor's School For the Arts program in the summer of 2014 and immediately loved the environment of the music department, from the professors to even things as simple as the building structure it just resonated with me. As senior year progressed all other schools to which I was planning to apply (I'm not going to list them all, sorry you curious souls) fell through for one reason or another. Some were due to travel issues, others to loss of interest, lack of communication, and even injury, which I guess ties back to the travel complications. In short, I am here because I am.

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  86. My name is Justin Huggins (12) I am a freshmen , I am majoring in business and finance. I am from Lebanon Tennessee. I came to MTSU because It's a top business school in Tennessee. I am here to become more open minded and not so narrow minded.

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