Author: Tucker Hill

Tucker Hill is a senior at the University of Mobile majoring in Integrated Marketing Communication. He is from Hoover, Alabama, just south of Birmingham. Tucker learned about UM from a school fair at the church he attended back home, and after the first visit fell in love and knew this was going to be home during his college years. In his free time you’ll either catch him with friends doing something around campus, at Dauphin Island skim boarding or surfing, or in his room resting after a busy week.

Project Serve Brings People Together

by Tucker Hill

This was my 3rd year being a part of Project Serve at the University of Mobile. For the past three years, I was in a group that went to an elementary school to serve kids in the classroom or during gym class. This year was different. I was a part of the School of Business group that went to the Mobile Tennis Complex where we helped clean tents and move gravel.

Although cleaning tennis courts and moving gravel does not sound exciting upon first hearing about it, I knew there was a bigger purpose behind it.

Project Serve isn’t just about going out into the community to do a simple project and leave; it’s about serving people and areas of Mobile and spreading the love of Christ. Additionally, it allows us to meet and build relationships with classmates and serve alongside them.

The groups that go to schools, that I have thankfully had the chance to be a part of for the past three years, have a great opportunity to spend time with the next generations — teaching them some fun tips and tricks or helping them with math homework. But most importantly, we have the opportunity to show them the love of Christ.

When you’re out serving in the community, with friends or someone you just met, it brings a type of joy that is simply indescribable. While serving with a friend of mine from the School of Business that I’ve known for a couple years, we met a new guy who showed up to serve for the first time. We began working together like all of us had known each other for years. Serving truly does bring people together.

Project Serve is much more than just doing a simple project; it’s about loving the community. And I was blessed to be part of it this year and hope every student at the University of Mobile gets to experience it one day.

3 Tips to Make Friends in College

by Tucker Hill

Coming down to the University of Mobile with my family the night before moving in was the first time it set in that, after my parents left, I would be alone. I didn’t know anyone, and my roommate and I only texted a few times about how we would set up the room and what we would each be bringing. The next day after lunch my parents left. It would be just me and my roommate since we had moved in early, and Ram Rush new student orientation was still a week away. So, to avoid the fear and nerves, I have a few tips on how to make friends at college for anyone starting in the same place I did.

Tip #1 Go for a walk around campus with your roommate. The first day my roommate and I sat and watched 3 movies instead of talking, but after dinner, we decided to go look at the campus and see where everything was. We walked the whole campus for about an hour, found things to talk about, and after that, I had my first friend at UM.

Tip #2 Go to Ram Rush. When you move onto campus on the official move-in day, you will start making friends even before your parents leave campus. Your first weekend at the University of Mobile is jam-packed with events where you get to know people – themed dinners each night, a massive dance party, and a pool party. It’s the highlight of everyone’s first month at UM because you get to know so many people. My freshman year roommate and I met one of our best friends because we all went to a tailgate together. It’s the best time of the year to get your face out there and be known.

Tip #3 Ask people if they want to study together. I came into college hoping to be a physical therapist, but science classes aren’t my strongest area of study, so I got plugged in with a couple of other freshmen in class and we started studying. They both stayed with their original majors. I changed mine, but after that study group we still all kept in touch throughout college. We’d all meet up and still study for our individual classes together. Don’t be worried about not being the smartest in the group – trust me, you’ll have taken notes on something they didn’t and you can help everyone out that way.

Freshman year is the best time to make friends, and the University of Mobile makes it easy. Go on walks, stay up late, or wake up early and talk with people at breakfast, play cards in The Commons, join an intramural team, go to a soccer tailgate. The University of Mobile is full of ways to know people and be known.

College Intramurals: Count the Laughs, Not the Score

by Tucker Hill

Here’s one of my favorite memories from the University of Mobile’s intramural soccer season. Our team is racing down the field – three of us and only the goalkeeper to block us – my teammate takes the shot… off the crossbar right to me! I get set, hoping I’ll score a midair volley… completely missed the ball, but it rolls to my teammate behind me, so we have another chance! He freaks out and passes it straight to the other team and they go down and score. Nobody remembers who won the game or the score, but what we do remember is all falling on the ground laughing at the events that had just taken place – because it’s intramurals and laughing is what makes the games count.

Intramural sports are one of the best ways to make friends and have fun in college, especially at a small school like the University of Mobile. From a few weeks into the fall semester to just a few weeks before finals in spring, there are four seasonal sports and many weekend tournaments. Our seasonal sports are Flag Football, 7 on 7 Soccer, Basketball and Softball, along with weekend tournaments such as Beach Volleyball, Disc Golf and Ultimate Frisbee. Winners not only get a free championship T-shirt, but also bragging rights for the next year.

Here are a few tips for new students that I’ve picked up from playing intramurals the last four years at the University of Mobile.

First and yes, it sounds simple, but be there! Show up and play or cheer from the sidelines –either way, you’re in for a fun time. Intramurals are put on by students for students, making it almost an entirely student-based activity – except for the always-entertaining staff team. If you don’t have a team, be a free agent – everyone gets assigned to a team and it’s a great way to make friends.

Second, try something new. I played on a soccer team that had a dude who had never played before. By the end of the season, he was an above-average player – so take the risk and sign up. Do a sport you didn’t have the chance to play growing up. There are always people willing to teach you and, even if you mess up, it’s all for fun.

Third and finally, one thing that gets lost in competition sometimes – have fun! In softball, swing for the fences every at bat, take a half-court shot in basketball. Let the time you’re playing be filled with laughter and good times.

For anyone looking to get involved in college life, intramurals is the way to go. At the University of Mobile, we live by the motto “Know and be Known.” Intramurals is the best place to know people and be known, which is why everyone should at least show up and try a sport. Who knows, you may end up a champion!

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