A Series of Letters: UNC Chapel Hill

Dear UNC-Chapel Hill,

As I walked up to the distinctive pillars of Carroll Hall sporting a sleek navy blazer with a crisp white-collared shirt, I realized that I may be slightly over-dressed for this hot-humid summer day in North Carolina. As a Junior transfer student, I wanted to dress-to-impress for my first day on the UNC campus. Searching for my MEJO 129 Sports Xtra class, I followed the weaves and corners of the confusing maze to Room 305. With over 50 students chatting and greeting each other after the summer break, I stood out like a sore thumb wearing my suit and tie, but it was anchor audition day. Following the adage “Dress for Success” I wanted to make a good first impression with my new classmates at UNC. In looking around the room, I saw many friendly faces which immediately put my nerves at ease. Although it was a difficult decision to transfer, I instantly knew that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the perfect home for me for the final two years of my college career.?

As I sit and reflect on my time at UNC, it is hard to state exactly how important these past two years have been for my growth as both a student and young adult who is about to enter the working world. This goes without saying, but, these are highlights and like Instagram, capture the best moments. The journey was a rollercoaster filled with highs, lows, corkscrews, and loop-de-loops.?

To the Hussman School, you challenged me. You brought people into my life including countless mentors, faculty, and professors that I respect and value. You made it clear that learning, humility, and growth are the key components of success. The network of Tar Heel alumni who assist with advice both in and out of the classroom has been pivotal. Most importantly, you brought me into a community of people I hold as close friends and whose bonds I cherish. Sports Xtra and Carolina Week requires hours of filming, storytelling, and producing. It was an honor to work with a great group of fellow students to achieve a common goal and the memories we built will last a lifetime.??

A couple of quick shoutouts:

Thank you Gary Kirk for your unlimited support in ensuring our broadcasts are at their highest quality and as a broadcast engineer who willingly listened to my crazy show ideas. I value your opinions, the technical electronic expertise and the life-teaching moments we have shared and not to mention, the laughs as studio chaos ensued followed by the inevitable solutions.

Thank you Laura Brache for challenging me to be a journalist with integrity, authenticity, and quality. I appreciate the hours you spent making me a better storyteller and for teaching the importance of the fundamentals. I know that during the two semesters spent in the control room alongside you and the team, you made all of us better at our craft without ever wavering in your support.

Thank you Leyla Santiago for instilling the confidence in me that what I do matters. The long nights sitting on Zoom calls or the random odd afternoon phone conferences were greatly appreciated. I can’t thank you enough for the trust and opportunity that you have provided for me to excel in the newsroom. I admire the courage it took for you to take on the tall task of operating a college-level newsroom and creating a culture of people who want to tell stories that matter.??

Thank you Dr. T for letting me push in every way and for a chance to show my skills as a journalist. The countless script reviews to produce the best sports journalism stories that went beyond the numbers and focused on the personal aspect of these athletes. Thank you for encouraging me and steering me on the pathway towards success. Also, thank you for being the first to say yes to my acceptance at UNC and for bringing me onboard this amazing team at Hussman from documentaries to broadcast work and more.?

Beyond classes, thank you to Carolina for bringing me amazing friends and memories. The school spirit is amazing and the sports are top-shelf: from national championships to watching “Dook” lose. Thank you for giving me a place to prepare for my goals and a place where I could envision success in my professional and personal life. Thank you for reminding me to look around and enjoy my time because this campus has no shortage of beauty and energy that meld us all together as Tar Heels for life.

GDTBATH (Great Day to be a Tar Heel),

Kyle Ennis