“Chunk” Smith has always been eager to share his wisdom about life and love, whether I asked for it or not. One of our first conversations took place in the library while we were working on a project. I didn’t even know the man well, but he started asking questions about my life. When he caught me complaining about a relationship that was failing, he offered up some advice on how to do love right: “I’ve loved me a good woman that I don’t deserve.”
It was almost as if, from that moment on, he felt obligated to advise me on how to live. I also remember some of my own conver-sations about school with Smith: me saying I was going to just drop out, him telling me that would be the worst decision and how important it is to stay.
So, facing graduation myself now, I asked him if he could give me another lesson that I could share with my readers.
“Any advice you can give to us college students and college seniors?” I asked.
He reflected for a moment. “The best piece of advice I can give any student is the same I give at every alumni game each year: go to class. There is nothing worse than setting yourself back. One slip-up can set even the best and brightest students back. School can be as easy or as hard as you want to make it. Listen, learn, tap the minds of pro-fessors and your peers. Our professors aren’t speaking just to fill air.
“I will also say that as important as school is, it is also equally as important to enjoy your college years. You will have many years to work and stress out over life. Enjoy your time in school; enjoy your freedom.”
“The world isn’t a big scary place like people make it out to be."
Chunk and Shelby on senior day. They plan on getting married in winter of 2017.
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