University of North Carolina Athletics
I'm A Tar Heel: Ryan Ramsey
February 11, 2015 | Track & Field
Dear Carolina Community and Tar Heel Faithful,
Thank you for all of the support you've provided me, our teams, and our university. Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky as a Kentucky fan, the “BEAT DUKE” shirts I noticed in the store windows on Franklin Street during my recruiting trip made me feel right at home. While that was a small sense of connection and comfort at first, I ultimately chose UNC because (1) it offered an incredible combination of competitive athletics and challenging academics, (2) I fit well with the coaches and team, and (3) I loved the welcoming and generous culture of everyone I met while at UNC. I've found that even though my decision of where to attend college could have included other variables that were not on my mind as an 18 year-old, I could not have been blessed with a better outcome.
My decision to attend UNC was heavily influenced by the coaches and teammates I met here during recruiting and I am very thankful for those people because they have developed me as a person, not to mention they have become some of my best friends. However, the fans, teachers, donors, support staff, alumni, administrators, and other students are what truly make UNC the best college in America.
Being a student-athlete at UNC has been an incredible opportunity for me to develop personally. In my time at Carolina I've become a more practical thinker, a harder worker, and a better leader and teammate, but my favorite memories as a student-athlete will always be the times when I got to interact with people outside of the athletic programs. Two of these opportunities stand out as particularly powerful reminders of how blessed I am to be a Tar Heel.
First, one of my highlights every year has been attending the scholarship dinner to meet the people who give so many student-athletes the opportunity to attend UNC. It is so easy to get caught up in a day-to-day schedule and forget all of the people who selflessly support our university every year. Meeting the donors and hearing about their connection to UNC is always inspiring. Listening to each of them tell their unique story about their experience as a student, athlete, or fan reminds us current students just how fortunate we are to be here.
Second, last year at a track meet at NC State, a young fan walked up to me and my teammates as we were warming up for the 4x400m in the infield of Carter-Finley Stadium, and he started doing sprint drills with us. The little boy had a huge smile on his face. As his dad walked over to apologize for the distraction, we said he should finish the rest of the warmup with us. The kid was in awe, but it was so neat to talk to him and answer his questions and see him be so happy to simply do participate in the warmup. Seeing his excitement to do something that I have done literally every practice of my five-year college career was a great reminder of what it means to represent the university.
I graduated from Carolina with a degree in business and Spanish and I will graduate in May with masters in accounting and move to Atlanta to start my career with Ernst and Young's advisory practice. While I'm excited to start the next chapter of my life, I will always look back on my time at UNC as some of the most formative years of my life. I am incredibly thankful for everyone who has supported me along the way. This amazing opportunity has allowed me to grow academically, athletically, and personally and I will always appreciate the people who have helped me and reminded me just how blessed I am to attend the University of North Carolina.
Always a Tar Heel,
Players Mentioned
