The Anthony Reeves Experience

When did you know your university was the right fit? I’ve been asked this question recently, and my answer always gets a few puzzled looks. I often say my time at the University of Tampa was the best three and a half years of my life. Naturally, people ask, “Wait, weren’t you there for four years?” Yes, I was—but not all four years felt like “the best.” Here’s why. Starting Blind: How I Chose My University Unlike many students who research schools extensively, I went in blind. My high school ROTC instructor recommended the University of Tampa, I glanced at a course catalog, saw that it had pre-med and biology programs, and applied. That was it. I didn’t check student demographics, tuition costs, or even basic campus life details. I never visited the school or took a tour. The university was 900 miles away, and I didn’t want to burden my mother with the cost of visiting. I simply trusted my instructor’s advice and enrolled. A Rocky Start My first semester was rough. I had a bad ro...

Army ROTC Advanced Camp, Ft. Riley, Kansas.   Summer 1990. Cadet Anthony Reeves and friends When people talk about “safe spaces,” the phrase can carry different meanings depending on the context. But for those who have ever been in the minority—whether due to race, culture, or background—the concept takes on a deeper significance. It’s not always about physical safety; it’s about the freedom to exist without constantly adjusting yourself to make others comfortable. For many minorities, being in a predominantly majority space means carrying an unspoken awareness of how you are perceived. It’s about managing how you present yourself, how you speak, and even how you engage with others. But when you find a space where you can simply exist as yourself, without that filter—that’s when you truly understand the value of a safe space. An Unexpected Safe Space in the Military During the summer between my junior and senior years of college, I attended advanced camp for the U.S. Army as par...

Spring Break 1988 Me, Frank (my college roommate) and My mom Pine Bluff, Arkansas There’s something inherently powerful about coming home for the first time during your freshman year of college. You don’t think about it at first, but once you leave home, every experience becomes a new experience. Growing up, life had structure. If you were fortunate enough to live in the same house throughout your childhood, your world was familiar—your bedroom, your dining table, your living room set. School, extracurricular activities, and social events might have changed over the years, but at the end of the day, you always returned to the same space. This consistency fostered a sense of stability and discipline, shaping who you were without you even realizing it. The College Shift: A New World Every Day Then college happens. Every day is a new experience, an opportunity to explore a different version of yourself. The structure you once knew is gone, replaced by one you must now create for yourself....