This time four years ago, I was a happy-go-lucky senior at Lake Worth High School in south Florida. Graduation was still weeks away, I already received and acceptance letter from Auburn University and I was concerned with nothing more than having a good time with my friends at the beach before going our separate ways that August.
Now, I’m a happy-go-lucky senior at Auburn, absolutely petrified about the events the upcoming weeks entail.
After receiving my diploma May 10, I have no where to go. I haven’t heard back from any of the companies I’ve sent job applications to, and there’s a good chance I’ll be moving back into Mom and Dad’s house in Florida.
While at Auburn, I’ve studied until day break during finals week, missed parties to work on projects and stayed in the Plainsman office located in the windowless basement of Foy until the early morning hours to finish putting the sports section together. Even after all that hard work, I’ll be right back where I started.
However, the past four years of my life have been the highlight of my time on earth and will be remembered fondly, even when I’m a decrepit old lady complaining about the air conditioning being too cold.
Since I was in grade school, I’ve always said that I want to go to a big sports school. I wanted people to say, “Wow, great football team!” after I tell them where I attend.
After what’s happened in the past four years, I could probably be considered a psychic for picking such an incredible school as Auburn when I was 17.
The sports-related events throughout those years have been so amazing that an Auburn fan or aspiring sports writer couldn’t have dreamt them up if they were paid to.
In my first year here, the Tigers went undefeated, won the SEC Championship and were shafted on a trip to the Orange Bowl to compete for the national title.
That sham that will go down in college football history, and still makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it.
Thanks to being a part of the Plainsman’s sports staff, I was allowed to be on the field when Eric Brock made that game-saving tackle against LSU to hand the Bayou Tigers their first loss of the season in 2006.
In Gainesville September 2007, I was feet away from the Auburn bench and was in the middle of the hysterical celebration when Wes Byrum kicked the winning field goal against the Gators – twice.
I came into Auburn as a lonely freshman not knowing a soul in the state, but was certain that I’d one day be a sports writer. Now, I’ll be leaving as an educated, experienced and eager Auburn Tiger still certain that I’ll one day be a sports writer.
In my first few weeks at Auburn, I was so embarrassed about saying “War Eagle” back to people when they said it to me. Looking back on that today, I have no idea why. Perhaps because growing up in Florida, I was deprived of fully understanding what it means to be a true fan, whether it’s college or professional. Down in Palm Beach Country, we have the Florida Marlins who have probably the most fair-weather fans of any other team in history. Sure, we have Gator fans all over the state, but they’re certainly not as cool to have a battle cry like we do.
As I write this column, I’m thinking about the monumental things I’ve seen throughout my stay on the Plains. I watched a sea of Auburn fans split like the Red Sea to allow Aubie, our beloved Tommy Tuberville and the famed football team to walk up to the gates of Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time in 2004. That Tiger Walk was the preview to my first college football game.
It was then that I realized I’ve become part of a tradition that makes Auburn unique to any other school in the country. I was now a member of the Auburn family that sticks together through wins and losses and wants nothing more than to see the Tigers be victorious again and again. As I typed that last paragraph, recalling the memories that make me so proud to be a part of Auburn University gave me goose bumps and made the little blond hairs on my forearms perk up.
Coming to Auburn was the easiest important decision I’ve ever made. I didn’t even apply to any other college. All my eggs were in Auburn’s basket.
I admit that I believe in love at first sight because that’s exactly what happened to me the first time I saw the Auburn campus as a high school junior. The friendly people, the gorgeous buildings and the incredible athletic facilities sealed the deal.
I started as a shy and naïve freshman who had never seen a college sporting event in person and who knew nothing about the true meaning of a rivalry until my first Iron Bowl. I leave here with memories of game-winning touchdowns, championship titles and a degree from one of the most prestigious Universities in the country.
I’ll scream “War Eagle” at the top of my lungs to a complete stranger, knowing that he or she will yell it back because we are both a member of the same family. I have orange and blue pumping through my veins now and for the rest of my life. I’ll miss you dearly, Auburn, but just like family, I’ll keep in touch.
