Everyone tells you that your college years are the best time of your life, so enjoy it while you can. I can say with confidence that my time here has been incredible, blessed, tough at some points, exciting and all those other fun adjectives.
I do hope, however, that the rest of my life isn't downhill from here. I definitely don't believe it is.
Venturing into the "real world" will be different and challenging, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm actually quite ready to not have to take another test, write another paper or read a certain book because someone told me to.
What I leave you with now are a few highlights from my Auburn experience and a few regrets I had of things I wish I had done. I encourage you to learn from my list and do the things you want to while you still have time. Forever and always, War Damn Eagle!
First, studying abroad in London.
One of the best times of my 21 years of existence was studying abroad in London with the Auburn English Department. I went on the trip not knowing a soul, but by the time we came home, I had a new little family. It's hard to find a better deal than you'll have with all the group rates, set tours and local trips. Once you're out of college, your time and ability to travel becomes extremely limited, so take advantage while you can.
Second, going to the 2010 SEC and National Championship games.
A lot of football games run together in my mind, but these two will always stand out. Those tickets will be a hard gift to top (Thanks again, Dad). I will never forget the overwhelmingly orange crowd, the flood of relief and excitement after Wes Byrum's field goal, the confetti floating down and the random rolls of toilet paper streaming through the air.
Third, working for The Plainsman.
Working for the paper has given me so many opportunities. I've gotten work experience, I'm constantly informed of what's going on around campus and Auburn, I traveled to Orlando and New York City for conferences, and most importantly I've made some great friends. Getting involved with a campus organization is one of the best experiences and I can't recommend it enough.
I wish I had gone to more sporting events like soccer, track and field, and equestrian.
I always went to football games, frequently attended gymnastics and baseball, and I occasionally went to some swim meets and basketball games. Don't get me wrong, those were always fun, but I wish I had attended an event for every Auburn sport at least once. We have a lot of incredible teams that deserve more attention than they receive.
I wish I had traveled to more away games for football.
As I discovered this past fall, traveling to away games is a lot of fun. First off you get to road trip with friends and explore new places. Secondly, you get to cheer on your team where you are definitely outnumbered. It is a good feeling to walk out of a stadium head held high after a game where everybody thought you would get creamed (i.e. South Carolina).
I wish I had volunteered more.
Although it seems like every week is crazy and busy, college students actually have a decent amount of free time on their hands. I did a couple projects every now and then, and loved visits to the Humane Society, but I know I could have done more on a regular basis. I encourage you to find some way to give back locally, whether donating goods, labor or your time.
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