“Greetings, I am Rashad Christie; a graduating senior broadcast journalism student from Brooklyn, New York by way of Fort Lauderdale, Florida!”

I can’t believe it but around this time four years ago I was taking my first of many steps onto the infamous, Highest of 7 Hills; Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University.

I was a recent graduate of American Heritage School in Boca and excited to be attending a university where so many people who looked like me were pursuing a higher education.

Now while the brochure is beautiful and your orientation was LIT, there are many things you still don’t know about being a Rattler. For Example: What is the name of the area pictured above? No clue huh? Well don’t worry, I’m going to provide you with a few things that come along with being a Rattler.

#10 The Proudest Rattler

It must be something in the fried chicken but for some reason once you become a Rattler, you will be ready to fight to the death anyone who talks down on FAMU. High school friends, family friends, grandma, WHOEVER! There is this sense of pride that comes with being a Rattler and feeling it is inevitable.

You’ll go home after your first semester with so much pride not only for FAMU but for the black race that your parents would question if you’ve been brainwashed.

Or, if you have my parents, they’ll want to enroll in classes for the next semester.

#9 Flexbucks Aren’t Forever

It may not seem like it at first, but your flexbucks will run out eventually. Yea, you will try to budget yourself once you see that balance drop to $17.83 before midterms but the allure of Chick-Fil-A and Wing Stop will be too much to bear.

But don’t worry you still have swipes!

I’ve heard the best way to maximize those is to carry Tupperware in your backpack and ram as much pizza, burgers and meat of the day in there as possible. That should get you through those late nights of “studying” and for the occasional munchies.

So I’ve heard at least…

#8 FRIED CHICKEN WEDNESDAY!!!

Get ready to have a bunch of people you’ve never seen before ask you for a swipe into the cafe on Fried Chicken Wednesday. Oh yea and there’s always those bold group of guys who will wait by the back door and ask you as you come down the stairs, “Is someone sitting at the door?”

Though these people may seem weird and desperate, they are probably just some upper classmen who haven’t had a meal plan in years and just want a taste of some bomb a** fried chicken.

Or they may be locals and in that case, RUN!!

#7 Roommate Woes

Ah, roommates.

The ones that at first you’ll go to every Set Friday with then eventually hate their guts because they never learned how to clean up after themselves, plus they allow their friends to sit on your bed when you’re gone.

It’s not all bad though.

You have unlimited access to all their food when they’re away and someone to blame for why the room is dirty when your RA does check ups.

#6 SET FRIDAY!!

The most lit place to be on a friday afternoon between 12 and 3.

I’ll let you experience the rest.

#5 Free Before 11

I know many of y’all probably have never been to a club before and can’t wait to turn up so free before 11 sounds amazing, but let me tell you what that actually means:

• You have to get dressed for the shuttle that leaves at 9:30 because you don’t have a car
• You get there only to realize that you and the people who got off the shuttle with you are the only people there
• You stand in line for 30 minutes to an hour only to get to the front and have to pay that inevitable $10

#4 The Juice Will Get You Loose

FAMU Sigmas are nothing to play with when it comes to that blue juice.

All I have to say is, don’t forget to eat the fruit…

#3 Find Upperclassmen Friends

• Upper classmen friends are great for the hookup to those exclusive FAMU socials and the occasional FSU party
• They could register your car for you so that you can park on campus
• THEY WILL TAKE YOU TO WAL MART!!!

#2 Strolling Is A Way Of Life

As a FAMU Rattler there are a plethora of strolls (dances) that you were introduced to at orientation. If you have not yet learned them, learn them ASAP. Trust me when I tell you, there’s nothing more embarrassing than being that one person lost in the middle of the stroll while every one else is killing it.

They may seem kind of corny at first but you can’t help but stroll every time that song comes on.

I guarantee you that there will be a situation where a FAMU stroll song comes on and you are nowhere near a fellow Rattler but you will still burst out in your two-step.

#1 FAMU IS A FASHION SHOW!!!

And I say this with the least bit of exaggeration.

I know you just signed up for an education but you are officially apart of the FAMU Fashion Show and the show never ends.

As a freshman, you will be the most criticized for the simple fact that you are easily identified by your room key hanging from your neck and your over abundance of FAMU paraphernalia.

Yes, we see you!

We see you too girl with the stripper heals on strutting to your 8am class (based on a true story).

FAMU20 don’t let this be you because yes, you might look good in your fresh fit but you will not be able to avoid that inevitable “FAMU Fall.” Everyone knows that you are not officially a Rattler until you have tripped, fell or stumbled on campus.

I’m sure there’s plenty of things that I left out but once you get a firm understanding of these few things, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a seasoned Rattler.

Enjoy your time on the hill!!! And please don’t let that local into Fried Chicken Wednesday!

Oh yea, that beautiful scenery you see there is called “The Quad.”