As a proud Bronco, I can not begin to explain how much Boise State means to me or how wonderful it has been to attend a university with such a strong, tight-knit community and people who never fail to smile as you walk by. With that said, here are a few things I wish I would have known on my first day as a Bronco.
1. Do NOT ring the Excellence Bell. If there is anything you take away from this entire article, it is this: do not touch the bell, especially if you have a compromised immune system. Although the bell allegedly gets washed every now and then, there are more bodily fluids on that piece of brass than you would care to imagine.
2. Chaffee Hall does not now, nor did it ever, have a haunted "C-wing." When you walk into Chaffee Hall, you will notice two things: the smell and the fact that there is no sign indicating a "C-wing." That is because "C-wing" is technically the area behind the front desk. This is where the resident director lives, and is NOT where several people were stuck underground in a flood that happened in the '70s. Don't let the staff scare you; I worked in Chaffee for a long time, and I promise there is no haunted "C-wing."
3. Or an elevator to A or B wings. If you are lucky enough to live on the first floor of either of these wings, count your blessings. The lack of an elevator will come as a lovely surprise to you and your parents on move-in day when all of your probably-less-than-necessary things need to be lugged up multiple flights of very narrow stairs.
4. Yes, the Starbucks in the library does take flex dollars. This might be a little too #basic for some of you, but this information would have saved me from drinking terrible coffee at least four times during my first week of classes. Flex dollars are a part of your meal plan, and Starbucks does accept them! Yay (not paying out of pocket for) lattes!
5. Parking. Yikes. Three words: get a bike. I love my school, but the parking situation is a little less than perfect. If you are unlucky enough to have to drive to campus, I suggest getting there early and definitely making other arrangements if you have class on a game day.
6. Get involved! Boise State has so much to offer when it comes to extracurricular activity. There are endless amounts of clubs, internships, and organizations to be involved in; there is truly something for everyone! Greek Life at BSU is growing rapidly, so rush! (#ProudGreek.) Besides looking good on a résumé, getting involved on campus will better your college experience as a whole.
7. Your professors most likely take attendance. Go to class. Enough said. If you want to do well, attend class. There is no greater feeling than having a professor add on points for attendance credit at the end of the semester.
8. It gets cold. Like, really cold. Coming from Southern California, I might be a little more sensitive to single digit temperatures than the average Bronco. However, single digits happen. They happen frequently, and they happen at the most inconvenient times. Which brings me to my next point.
9. I hope you LOVE football! The day is Nov 14, 2014. Boise State University is playing division rival San Diego State in Boise, Idaho. The night before the game, Boise got pounded with 18 inches of snow, and sub-zero wind chill factors. Any normal person would head home, right? Well, not Bronco fans! Many of our fans stayed throughout the game, and endured nine degree temperatures to watch our Broncos beat the Aztecs, 38-29. Attending Bronco football games is surely not about the great tan you'll get while watching. The iconic Smurf Turf and a true passion for the game is what keeps Boise State supporters coming back for more.
10. Take advantage of your surroundings! Although the blue turf is a huge part of the culture at BSU, there are many other things to take part in around the community. The city of Boise is so beautiful and features endless amounts of adventure and fun. From BoDo (Downtown Boise), to Table Rock, the Boise River, the train depot, and being Idaho's state capitol, Boise is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, for good reason.
My last piece of advice is this: Never take for granted the amazing place you now get to call home. Be good to Boise State, as I am sure it will be very good to you. Go Broncos!
