1. You get to represent your school in a different and exciting way.

Whenever you give tours, you're connecting and meeting people from all over. While showing them around campus and teaching them the history behind your school, you’re also showing them a little about what kind of people are on campus. How you act and treat the prospective students can be a complete game changer for them when deciding which school is best for them. It is such an exciting feeling to know that YOU are representing the school that you love and that you’re a part of such an important decision for someone else!

2. You meet a ton of people from various backgrounds.

I have met people from all over the United States, and I think it is absolutely hilarious when they come to the South and ask me questions like, “Is it always this hot here?" (when it’s only 80 degrees outside), /"Do you serve anything other than grits for breakfast?" (Yeah? I mean we eat grits but that’s not the only thing...), "Where can I find the best barbecue?” and so on. You get to learn how different things really are in other places, and you become more exposed to the world whether you realize it or not.

3. You have the ability to make someone’s college tour experience the BEST one yet.

Sometimes your school isn’t the first choice that someone has. The school I go to was actually my LAST choice, and now I cannot imagine being anywhere else. I remember touring colleges when I was in high school and sometimes thinking, "Wow, I really love it here," (because my tour guide was really passionate and knew so much about the school) or, "When can I leave?" (because my tour guide was really boring). You can give the best impression to a prospective student and their family and make them fall totally in love with your school just by how you treat them, and I think that is the coolest thing.

4. You learn way more about the college than the average student knows.

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been asked where you can get a new ID made, or where you can add/drop classes or change your major. I thought that those things were pretty self-explanatory, but it’s nice to know what each office does and where they are located on campus. Also, before I came to school, I knew a little about the history just because I grew up in the same town as the college, but now I know so much more.

5. You gain so much love and appreciation for your school.

Giving tours and seeing people’s expressions when you tell them something unique that your school does or has is really a satisfying feeling. I love that I get to meet coaches when we have prospect athletes or recruits come in or different professors when people have meetings set up with them. I love that I get to be part of their decision. I love that I am able to give back to the school that gave me some of the best opportunities and experiences of my life in first year that I was there. It’s hard not to fall in love with your school when you’re telling people about it every day!

So whenever you see flyers around school or emails (yes, check your email) about becoming a tour guide for your school, I highly suggest applying. It gives you a different prospective on your college, and I’m so thankful that I decided to do it.