Summer air still fills the atmosphere. The familiar smells of Birmingham’s local food vendors surround the grass. The sounds of happy reunions are all around you. Dinner on the dirt, campus wide picnic, and a whole bunch of reunion Snapchat stories. Classes start in the morning, summer has come to an end, but there is nowhere else you would rather be on this Sunday night in August than back in Birmingham at the “Your School, Your City Back to School Concert.”
One of the top Samford traditions and biggest events that happens all year, this concert always sets high standards for a great year ahead. Something about being separated for three months makes you excited (or maybe not so excited) to see familiar faces again. You are reminded why you love this place so much. Here are some of the conversations you will have at the Back to School Concert:
1. "How was your summer?!"
2. “You look so tan — where did you go!?”
3. “I saw all the pictures you posted.”
4. “Where are you living this year?”
5. “I wonder if we have any classes together again this year.”
6. “Wait, who is the band playing?”
7. “Did you win any free things?”
8. “What did you end up getting in [insert class name]?”
9. “Can you believe we are already [insert grade year]?”
10. “Are [insert name] and [insert name] still together?”
11. “Let’s get coffee and catch up.” (But you probably will never end up making time to get coffee.)
Everything feels back to normal, but so new at the same time. New adventures are ahead, there are different people to befriend, and essentially, you know deep down you will become a different person by the end of this year. The freshmen sit on the ground with their connections leaders as they look up to you, wondering if they will find friends like the ones you are having reunions with. You reminisce about the summer, make plans for the school year, and as you look around, you can't help but have the biggest smile on your face knowing it feels so good to be back home.
Then you have that reunion you’ve been waiting for all summer as you run into the arms of your very best friend, and it feels as though three months apart had never even happened.
See you at the Back to School Concert!
