From hundreds of people whirling past on the walk to class, to thousands of people screaming at the top of their lungs in the stadium, going to an SEC school can be different, but not in a bad way. SEC schools can feel overpopulated, over-exaggerated, and a lot of the time crazy. Regardless of these inconsequential thoughts and feelings, going to an SEC school has taught me a lot about myself, others, and the overall community around me. Here are a few things that attending an SEC school has taught me:

1. A Newfound Appreciation For Football

Before attending an SEC school, I was a football fan, but not anywhere near the fan that I am now. You can find me at nearly every home football game cheering on the team. There's something about an SEC football game that gets everyone hyped up and excited. Win or lose, I will always support the team like we're in the number one spot.

2. Football Takes Precedence Over Homework (Most Of The Time)

When going to an SEC school, you learn quickly that Saturdays are reserved for football. Even if the game is away, you'll more than likely be watching it on the big screen and cheering on your team just as you would if you were there. In fact, most people will give you a strange look if you say that you're not going to watch the game. So catch up on that English homework Friday night, because Saturdays are for football.

3. Tailgating Is Literally Everywhere

Fans, Alumni, Parents, and Season Pass holders from both teams span to every corner of campus. No matter where you're at on campus, on game day there will be big, bright tents in every corner of your vision. With the bright tents come burgers, BBQ, and beer. Whether you choose to participate or not is a different story. However, almost all of campus will be somewhere eating good food and wearing team colors.

4. Football Is Competitive, But So Are Academics

Contrary to popular belief, SEC school students aren't just here to party, watch football, and have fun. Academics at an SEC school are just as challenging, if not more challenging, than some non-SEC schools. Don't get me wrong, we still love to have fun and party, but we also highly value academics and integrity.

5. Self Pride

Although this sounds cliche, I have gained a greater sense of pride at my SEC school. I take a lot of pride in telling people where I go to school, and for a good reason. It took a lot for me to get where I am today, and when I tell people about my university, I feel proud to have been accepted into such a large, well-known school.

6. There's A Place For Everybody

Even at a large SEC school, there is a place for everybody. There's always people who don't like football, tailgating, or any of the other things that come along with an SEC school, and there's a place for those people too. So regardless if you don't really like any sports or extracurriculars, there will always be a spot for you on campus.