I recently experienced someone saying very negative things about the university I attend. Instead of blowing up at the person, I decided to stay above their ignorant ways and reflect on why a person chooses the college they attend. 

Yes, many people transfer at some point in college, but many people stay all four years. There are many reasons someone could stay: they make lifelong friends, they make connections, they join an organization, they fall in love with the school, or maybe they can't see themselves attending anywhere but their school. 

First of all, no one should ever regret their college decision; you are furthering your education and that is a great accomplishment. Just because someone else believes their school is the "best" does not mean that another school is irrelevant. 

There are hundreds of lists of different rankings in magazines, websites, and different sources. However they just tell a number, not a story. I understand that there are rankings based of the meanings of degrees, but to what does the ranking actually mean? Does its analysis include meaningful memories? Is a ranking of your school more important than a meaningful four years? 

I guess that is for the individual opinion, but I would rather choose happiness over a #1 school based off a list made by someone I don't even actually know. Why would I want to believe someone who doesn't even know my name that my university isn't as important?

Second of all, it is important to keep in mind that everyone has different opinions. If I really wanted to go to another university I could, but I chose to stay at Georgia Southern because I fell in love with the school and all of the wonderful people I have met. Each college is unique in different ways, and they all have certain traditions that make going there worthwhile. I still remember the first time I saw Freedom fly at my first GSU game, and I cheered like a True Blue fan with my best friends and classmates. 

Finally, I never want to hear that my school is irrelevant because of a football game. My university is just as important to me as yours is to you. People CHOOSE their school. It is the rudest thing in the world to bash someone's choice for their education. The university becomes a part of you, so honestly you're insulting the person with every bad comment you make. Congrats, you decided to go to a school that you wanted to go to; remember that I did too. 

Oh, and in the future, when you are in the real world, people come from very diverse backgrounds, so just remember karma sneaks up on ya.