School spirit is a wonderful thing. Sometimes you can literally feel it in the air or see it in the way people strut about campus or the way players walk onto the field or court for a football or basketball game. It is not shock that I go to Wofford College, a small liberal arts school in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In fact, if you hadn't already heard of it, then you may have the chance to see us in the news as our football team travels to take on Youngstown State in Ohio for the quarterfinals of the FCS College Football Playoffs.
I have been and am immensely proud to attend school at Wofford for many factors, and they don't all have to do with successful sports programs. Our professors and educators hold us to a very high standard, as is the "Wofford way," and although this can lead to stress and despair at the end of a long semester, it helps us to grow in the long run. For my fellow college-age compatriots and students out there, you should be aware that your university is also a wonderful place to be. Take pride in your school for its successes and stand by it in trying times as well.
College is a time to experiment and find purpose and direction in your life. Not all schools are created equal- there's the matter of public versus private, big versus small, technical versus liberal arts, and the list goes on. However, all seek to offer you the opportunity to shape not only your own future and potential career, but the country, community, and world around you as well. Whether you go to a local community college to save on money while knocking out your general education classes before transferring to an undergraduate program to fulfill your major requirements or you've gotten a scholarship to attend the school of your choosing, take pride not only in your own commitment and success, but in your school's opportunities and programs.
Where you go may matter for prestige purposes in some fields, however you should take pride in whatever institution you attend and seek to better yourself while completing your academic agenda. Extend yourself beyond your comfort zone and take pride in your school's athletic programs, performing arts events, and other community-driven opportunities. Visit a few club meetings and see if anything appeals to you. Get out and about on campus and off, making the most of your time in school because I guarantee you it'll go by so much quicker than you expect and you may as well make it worthwhile.
Taking pride in your school and its programs doesn't have to mean you attend every single basketball game and paint yourself blue or red or whatever your school's colors are. It could simply mean you talk to your professors between classes and ask them how their days are going. Don't forget that the multitude of faculty and staff making sure everything operates correctly are people too. Have faith and have pride in your school because, like you, it is great as well.
