I first found the enchanted land of Manchester, Tennessee the summer before going to college. I looked toward all the resources I could get my hands on in an attempt to prepare myself, but upon arrival I realized I was going in blind without a clue of what to expect. The only thing I understood was that I was going to see a handful of my favorite living artists, and being front row for Vampire Weekend after waiting for three hours still remains one of my fondest memories. If you've never been, here are the the three big things you should expect.

1) You will live like a dirty hippie and you will love it.

If you want the experience, your home for the next four days will be a tent. You will not shower unless you want to pay for one and you will use the same port-a-potties the other 80,000 Bonnaroovians use. At one point during the festival you will be covered in dirt and sweat with greasy hair, and the bugs will become your friends. You will feel liberated from caring about your appearance because everyone around you will make you feel beautiful. You will be recognized for your clean soul, and you will care more about the life you're living than how you look living it.

2) You will experience some of the best music we have today.

Something that sets Bonnaroo apart from the other countless music festivals around the country is its dedication to music. It's not about glamorous fashion to post on Instagram (cough, Coachella). Instead, it's like Woodstock reincarnated where people from all over come together to celebrate life and the joy music brings to it. Since 2002 Bonnaroo's lineup has been consistently jam packed with legendary musicians to appease all tastes from headliners such as Paul McCartney to Radiohead to Kanye West. But they don't just stick with big names, Bonnaroo has been a place for upcoming artists to get a leg up in the industry and grow a fan-base. Individual concerts can be expensive and music festivals give you the most bang for your buck with how many shows you get to see.

3) You radiate positivity and you take it home with you when it's all over.

One of the slogans of Bonnaroo is to “Radiate Positivity" (it's a hashtag so you know it's legitimate). But what does that mean? It means you bond with complete strangers, build a sense of community, and give high-fives, hugs, and smiles to everyone you see. It may sound cheesy, but it doesn't have to be. There's nothing like random acts of kindness you experience on a day to day basis and on the farm (the term given to the camping area at Bonnaroo), it's just people being kind for the sake of being kind. The positivity there is so thick; it permeates the air everyone breathes, and it will leave an impression on you. It makes you a happier person, and makes you want to share that light with the world around you.

I know it sounds surreal that a simple music festival could do this much for you, but that's the magic of it all. The millions and millions of satisfied festi-heads can't be wrong. Bonnaroo is not for the faint of heart, but it is a place to grow, a utopia for just a few days of summer. Even if you don't leave with a new mindset, you will have left with amazing memories. See y'all on the farm.