Living in New York my whole life definitely has pros and cons, but transferring to a SEC school was the best decision I ever made. Before I was a student at the University of Tennessee, I went to a small private school in Connecticut. I didn't exactly enjoy myself there. There was not much to do on the weekends and the sports teams were division one, but they certainly did not play like it. The sporting events were small and there was no such thing as tailgating. The student section was on the empty side. I had a few close friends at the school, but it was just not an exciting place.
I needed a change and I was ready to do everything in my power to transfer. If that meant going to the office hours four times a week, I would do it. If that meant studying for a long period of time, I would do it without a doubt. I did not have a huge social life because I was constantly doing work to keep my GPA up so I could transfer to a different school.
April came around and I started applying to different schools. I applied to University of Mississippi, Louisiana State University, and the University of Tennessee. They were all southern schools, and I was accepted to all three. It was a tough decision because I didn't know which one I should go to. I was in the middle of July, and I had to make a decision. I finally decided I was going to the University of Tennessee. I left in August and I couldn't stop smiling.
I was so excited to go to a new school and meet new people. Of course, I was also excited for the different food,but ut the one thing I kept hearing was "GAME DAY". Football games every Saturday, decked out in orange from head to toe, and singing the chants became my favorite thing to do. The only thing that would get me through the week was knowing I get to walk into Neyland Stadium, the fifth largest football stadium in the country. I loved every minute of it, whether it was ninety degrees or nineteen, I did not care. Standing on the bleachers in Tennessee appeal and taking pictures of my surroundings was just a thrill. Football is big back in my hometown but not nearly as close as it is in the south.
I don't think I will ever get sick of football. I tried explaining the SEC to my mom, but it did not always work out. Going to a southern school has taught me different cultures, different language, but most importantly, football talk. Every time I walk into Neyland, I get such a rush throughout my whole body. I've never experienced a college football game, so when I went to my first one, it was a little nerve-wracking. But, seeing the Volunteers running through the T on the field was an amazing experience I'll never forget.
