An Unfaltering Love

There are 4,140 universities and colleges in the United States alone.

There are 14,473,884 undergraduate students, 2,097,511 graduate students and 1,267,700 professors.

Amidst different marketing and recruiting efforts, SAT scores, athletics statistics, extracurricular activities and status- it's easy for school's to get lost in the minds of potential students.

There are so many factors that play into this decision. There are so many options for this one choice that changes the course of our lives.

Wherever you end up, it is my hope that you make the best of it. There are incredible institutions nationwide offering students the experience of a lifetime, and the experience is in fact what you make it (bla, bla, bla).

I am lucky enough to have chosen a school that truly is the perfect fit.

An institution that makes being a second year senior a privilege, and really, well, fun.

An institution that makes it hard for someone that has an obsession with change to think about actually leaving. An institution with students and faculty that inspire others every day to be their best and to make a difference. An institution rich with genuine school spirit. An institution full of opportunity and hope, of resources and a sense of community. An institution that I could drag this paragraph out for, because there are too many incredible things it has to offer.

An institution with a rich historic foundation, fueled today by the minds and spirits of all involved.

Growing up, I denied that I would ever go to the University of Nevada.

I told my family no, no way, never, I'm not going there (mostly just to annoy them... I must've been a fun).

I grew up amidst Nevada alums, and I wasn't able to forget it (the genuine school spirit mentioned above, yeah it doesn't go away). My mom is a member of the Wolf Pack. My dad is a member of the Wolf Pack. My uncle, my grandpa and my grandma are all members of the Wolf Pack.

Growing up, I really didn't care.

It's hard to look from the outside in and understand. Cool, you went there, that's nice. Cool, you still have your letterman's jacket from the cheerleading team, way to go.

However, as I have grown to love this institution and everything it stands for, appreciate it's history and truly realize everything it has given me, I have started to really care.

My parents still make trips to see their friends from school. My grandma still has her yearbook from the 50's. My grandpa still has his crested mug from his fraternity. My uncle still buys his kids Wolf Pack gear.

I have an unfaltering love for the University of Nevada. I loved it yesterday, I love it today, I'll love it tomorrow and I'll still love it for the rest of my life.

I am grateful to be a member of the Wolf Pack alongside different members of my family. I am proud to share that bond. I am fortunate to be here, and I don't forget that.

Choosing this institution and place to call home (I don't know if you've heard, but I <3 Reno), was the best decision I've ever made. Somehow when I visited the campus for the first time, I just knew it was where I belonged. I wasn't excited to start school however, there were actually some attempts at leaving within the first week or so of my experience (thank goodness mom and dad didn't let that one go). But life has mysterious ways of working itself out, and it did. Nevada is my place, and I will support it until the end.

Now, it's not Nevada or nothing, that's not how life works. There are thousands of incredible schools and programs out there. Finding what is the right one for you, or making wherever you end up the right one for you, is vital.

My hope for all individuals looking for a school or trying to find their way in their current one, is that they experience everything they can. That they realize the opportunities. That they have a sense of pride in their institution. That they make mistakes, get involved and grow into their true selves. That they find and choose the place that is right for them.

For me, it was and always will be the University of Nevada. For another, it might be Colorado State. For another yet, it might not be school at all. Whatever it is, just find it, choose it. Grow, change, experience, take chances and at the end of the day choose to love your situation, whatever that may be.

But, I mean... Go Pack.

*The numbers used above may be off, I really didn't try that hard to check my facts (Google is easy). But the numbers are close enough, you get the idea.

Sources:

http://www.statisticbrain.com/college-enrollment-statistics/

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm