A Letter to Auburn

To the place and the people I’ve learned to call home over the past four years:

As a high school senior navigating her year through facemasks and social distancing, the thought of college felt relieving, like a breath of fresh air. September 26th, 2020; it genuinely feels like yesterday when I stepped on Auburn’s campus for the first time. It was a Saturday in the fall, which meant only one thing. As I stepped out of my car and approached Toomer’s corner, I already had a gut feeling of home (this sounds extremely corny and not true, but I swear!) Though I’m an Alabama native, Auburn and its traditions were all foreign to me; I had no idea why all these people were rolling the trees, but I loved it nonetheless. After spending the day exploring campus, I was dead set on Auburn. I spent the next month telling everyone that was where I was going after college and perfecting my application. Auburn was ultimately the only place I applied to; I had no backup plan, which is scary to look back at because what was I thinking? Thankfully, things worked out for me, and I was headed to Auburn!

To freshman year me:

Thank you for sticking it out. I know you had a rough start, living away from home and feeling isolated. Finding a place where you fit in seems daunting but soon you’ll get involved on campus, join a sorority, and make some lifelong friends and memories. You’ll meet your best friend and will be attached at the hip for the next three years. You will fall in love with Auburn, college, and life! Thanks for sticking around but please go to class!!

To The Rec:

I feel so blessed to have spent my last year of college working here. I remember being petrified of everything marketing-related when I first started, but you all took a chance on the non-marketing major, and I’m thankful for it! I've learned things I never thought I would through this job, and it's brought some pretty amazing people into my life! To my coworkers, Leanne, and Carson, I will miss you all so dearly. Don’t worry, I’ll come to visit!

To the First Year Experience office

Where do I even begin? This wasn’t just a job, it was the most transformative part of my Auburn experience. When I first stepped into this role my junior year, I had no idea just how much it would change me. What started as an opportunity to give back to a place I love quickly became so much more, a space where I grew into the leader, mentor, and friend I always hoped to be.

I am forever grateful to the professional staff who saw something in me, who poured into me (and still do) with unwavering support, shaping me into the person I am today. And to the 62 other counselors, there are no words big enough to describe how much you mean to me. You were my biggest cheerleaders, my strongest supporters, my best friends. We laughed together, cried together, leaned on each other through the long and hot days, and celebrated the best ones.

But above all, what I hold closest to my heart is the privilege of being part of each of my students’ Auburn journeys. The summer before freshman year is such a transformative time, and being able to be there for them, to offer reassurance, guidance, or even just a friendly face, meant everything to me. Getting paid to talk about Auburn and share my love for this place was just the cherry on top. What a way to spend my last summer in undergrad. What a gift this experience was. And what an honor it will always be to say I was a part of it.

To my Auburn Family:

Auburn has given me more than I ever could have imagined. It has been my home, my greatest teacher, and the place that introduced me to the most incredible people. The Auburn Family isn’t just a saying, it's real, and I’ve felt it in every moment of my time here. It’s in the professors who were intentional, the late nights in RBD, the sunsets over Jordan-Hare, the friends who became family, and the countless little moments that made these four years unforgettable.

To those who have supported me, laughed with me, cried with me, and grown with me, thank you. Thank you for shaping me into the person I am today and for making Auburn feel like home. The memories I’ve made here will stay with me long after I leave, and no matter where life takes me, Auburn will have my heart forever.

War Eagle!!!

Be Well, Auburn.