Turning the Tassel

Five years ago, I was a baby. I was ignorant and naïve and definitely had no idea how I was going to make it through five years of college. But in true Maggie fashion, I didn’t let that stop me and attended my dream University…with not a single person that I knew. People who know me well, know that I thrive in new situations and that I enjoy spontaneity and I love the unknown. Obviously, part of what I loved about Auburn was that I wouldn’t have to share it with anyone else that I already knew. For the very first time I was going to have to have my own opinions, and be my own person. For the first time in my life I was not going to be able to be my brother’s sister, or my parent’s daughter. I was going to have to decide who I was. I was going to have to figure out what I truly believed in and stood for.

Figuring out what I stood for started on my very first day here at Auburn. I decided that I was going to go through recruitment. I won’t lie and tell you that it was a good week and I’d do it again, but I will say that I am happy where I ended up and thankful that I stuck with it to the end. Someone told me to be careful selecting a sorority. Whatever that sorority stood for, I was going to be standing for it too. I chose Alpha Xi Delta and they have been inspiring me to “realize my potential” for the past five years.

There were some days that I laughed until I cried, and there were nights that I cried until I fell asleep. I made great decisions, and I made some really stupid ones. I went on random spontaneous adventures, and I always found a way to see my Auburn tigers play. Sometimes that meant jumping in a car with friends and showing up in Texas. There were times that I lived in the library and times when I lived abroad.

I learned how to live in a foreign country and appreciate their customs and culture differences. I learned how to use my very bad Italian to get around Italy. I walked the streets of Rome like a local. I learned how to travel by train, and the importance of validating your tickets. 

I made friends that I could count on for the little things (study buddies) and the big things. I lost some friends. Some by choice, and some are dancing in heaven. I immersed myself in the Bible. I grew in my understanding of the Lord and I learned that there are some things that I will just never understand. I learned that not everyone will agree with me and I can’t make everyone happy all of the time. I learned that there are some things that you just need your mama for and times when you just need to go home.

During my time at Auburn, I developed a deep knowledge and understanding of my field. I learned that “this is a practical world and I can count only on what I earn.” I learned that you have to work hard to earn anything. I learned that children are all unique and unpredictable, but they know if you care about them or not. “Difficult” children are not merely “difficult”. They are usually frustrated children, because there is something that you are missing. I learned how they develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively. I have learned all about Erikson and Piaget and the theories of the developing child.

I learned that Auburn is a family. When tragedy strikes the Auburn family, we stand together. A year into my undergrad, I learned the true importance of the Auburn Creed. I learned how deeply I believe in it and how much I loved it. Once I learned the Auburn Creed, I realized just how much I cared about this University. When Lutz died, this University stood together. We held each other up. We reached out to each other knowing that someone in our family was gone. We triumph together and we grieve together.

I don’t think I could have picked a more interesting five years to attend Auburn. I mean, I witnessed a National Championship, the 2012 slump, the 2013 come back and everything in between. I watched Auburn make national news when one of our greatest traditions got poisoned. I watched Auburn win every single game in 2010 and I watched them lose every game in 2012. It wasn’t fun, but 2012 was the year that I realized just how much I loved my Auburn tigers. I watched us beat Georgia with a tipped football and I watched us take one second and destroy Bama’s hopes and dreams. I stormed the field, I rolled some trees, and I tailgated all day. I wore my game day dresses, I watched the eagle soar, and I loved my time in the greatest student section in college football.

Looking back, I couldn’t imagine myself at any other school. I couldn’t imagine myself making any other friends, joining any other sorority, or choosing any other career path. I grew deeper in my knowledge of the Bible, I grew closer to the Lord (pushed away…and then ran right back to Him) I often wonder who I would have become if I didn’t choose Auburn. The truth is, I’d probably have been just fine. However, I know without a shadow of doubt that this is where I needed to be. This place is where God wanted me to be. This is where He wanted me to be planted and call home. Yes, there are a million different paths that I could have chosen for myself, and sometimes I didn’t pick the best one. But I know that this choice was the perfect one for me and I’d choose it a million times over.

Now five years later I am sitting in a silent room in the Haley Center with a dear friend as we work on our senior projects. Both of us chose different fields and career paths, but we are both reminiscing on all of the things we did while we were here. From the night we almost got caught climbing Cater Hall to this very night, there has not been a dull moment here. I love everything about this place. I love how the sunsets are always orange and blue, and you can hear “war eagle” being yelled multiple times a day when you are around the campus tours. I LOVE that at noon the Samford Clock Tower plays the Auburn fight song. I love our football traditions. I love our trees. I love how everyone just HAS to return home to Auburn (like Cam Newton). I adore my memories of delirious nights during finals with my friends, and the nights that we refused to even go near the library. Every inch of this town has a memory. Some good, some sad, and everything in between…

So how do you say goodbye to a place like Auburn? You don’t. Because to be honest…it doesn’t matter where you go. You will always find your way back to Auburn. You will always find your way back home and Auburn will always find it’s way back to you.

The Auburn chapter of my life is coming to a close and I will walk across a stage and receive my degree tomorrow afternoon. It has been an incredible five years and I’m sad to see it come to an end, but I am excited to see where the Lord takes me for my next chapter. When I started here, I had no idea what I truly stood for. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and now, five years later, I know exactly what I represent and believe in.

So here is a list of things that I believe in, as a soon to be college graduate with a mind of her own:

I believe in Jesus Christ

I believe that He is the Lord and Savior and that there is no other way to the Father.

I believe in the Holy Spirit and that He lives in me.

I believe in the holy trinity

I believe that there is more to life than material possessions

I believe that adoption is a beautiful picture of the gospel

I believe that you can never blame others for decisions you make

I believe that you are never too old to learn something new

I believe that rolling a couple of trees on the corner of campus is the greatest tradition in college football

I believe that Auburn is the prettiest campus in the country

I believe that everyone should study abroad at least once. Find a way to make it happen.

I believe that different cultures are wonderful to learn about

I believe that greek life can be great.

I believe Aubie is the best mascot…ever. Hands down.

I believe that there are no goose bumps in the world like the ones you get when the eagle soars around Jordan Hare.

And I believe in Auburn and LOVE it.

Which means I believe in the Auburn Creed:

 I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work. 

I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully. 

I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men. 

I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities. 

I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all. 

I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all. 

I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God." 

And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it. 
-George Petrie (1945)