Oglethorpe University, my Alma Mater, is something that I have managed to fall in love with over a period of four years. Just look at this place:
Isn't it beautiful? Just a forewarning: I'm going to describe my relationship with Oglethorpe a little bit like a relationship with a person. It will be for effective purposes I suppose. When I was applying for colleges back in 2005, I only applied to two schools: Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia and Oglethorpe, which is in Atlanta. Here is what Roanoke looks like:
I went to Roanoke first for a campus visit and really liked what I saw. I was not disappointed in any aspect. I suppose the only aspect of the college that I was concerned about was that it was located in an area that didn't seem to have a lot of activity. I informed my parents that I really liked it, but we still had to go to Oglethorpe. To be honest, I don't remember my exact first impressions of Oglethorpe. Perhaps I was entirely mesmerized by the gorgeous gothic-architectured stone buildings and felt some sort of magical vibe by walking around campus. All I remember was that at the end of the day, I told my dad, "I REALLY like this one." And so it happened.
Through four years of pain-staking Core classes, major changing, rigorous paper-writing and incredibly intellectual conversations, I fell in love with my university and everything that it had to offer. Love is complex and uncertain, but I feel that my love for Oglethorpe is rather consistent and certain. No one can take away my love for this gated and serene college.
Why am I in love with Oglethorpe University? Call me cheesy, but yes, I am going to list these reasons:
1) THE PEOPLE - I can't even begin to tell you the amount of amazing people that I have met during my time at OU. Everyone on campus had such interesting backgrounds and the diversity of those there was eye-opening and refreshing. There was never a dull day.
2) THE FACULTY - I absolutely love the professors at OU. I'm not quite sure how much the professors there make on average, but you can tell that money is no worry for them. They have an undying passion for the subjects they specialize in and they care about their students. They want their students to learn and they want everyone to succeed in their lives. I really believe that the faculty at OU make the university unique and incomparable to other colleges.
3) CORE - Yes, I am considering Core a reason for loving Oglethorpe. For all of you non-Oglethorpe people, allow me to explain. Usually, colleges have certain classes that everyone is required to take. These classes normally consist of English/Composition 101, Math 101, History 101, etc. Well, at OU, these were our required classes: Art or Music and Culture, Great Ideas of Modern Mathematics, Narratives of the Self, Human Nature and the Social Order, Historical Perspectives of the Social Order and Human Nature: Biological or Physical Sciences. Those don't really sound like your typical college-required classes, do they? They aren't typical. They are all centered around philosophical ideas based upon those particular subjects. The names are certainly intimidating, but I now consider myself a paper-writing machine and someone that can easily "read between the lines."
4) LOCATION - One of the main reasons that I chose Oglethorpe was because of the fact that it was located in Atlanta. Although the campus is quiet and castle-like, you can drive about 10 to 15 minutes down the road and be in the heart of the city. It's the perfect setting.
Now, Oglethorpe and I have developed quite a strong relationship with each other through four years. I have professed my love, but I have found that we have been spending a lot of time apart from each other lately. I guess you could just say that we're giving each other a little space, or rather, a lot of space.
Fact: I currently live about 10 minutes away from Oglethorpe. No long distance relationship here, my friends. After I graduated, it only seemed right to stay away from campus because, quite frankly, it just doesn't feel right. I love Oglethorpe, but I don't want to be the person that keeps coming back over and over again because I miss it. I am moving forward with my life and my career. If I visit OU, it seems as if I don't want to let go. It's like high school! You know what I'm talking about, right? When you were in high school and you saw those that graduated come back for a visit, you thought to yourself, "What are they doing here?"
Granted, when I do visit OU, it is nice to see the people that I haven't seen in a while. However, I have a theory - if I stay away for a lengthy period of time, when I visit again and see people I haven't seen in a while, the reunion will seem more genuine and there will be more of a shock. The overall effect will prove more exciting. If I kept coming back again... and again... and again, well, it's just not as exciting. And I am a firm believer in the fact that you really appreciate something more when you "lose" it. If I stay away from OU, I'll appreciate it a little more when I visit. This theory works in relationships sometimes too.
Now, I'm not going to name any names, but some people are clingy and won't give Oglethorpe any space. Their relationship is good, but the real world is scary and seems to force people to stick around. This isn't necessarily bad, but I feel that after a certain point, people should not hang around Oglethorpe. For those that work there, I understand. Otherwise, just let go.
Anyways, I am proud to be an Oglethorpe alumna. I love the university from the bottom of my heart, and I can't wait to see what kind of fabulous minds it produces in the years to come. To commemorate my years there, I would like to share a few personal photos. Enjoy!
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