Welcome to LSU, welcome home!

Hi everyone, I hope that you've all had a good week! 

Now that orientation is nearly over, I feel like I should offer some words of wisdom to those new tigers coming to LSU this fall, especially those who are out-of-state students. Many people have asked me "what do you think of LSU?" or, "how quickly do you think it will take me to get used to being here?" All I can say is that I've been at LSU for 8 weeks, and time has flown by. To be honest, when I first boarded my plane to come down here I was more than a little nervous. I was excited too, but I thought to myself on more than one occasion "What have I gotten myself into?" I guess I expected some mix of the traditional southern hospitality I'd heard about and Swamp People, but that's not reality. After two months, I've yet to meet ANYONE who talks or looks like the gator hunters from TV (though I'd be really excited if I did). I have met a lot of friendly, kind, generous people who go out of their way everyday to make me feel welcome here. I have tasted some of the best food I have ever eaten (and that's saying something, because I'm not shy when it comes to food). I've seen beautiful, historic places. I've been awed by the determination of people who, in the face of disaster, stood strong and carried on. I've learned that the politeness and hospitality we've all heard of is genuine, and not just the "I'll be nice because I don't want people to think I'm rude" attitude that I have experienced other places. 

Google Maps says this is how far away my house is... thank goodness I didn't drive down here!

I was lucky enough to spend the last four days in New Orleans, which was a lot of fun. When I got back to campus late last night, walked through my front door and thought, "It's so good to be home", I was a bit taken aback. I am from a town that is more than 1800 miles northeast of here, but I still feel at home on this campus, and you will too. Someone once told me that "the purple and gold gets in your blood"; they were right. Before you know it, you'll be spelling things that end in "o" with an "eaux", eating crawfish, saying "ya'll", and thinking that 60 degrees is chilly. You'll learn the traditions, learn to get from Tiger Stadium to your res hall without a map, and learn what it means to love purple, live gold. 

It's okay to be nervous and scared- trust me, I was and so is everyone else, but remember to hold on to your excitement too. You're not just going off to college, you're finding a second home. Embrace it. If you make a mistake, learn from it. Learn to balance fun and academics. Understand that your impressions and expectations may be wrong, and that's okay. Whether you're here for a summer internship, or here for a four year degree, enjoy your time at LSU. Before you know it, you'll be a true tiger.