Circle of Life (without the whole Elton John thing...)

Erin and Jess (Erin's little sis) came into town and chilled with me this weekend. We had a blast. Jess is starting to look at colleges and I wanted to show her A&M, because everyone deserves a chance to see the best college campus in the world. As we started the tour around campus, we listened to the guide speak about the history and traditions of Aggieland, and I reflected on the first time I walked around campus. I heard the same speech, the same history, and the same account of what makes the Aggie Spirit so amazing. That tour, along with passive persuasion from my father, started a chain of events leading up to today; graduation is only 25 days away.

My time at Texas A&M has been so memorable. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. It has given me so much, and added so much value to my life. Texas A&M has helped make me what I am. The profs, faculty, and student body helped mold my personality and character into what I am today. Everything is now included in me: the weeks with 4 tests, the small and cramped dorm room, the FTA Midnight Yell Practices (Whoop!), the weekends with friends, and even the weekends alone.

The past few weeks I have seen the new freshmen walking around campus with their parents. They are here for their new student conferences. They are so green to the idea of college. The intimidation of Aggieland is all over their faces. It seems so poetic that as I attend my last 2 classes, they are registering for their first 4. As I count down to the moments that I try on my Aggie Ring for the first time and then walk across that stage, they count down to the days that their dorms open up for move-in day. They have no clue how the next 4 years are going to change them, and make them better people. Even if I sat everyone of them down and told them how much I have grown up as an Aggie, they would not understand. The experience here is unlike any other.

My message to the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2012: (1) Enjoy it while its here: you graduate much faster than anticipated. (2) Keep the Aggie Spirit Alive: this is what makes Texas A&M so special. (3) Learn about life not only in the lecture halls, but also everywhere else: academia can teach a lot, but the world can teach you so much more.

-jon

From the outside looking in, you can't understand. From the inside looking out, you can't explain.