This summer, my brother and I were finally able to fulfill our dream of watching the Boston Red Sox play at Fenway park. As we were walking along the North End Waterfront, a person wearing an Auburn shirt walked past us.  My brother, who is a student there, exchanged “War Eagles” with her. Attempting to take a stab at my college choice, he then turned to me and said, “You know, it is these War Eagle moments that let me know I am in the Auburn family no matter where I am.”

At the time, I just shrugged off the comment. In all honestly, I didn’t really care about either Auburn or Alabama. I did not grow up a rabid SEC football fan, and I most certainly was not committed to attend this university from birth. 

In fact, if you had asked me as I was watching the National Championship in January, I probably could not have even told you what corner of the country I would be going to school in this fall.

I must admit that my decision to attend the University of Alabama came at the last minute and with a large degree of uncertainty. In my defense, the uneasiness would have probably set in regardless of my choice. The college admissions process never gives a clear picture of all options. For a meticulous person who wants certainty in every one of his decisions, the concept of choosing where I was going to be for the next four years without a guarantee is absolutely maddening.

However, one month and three days after taking the great blind leap and moving in, it is clear to me that Alabama has not only rendered all of my worries about attending absolutely unfounded, but has also given me a distinct love of my school.

There is something about this campus that makes me feel like I am a part of something larger. It is a sense of pride that my friends who chose other colleges could not claim to have when asked. Whether I am sitting with the Crimson Tide crowd in the student section that wildly screams as we crush San Jose State 48-3 or sitting on an undisclosed roof with upperclassmen discussing things to do and avoid on campus, I get the feeling that the students here are truly proud of their school and would do anything to help a fellow student. It also only takes one walk through the quad on game day to realize that this pride is something that does not leave you when you graduate.

It is easy to see why it exists. The University of Alabama is an amazing school to attend. While my limited time here prevents me from giving anything more than a first impression, it is safe to say the first thing that comes to mind in most people’s heads when they think of the University of Alabama is its football team.

While that certainly does greatly enhance this campus, it is just the tip of the iceberg for me. Between the incredible diversity in the options that Alabama gives for involvement and the unofficial activities that students create, someone would have to try not to find their place on this campus and not become a part of the UA community.

So all in all, I can say that after an overwhelming month of being a student here, I am incredibly happy that I chose to come to Tuscaloosa. This is not just because it has a well-known logo or because I might see someone wearing a Crimson Tide shirt across the country. It is because the University has given me more than enough reasons to know that I made the right choice for my future and to take pride in the fact that I am a student here.

Looking back to my summer experience in Boston, I think that both Auburn and my brother are wrong. With all due respect to him and none to our neighbor in the East, that simple exchange of “War Eagles” does not mean that you have a family. In my humble opinion, it just means that you are confused about what animal your mascot is.

John Brinkerhoff is a freshman majoring in political science.