Before I found Troy, I thought of Alabama as the state that lives and breathes college football, the home of the Civil Rights movement, and the song lyric “Alabama, Arkansas, I sure love my Ma & Pa” from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ song “Home.” It was just another state in the South for me, which also was equal to no snow (which made me happy to think about.)

Going into my senior year of high school, I became the Distinguished Young Woman of Caroline County, Maryland. Becoming involved with Distinguished Young Women opened the doors for me to find my new college home. My directors loved Troy and highly recommended it to me. So I applied, reluctantly, I might add. At that point in my life, I was sold on going to Savannah College of Art and Design to study theatre.

In January, my dad and I packed up our suitcases and headed to Alabama. I visited Troy with an open mind. I knew it was a lot smaller than SCAD, even though it was a Division 1 school. But what about Troy made me want to pack my bags up and move to a place 900 miles from home?

The Sound of the South

If you’ve ever been to a football game here on campus or are out and about around 4 o’clock, chances are that you have heard the powerful entity that is the Sound of the South. The beloved Troy marching band, which is celebrating 50 years of the “Sound” this year, is one of the main reasons I came to Troy. After auditioning and being put on the color guard for this school year, I was excited to continue my marching career here at Troy with the best band in the land.

The Cost of Tuition

Let’s all acknowledge that Troy is such an affordable school. And compared to school costs back home in Maryland, Troy’s bill looks superb. I was happy to have found a school that I loved that wouldn’t leave me in debt for the rest of my life. Especially since Troy was one of the two state schools I applied to, you can imagine how much prettier the numbers looked compared to some of the private colleges I thought about attending.

Scholarships

Besides being affordable, Troy offers so many scholarships. Foundation scholarships, the Trojan Opportunity scholarships, Band scholarships, the list goes on and on.

Troy Theatre and Dance Department

I had always loved performing and chose to be a theatre major when I came to college. At first, going to Troy to study theatre seemed kind of absurd. However, you just sit down and talk to some of Troy’s Theatre and Dance Department (TDT) employees, and you will fall in love. Everyone is so nice and helpful. They understand why you want to be a performer, because they are actors, actresses, and dancers just like the students they teach. You become a crazy family, and it’s amazing how much I’ve grown to love that environment and the people I am surrounded by in such a short time. I can only wish that everyone else finds a place in their own educational department like I have found mine with TDT.

The Size of Campus

Troy’s campus isn’t teeny tiny, but it isn’t giant. It’s just right, like in "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." I explored college campuses of all kinds until, at last, I found Troy. You can be a part of the student population and, despite the school being a Division 1 NCAA school, can still feel like you are someone.

Distance from Home

Troy is exactly 900 miles from my hometown on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It is a 13-hour car ride, and about a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Birmingham to Baltimore. I can’t exactly go home on the weekends, but I have the distance that allows me to be independent. I was also able to completely start over when I came to Troy, which was a nice change from the small-town high school I went to. I love my home, but it is exciting to make Troy University your new home.

The Trojan Spirit

Let’s face it, Troy has a ton of school spirit. Learning the fight song was a piece of cake after you listen to it so many times in one day. The Alma Mater is sung with so much pride too, people simply love Troy University. I knew I wanted to be a part of a school who had a lot of school spirit, regardless of how our sports teams are doing.

The Weather

The Alabama heat is one of my favorite things about Troy. Just last week there were snow flurries at home, but here I am enjoying the range of warm temperatures that will keep me thawed out all winter long.

Whatever the reason that you came to Troy, we are all here now. From here on out, Troy, Alabama, will hold a special place in every student’s heart. Troy University can only get better from here. Take the opportunities you are given and make your college life all that it can be!