Every university has its stereotypes, and UVa is certainly a school that values its established traditions. The school has certainly changed in its scope and diversity since it first opened, but based on what I heard about the school going into my first year versus how I actually observe the school to be, some things are exactly as I imagined they would be.

1. "A significant percentage of the student body wears regularly, or at least owns an article of, Vineyard Vines clothing."

I've so far avoided giving in to peer pressure and purchasing clothing or laptop stickers with cheerful whales on them, but I can't promise that I'll always stay this strong. Not all students are actively as preppy as the Vineyard Vines image may suggest, but I am always surprised and charmed by how present this particular brand is here on grounds.

2. "People will reprimand you for saying 'Campus' instead of 'Grounds' or 'freshman' instead of 'first year.'"

I've witnessed many occasions of poor outsiders attempting to fit in with the UVa lingo, whether they were paid speakers or visiting students, only to be quietly told of the correct term. UVa students are very protective of their arbitrarily unique vocabulary, and take just about every chance they can to educate others on their beloved vernacular.

3. "Everyone is actively involved in at least three different CIOs."

Though it can be overwhelming for first years to realize, this is pretty much spot on. UVa students love their extracurricular involvement, leadership experience, and endless social opportunities. My CIO involvement has certainly enriched my time here, and I wouldn't change anything about it for the world, but I do admit that the amount of sheer commitments present among UVa students can be quite daunting.

4. "Lighting of the Lawn is the most hyped event of the year."

Affectionately known as LOTL, I got very excited for this event first year when it was all I heard about throughout the month of November and December. If you like a cappella, lights shows, or giant gatherings with free cookies and hot chocolate, this really is a special event. LOTL is a magical, unifying gathering that helps all UVa students relax a little bit before finals begin.

5. "Class registration is by far the most stressful time of the semester."

This is probably not a UVa-specific trait, but it is certainly an accurate point to note. Especially in certain departments like Politics, so many classes fill up quickly that you may not get what you want even if you have an early sign up time. The best thing to do is take advantage of the incredible plethora of classes available here and, for classes that aren't strictly required, have a couple of backup options at different times. But even if everything goes perfectly and you get into all of your preferred classes, the stress of others worrying about their classes can unfortunately be contagious.

6. "It's extremely common for students to double major, and minor, and still want to tack on more academic disciplines."

I didn't quite realize how many students here double major, but from what I've gathered it seems much more common to double major, or at least major and minor, than to have just one major. It is comforting to know that UVa students are genuinely interested in so many things that they just can't decide what to focus on.

7. "First years, learn the Good Old Song as soon as possible, because you'll sing it at basically every event you attend here."

I was slightly overwhelmed at convocation when it seemed like all of the other first years were singing the Good Old Song confidently by heart, when I was discreetly trying not to look at the lyric sheet in our program while singing quietly. Luckily, the UVa experience prepares students well to sing this song on command just about anywhere. It's like riding a bike; once you learn the Good Old Song once, you'll never forget it.

8. "Our teams may be the Cavaliers, but never say, 'Lets Go Cavs,' because students will look at you like you're crazy."

I was amused to find this out my first year, when I first became immersed in Hoo culture, that it really is "Hoo" culture. It's truly amusing how fiercely loyal UVa students are to calling themselves "Hoos" and replacing the word "Who" with "Hoo" whenever possible. When sports announcers here have emphatically shouted, "Lets Go Cavaliers!", students just give each other a knowing look. "Cav Man" is just about the only normalization of the word "Cavalier" into UVa lingo that comes to mind.

9. "People here from NOVA introduce themselves as such, and identify one-fourth of the state of Virginia as their hometown."

As an out of state student from New York, I was extremely confused at first when I heard people introducing themselves as "from NOVA." I honestly thought they were talking about Villanova for a while. It's comical to me that people identify more strongly with NOVA than with their actual hometowns upon introductions, but I do appreciate the vague geographic loyalty.

10. "UVa looks like an idyllic college campus that you'd see in a movie."

I vividly remember talking with a visitor from England on the bus once, and he said that UVa looked exactly like a perfect American college campus from the movies. I was flattered on behalf of my school to have received such a compliment. Sometimes I forget just how lucky I am to attend such an aesthetically pleasing college. It truly brightens my day to look around at beautiful architecture and know that I am blessed to have this view.

Reflecting on all of these traditions and perceptions that are still active here at UVa, they all seem to revolve around long-standing school spirit and academic devotion. Those are certainly two traits that underlie student life at this university, and both make me extremely proud to be a sophomore here. Excuse me, a second year.