In my opinion, I have the amazing pleasure of attending the coolest university, Appalachian State. It is located in the most beautiful part of the High Country nestled in the town of Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers make up a majority of the town's population during the school year and it is a totally rad college town. There are so many cool things about Appalachian, so I decided to make a list of the reasons why I love attending this university!

1. The "Location, Location, Location"!

Appalachian is located in Boone, NC, where it is surrounded by the most beautiful views! Whether you are just walking to class or out on the parkway, you are surrounded by beauty. The Blue Ridge Parkway is such a sight to see, but Appalachian's campus is just as gorgeous. It just feels like home. Everywhere you go in Boone seems so small and safe, but then you remember you're surrounded by these larger than life mountains and it's just such a surreal experience. If you love the outdoors then Appalachian is definitely the college town for you! You get to experience the mountains during the best seasons to be in the mountains: Fall and Winter!

2. The People!

It seems like everyone who is in Boone is genetically programmed to be awesome. Students, store vendors, the locals, whoever, everyone in Boone is super nice and great company. There are all kinds of people who attend Appalachian, so you'll definitely find your niche, but don't ever worry about venturing on to other cliques because you definitely will run into some awesome people everywhere. I have met some of my best friends here and know they'll be apart of my life for the long haul. That's the best thing about Appalachian!

3. The Weather!

Here at Appalachian State, you could experience all four seasons in a matter of one day. The winter's here are no joke and layering up your clothes is definitely recommended, but just know that once it hits the 60s, Sanford Mall will be covered with students in shorts, t-shirts, and no shoes. App State students do not take for granted the warm days we are blessed with in the High Country. Also, never expect to have days off though just because it's snowing, App State students STILL go to class during blizzards.

4. The Schooling!

Appalachian has a variety of different subjects you can study and all of them are equally as satisfying! From classes involving snowboarding to molecular biology, Appalachian has it all! Through our General Education requirements, students are forced to step out of their comfort zones and studying subjects they never thought they would (and guess what? sometimes you actually enjoy them!) Appalachian's professors are some of the best and each one has something to offer to each and every student. From large to small classes, you'll find what type of environment works best for you to learn in, but just know that you'll never be just a number at App!

5. The Athletics!

Appalachian is known for its football team's win over Michigan, but do not think that is where the athletics stops! Our football team has won the Camellia Bowl Championship and continues to excel! The Rock is such a special place on the school's campus and game days could not be more fun. Getting to go out and wear your black and yellow is something every student loves to do. However, don't discount the other sports our university has! With each sport Appalachian produces wins over a number of other colleges! There are also a variety of club and intramural sports, so even if you aren't playing at the collegiate level you still can get involved with athletics!

6. All The Stuff To Do Besides Class!

Appalachian State and Boone never run out of things to do! There is always some type of event going on on campus whether it's booths promoting awareness, a new art exhibit at Turchin, a carnival on Sanford, or Lil Wayne singing at Convocation; there is going to be something going on for all students to do! Boone never runs out of things to do either! You can spend days exploring the parkway, or just have an afternoon shopping on King Street. There are tons of restaurants to try, so make sure to go to every single one before you graduate. Boone also is cool because there's always some kind of local music selection going on whether it's at Legends or Black Cat, you can catch some funky tunes. The nightlife isn't bad either, ranging from bars to parties, you can always find some shenanigans!

7. The Food!

Now, I am not talking Central Dining Hall when I say the food (even though we all secretly love B for D), but I am talking all the amazing restaurants around the campus! On King Street alone you can get a good old fashioned burger at Murphy's, pad thai at Cha Da Thai, Sushi at Cobo, or an all organic meal at Proper and that is JUST on King Street! That's not even half of the restaurants on that block. Boone has a variety of different food options for all types of cravings, and I suggest you try every restaurant in town. A requirement though before you graduate is to definitely figure out if you are a Los or Dos person. (Personally, my I prefer Taqueria El Paso over Los or Dos any day of the week)

8. Our Mascot, Yosef!

Honestly, I think our mascot is the coolest mascot around. With a newly renovated look, you can see Yosef a mile away with his checkered yellow and black flannel and HUGE beard. Not only is Yosef a mountain man with amazing facial hair, but also has some pretty sick moves and definitely knows how to get the crowd pumped up for a game! No App State student ever passes up the opportunity to get a picture with Yosef. He's definitely the coolest guy on campus.

9. Appalachian Cares!

Not only is Appalachian a sustainable campus that pushes to go green, but it cares about a variety of different social justice issues and it's student's well being! There are tons of organizations, centers, and outlets that are dedicated to giving each and every student the care they need whether that is Health Services, the Counseling Center, Wellness and Prevention, Greek Life, the Multicultural Center, the LGBTQ+ Center, the Writing Center and whatever else you might seek refuge in!

10. Appalachian is Home!

If you attend Appalachian, there is always going to be a place in your heart for App State. This place, whether you want it to or not, starts to feel like home because of all the reasons I listed above and many more! Through thick and thin, we are a community and everyone associated with App cares about one another to a certain extent! Even being a large university, it still begins to feel small as you meet people through classes, social gatherings, or just passing each other on the way to class, you start to remember faces and you care about your fellow peers.You will see students stick around in Boone ever after they graduate and alumni returns faithfully every year to the Homecoming football game without fail. Mountaineers all bleed black and gold and wouldn't have it any other way!