Without a shadow of a doubt, there’s is something so magical about Auburn University. There’s no place in this world like it, and so many things make it as special as it is. When I finally decided on Auburn my senior year, I’m pretty sure everyone back home in Tennessee got really sick of hearing me spout about how amazing Auburn was. But for anyone who’s ever been there, student, faculty, or visitor, they understand why I could never stop talking about it.

Before we became freshmen in college, we all found something that made us fall in love with the Loveliest Village on The Plains. There are a million and one different reasons as to why we chose to come to Auburn University, and now that we’re here, we’re all-Auburn, all the way through. From its traditions, to our stunning campus, to our hilarious and lovable mascot, we love Auburn. So here’s to Auburn!

Standing in Jordan-Hare never, ever gets old. You hear the first beat of the music as the marching band’s hype video comes on, and any exhaustion is immediately wiped from your body. It’s electric to watch that video. I literally get goosebumps by the time the video’s over, and watching the band march out with those high knees will always be one of my favorite moments of any football game.

Then comes one of Auburn’s most beloved traditions. Everyone’s eyes turn upward and breaths are held as Nova or Spirit is released from the top of the stadium. Watching their wings spread and seeing them circle the stadium sends shivers down my spine every time. Nothing is ever as incredible as watching the eagle land midfield as the Auburn Family screams their battle cry.

Every morning, I cross S. College Street and look up to see Samford Hall standing tall and proud. It’s probably Auburn’s most iconic building, and it never fails to make me smile when I see it. When I was moving in, my uncle commented on how jealous he was of students who were housed in Cambridge. The reason why? Every single day when students walk out of Cambridge, we get a direct view of Samford in all its glory.

Walking through the Haley Concourse is both entertaining and treacherous depending on your mood that day. Sometimes you really don’t mind everyone handing you flyers and free candy, but other days you actually walk all the way around the Student Center just to avoid the Concourse. Every now and again, a flood of people, no matter their mood, will be dying to hit the bricks. Aubie has made an appearance and everyone is dying to give him a high-five, a hug, or snap a quick pic because of his dashing good looks. I feel it’s safe to say that everyone’s day gets a little brighter thanks to Aubie the Tiger. He’s always happy, energetic and goofy, and he never lets his Auburn Family down. You could have failed a test that you studied so hard for or just nailed a test you didn’t study for at all, and Aubie can get your spirits out of dumps or make a good day a great one. Thank you Aubie!

It wasn’t until I attended Camp War Eagle that I realized the Auburn Creed was literally everywhere on campus: in the Student Center, on the wall of the Auburn Arena, cemented in the sidewalk, and I’m sure countless other places that I don’t even know about yet. As a matter of fact, the Creed is currently framed and sitting on the windowsill in my dorm room. CWE Counselors, Student Recruiters, War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen, and many other organizations’ representatives have it memorized. Every Auburn student has a piece of the Creed they identify with, and the Auburn Family tries to embody the Creed every single day. "And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it."

I have a friend back home that’s a student at the University of Tennessee. Poor thing, he thought “War Eagle” was “Wad Eagle.” Wad Eagle? Wad. I thought I was going to pass out I was laughing so hard. I mean, I know we throw toilet paper, but still. Once I’d convinced him it was indeed “War Eagle,” he still didn’t get it. It is truly something that is all-Auburn. War Eagle is the Auburn Family’s equivalent of “aloha” in my opinion. It’s hello, goodbye, how are you, the weather is nice today, good luck, nice job, and mazel tov. It’s how nearly everyone signs their letters and emails, and I always try to shout it out to passing tour groups.

Three words: The Fight Song. Did you know its actual name is War Eagle?It took me one football game to learn it my junior year of high school at my first ever Auburn football game, a group of us had to sing it in front of the Auburn Arena during a scavenger hunt, and you probably sing it at least twenty times in a single football game. It doesn’t take freshmen very long to pick up on it, and it’s featured in hype videos, Auburn paraphernalia and any Auburn decoration on a wall in a dorm or apartment.

Finally: rolling Toomer’s Corner. Home of Toomer’s lemonade, sprawling oaks and where the campus meets the town, Toomer’s Corner is one of Auburn’s most well-known locations. After every Auburn victory, Auburn fans march to Toomer’s with toilet paper in hand. It’s one of the only times it snows in Auburn, and the Auburn Family lives for game days for any sport. Rolling the Auburn Oaks has been a long lived tradition that can never be stopped: not with poison, not with fire and not with hate.

There are so many more things that make Auburn special, but these are my favorites. It’s what separates Auburn from every other school in the country, and why so many incredible people wind up in the Loveliest Village on The Plains. War Eagle!