As I approached the end of my senior year of high school, I continuously got asked by my friends and acquaintances where I was going to attend college. In the coming weeks, I would be graduating with honors and I had received a high score on my ACT, so sure enough I would be attending a "good" university, right? Everyone expected big things from me, but when I told them where I would be attending, you'd be amazed how many blank stares I received. Apparently that was not good enough, and since then, I could never understand why.

I chose to attend Southeastern Louisiana University because it was where I felt "at home". From the moment I stepped onto the campus, I knew that this is where I would want to spend my next four years, and after that I never second guessed my decision, not even once. People consistently used to tell me, "Why are you going to Southeastern? You're so much smarter than that. You should attend a big university where you can thrive." But what they didn't know was that Southeastern would eventually allow me to thrive in ways that I didn't even know were possible.

So now, I bet you're thinking to yourself, "Why Southeastern?" While there are many things that I could say, I'll give you a short list of reasons why I love my school and how I know I made the right decision three years ago.

1. The campus is beautiful, and small enough to help you find your way around.

All of the class buildings are on the same side of campus, and they are all typically easy to find. There are plenty of trees and flowers that make it nice to look at as well.

2. Most of your classes are very small.

Class sizes never really exceed over 50-60 people. The average size is typically 20-30 people.

3. Because classes are small, you develop good relationships with your classmates in your major.

If you stay in your major, you will have the same classes with the same people for four years. You get to know them and you have things in common, so why not turn your classmates into life-long friends? Besides, you're going to be spending tons of time with them anyway. Can you say study-buddy or what?

4. Athletic events are not nearly as crazy as big universities, but they are still a lot of fun.

Let me tell you, this is NO WHERE close to an LSU sporting event. But let me also tell you this, they are still just as fun! They're less crowded and less crazy, but they allow you to show your school spirit along with the rest of the students at the university. They always have fun tailgates and events leading up to sporting events, and they promote them very well. If you like craziness, then you might not think it's fun, but for people who like calm amounts of fun, this is perfect for you.

5. There's a club for everything. If you're looking to get involved, do it.

You like it? They probably have it. I don't know exactly how many clubs we have, but I know there's plenty enough for everyone to find their home. If you're not into a club, try a sorority or fraternity. There are plenty of options for you to look into, and at the end of the day, you'll eventually find something you're passionate about.

6. Professors know you by name and are willing to work with you one-on-one if needed.

Your professors want to see you succeed. They push you to do your best and they work with you when you need help. They pay attention to your needs and cater to them. They respect feedback and try to provide the best education that you could possibly receive.

7. The new student union is absolutely incredible.

Y'all. It's brand spanking new. It's three floors of wonderful. Fast food restaurants, a brand new cafeteria and big ballrooms and meeting rooms. How can you ask for more? If you haven't seen it yet, you should definitely check it out. It's pretty awesome.

8. You RENT your textbooks. Yeah, I said rent.

Can you smell the savings? Yes, you read correctly, at SLU we RENT our textbooks for just $45 per class. No longer will you have to pay hundreds of dollars for a single textbook. This may be the most beautiful thing about our school, at least, in my opinion.

9. The dorms are not terrible. They're actually pretty nice.

Most college dorms are gross, but the ones at SLU are not terrible by any means. Both the shared and private dorms are well kept up and provide a very homey place to spend the year. I lived in one my freshmen year, and it was one of the best years of my life. I strongly encourage living in a dorm at least once to get the full college experience.

10. There are plenty of events going on all the time, and you know what that means? Free food, free stuff and most importantly...free t-shirts.

I think this is one of the best things about our school. There's always something going on. Whether it's an event, a job fair or a tailgate, there's always something fun going on around campus. Where there's fun, there's usually free things and free food. Take advantage of these things, because being a college student is already rough enough.

11. Our mascot, Roomie, is the cutest mascot ever and who can resist a good "Lion Up" whenever possible?

Whenever you see Roomie pass, you can't help but take a picture with him. "Lion Up" becomes a part of your daily vocabulary. You find yourself screaming it to people you meet from Southeastern when you're home or on vacation. It's just a way of life.