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While I’m thankful I received a college education, and even more thankful I don’t have any student loans to pay back (thank you mom and dad), there is a certain sadness that comes with having no emotional ties to the school you went to. I graduated from a college that was featured on Total Frat Move’s “Map of The Lamest Party Schools in The Nation Will Make You Glad You Don’t Go There” and I can, in fact, vouch for that statement, and add on that it was not just a lame party school, it was just kinda shitty overall.
Before you get this image in your head of me as one of the Duggar girls in a floor-length denim skirt, I’d like to let you know I did a brief stretch at a state school like the rest of the masses. While I probably couldn’t outdrink anyone, I can hold my own at a kegger or basement party. I’m not a zealot or a weirdo, I just ended up matriculating at a lame college.
For three and a half years I did the motions required to pass my courses and get my bachelor’s degree in group projects and skipping night classes. The whole time though, I was hyper-aware that I really didn’t give a fuck about the school or being there. I would see people tweeting about wanting to get back to campus during winter break and I was apathetic to their pain. I have acquaintances that regularly make visits back to their college town to do whatever it is you do as an alumn — get wasted maybe? It just doesn’t vibe with me. I don’t share in that desire when I can do all of that without having to drive to a sweaty tailgate.
It wasn’t all misery during my undergrad years. I made some of my very best friends and lived with them for two years in your typical gross college apartment. I had classes I enjoyed and went to campus events for the free food. There was always something off though. While other people bawled their eyes out at the prospect of leaving their beloved campus, I didn’t even walk at my graduation ceremony. The school was known for its soccer program, but my lack of enthusiasm kept me from caring if the team won or lost. The Office of Giving may as well cross my name off their alumni list now because there’s no way in hell I’m going to donate any money.
I was once at a party with a friend when someone we were chatting with asked where both of us had gone to school. My friend screamed in a completely unnecessary fashion, “THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY!” and did some weird power lunge move as well. Her theatrical display was followed by me casually saying I went to a small private college they probably had never heard of.
This juxtaposition is funny to me, but at the same time, I feel a bit of jealousy toward the Ohio State girl. I wish I had love for my college so I can yell things and join a “class of…” networking Facebook group. There’s just nothing that I’m proud of or feel tied to, and it’s not worth faking.
I’ve found some commiseration with people in my life who also view their degree as a piece of paper, not an identity. It’s not a good feeling though. I spent way too much of my parent’s hard earned cash to have such a bitter taste in my mouth.
In the end, there really isn’t anything I can do at this point except bitch about it to the people around me. Plus, I plan on applying to cooler colleges for graduate school so I can finally get an alumni quarter zip I can rock with pride because that’s all I really care about..
Respond
Kell
future soccer mom of America (AKA I drive a Volvo.) Miracle is my favorite movie and it should be yours too.
@backpackfanclub
@instagram
Everyone should have pride in their school, but cult like schools, cough Penn State, go a little over the top
*cough* Texas A&M *cough*
Um excuse me can you let us be miserable in peace please.
i grew up in/still live in philly and the penn state adoration is such a weird thing. i didn’t know every state wasn’t so into their state school until college.
Same here. I grew up in the Philly burbs and everyone was shocked I chose to go to Pitt instead of Penn State
well now i’m curious as to where you grew up, but also terrified that we know each other.
Haha I’m from west Chester if you know anyone from there
Eat shit Pitt!
Nice from WVU? If so, surprised you can string that many complete words together
worked for QVC for two years, currently sitting in my office with two girls from west chester
Oh shit haha small world
Yea but it’s so much fun to shout “We Are” in a public place just to get a reaction out of people. For the record I didn’t go to PSU.
Pride? I have pride in the things I own and things I’ve achieved in life(being able to even go to college, my job, getting married.) Where I went to college, not so much.
Loser alert
Like I care if some rando thinks I’m a loser.
Loser
Why have pride in a place that put you in crippling debt for years to come just to get a piece of paper that said you could sit at a desk and still not afford real assets? Is that embroidered sweater really that cool? Once I become POTUS and destroy offices with the power of the internet, I’m coming after colleges because Google-ing shit is free lol
My two daughters are dressing up as cheerleaders from my alma mater due to my brainwashing them how awesome it is and my making them watch college basketball with me all season.
/// first celebratory beer at Xfinity is on me after a game if you ever make it to Wells Fargo
villanofun
False.
graduated in ’14, can safely say that we had more than our fair share of fun despite that slanderous nickname. That being said, RIP Maloney’s and Erin’s, pour out a bud light pounder for our fallen brethren
My wife and I had our first “date” at Erin. I celebrated my 21st birthday there at least twice. I have probably 6 faded Erin mugs, one of which I’m drinking water out of right now. St. Patrick’s Day ’02 I was at Erin for literally 14 hours, hanging out with Martin’s mom eating her homemade corned beef. I was last there about 3 years ago. I seriously teared up when I heard it was closing.
Still have my Maloney’s VIP mug (holds my toothbrush now #PGP and my 36oz. Erin mug is my hungover water vessel now. Sad that current cats will never experience those spots
See you at Oktoberfest this weekend
I’ll be there
Xfinity live fucks
VUmoblie we graduated the same year! #NovaCat here myself
Moved to LA from Delco. This is making me very nostalgic
This is so relatable it hurts. We probably went to the same school
Top DIII soccer school… did you go to Messiah? – Fellow alum of a small private university no one has heard of
Fellow alum here, honestly can confirm.
Try going to a hockey school. We’re relevant one week out of the year assuming we make the playoffs.
I can relate, I have much more pride in my SEC grad school than my Sun Belt Alma Mater
Why didn’t you just transfer?
I’m pretty sure the reason that one of my relatives says I’m living in the past when I mention anything even remotely related to my college is because I went to a big state school and he doesn’t understand that type of school pride since he was a commuter student at a satellite campus that nobody outside of the state has ever heard of.
Even though I went to a well known state school I feel the exact same way. I thoroughly enjoyed my 5 year stay but that was enough for me and I feel no need to try to relive it.
You sort of re-lived it with year 5, no?