Know what it means to be a ram

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly

secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what

is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous

and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is

power.” It was more than four years ago, but I distinctly remember

the day I moved to Fort Collins and became a Ram. It was a day

filled with sadness, excitement, disappointment, anticipation and

everything in between.

However, you don’t need me to tell you that because you are in

your first days as a CSU Ram and are probably feeling all those

things and more. You are empowered by the fact that your parents

are hundreds of miles away. The things you saw at the party on

Saturday shocked you, and now you can’t wait for one coming up on

Friday. You are amazed by the notion that you can skip class all

week long and nobody will even notice, and surprised at the number

of meals the residence hall cooks can make out of leftovers.

And, after waiting in line for 8 hours on Saturday for tickets

to the CSU/CU football game you are probably wondering what all the

hype is about, and what it really means to be a CSU Ram. During

your time at CSU you will meet the Green Peace people, the Mormons,

the guy who believes all college students go to hell and the Hare

Krishna’s, all while walking to class. You will see people sleeping

out on the plaza to raise awareness about hunger and homelessness,

see someone stand up on the stump and say the words “I am gay” for

the very first time out loud, and hear the never-ending cries of

your under-appreciated student government. You will hear the name

of every person who died in the Holocaust read out loud in the Lory

Student Center, visit every country in the world during

International Week and ride the mechanical bull during Ag Days. You

will cheer on our teams, party with your friends and of course kiss

someone on the oval.

Over the next four (or more) years you will learn that “I’m

proud to be a CSU Ram” is more than just something you

belligerently yell at the top of your lungs at any given

opportunity. Being a Ram is about realizing the incredible

opportunities you have at CSU, and about recognizing the amazing

people who surround you on your journey. Being a Ram is about

having character and integrity, and about being respectful,

courageous and unique. But most of all being a Ram is about having

fun every day and being thankful that you didn’t choose to live in

Boulder.