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.
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