Category: Why I Love Auburn

By: Sami Grace Donnelly, senior in English-Literature

When asked my reason for loving Auburn, I had no shortage of stories, explanations, or accolades to share. If I had to condense it all into one simple reason, however, I would choose the word “community.” 

I grew up as a military BRAT, which is an acronym for “being relocated all the time.” I attended eight different schools growing up and lived in ten different places before coming to Auburn. My graduating class had all of thirty-three kids in it, and I was the only one who had committed to Auburn. 

Needless to say, I came to college ready to make those “life-long friends” everyone talks about and to finally put down some roots. College is a season of incredible growth for a young person, and it is an experience whose impact lasts way longer than four years. 

I remember watching my family drive away after helping me move into my dorm room; it was sometime early in August of 2021. That first night, after making awkward introductions with my random roommates, I remember sitting on my twin sized bed thinking “well, what now?”

Auburn — both the city and the university — embraced me with open arms. Envision a montage of new situations, countless introductions, good days, and bad days too. The community here is unlike anything I had ever experienced before. The people are inviting and authentic. The culture is lively and kind. 

Not only was I able to find people who were supportive, but I was also able to find a space that was inspiring. I was encouraged to pursue new interests. I realized new extents of my passions and talents. I found outlets to serve the people and places around me. 

One story in particular exhibits the intentionality of the Auburn community to help me on this journey: 

Freshman year, I was sitting in my world literature lecture. We were reading The Odyssey, and the professor liked to use the phrase “sailing into the wine-dark sea of human experience” when comparing us freshmen to Odysseus, the hero of the book. 

We had taken the exam on the first few chapters the day before, and at the end of class the professor asked if I could stay after for a second to talk about “something.” A brief zing of panic ran through my mind, but I calmly said “sure.” 

“I wanted to talk to you about your exam grade,” he said, his stern tone causing me to rethink nearly every life decision I’d ever made. “You had the highest grade in the class, and that was not an easy test. I’ve noticed your dedication to the subject, and I’m wondering why you’re not an English major. I think it would be a great fit for you.” 

I didn’t have an answer for him. To tell the truth, even with all my interest in reading and writing, I had never considered making it my major. For some reason, I hadn’t put two and two together. I had already changed my major multiple times that year, and my search for something both fulfilling and practical was still unresolved. 

To make a long story short. My professor was right. Auburn’s English program is a great fit for me, along with its many other writing organizations and opportunities. It is one of the most academically fulfilling experiences I’ve encountered. But even more than that, the fact that he went out of his way to recognize and guide me in that journey meant the world to me. 

That professor has remained a confidant and friend, offering professional advice, an editor’s wise hand, and even personal recommendation for my future pursuits. I have also found a plethora of relationships through the classes, organizations, and events through that one simple decision of changing my major. 

One characteristic about the Auburn Family — the term for the interactive web of community we have here in Auburn, Alabama — is its care. It will seek you out and surprise you with its endearment. People here make positive impacts on each other, and together we sail onto that “wine-dark sea of human experience,” helping each other through the storms, cheering each other on incredible feats, and encouraging each other when we find success. 

We have a saying here that goes, “If you love Auburn, Auburn will love you back.” It is so true. I came to this town looking for room to grow, inspiration, friendships, and memories. What I’ve found cannot even be described by those powerful words; it is so much more.

By Dana Poore

I will go ahead and address the elephant in the room (and no, I am not referring to the elephant that lives across the state). I did not attend Auburn. I am from Mississippi, so I went to Mississippi State. But I still love Auburn. Having not attended Auburn, my “Why” in Why I Love Auburn is a little different than most.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved Auburn. I grew up in an Auburn Family, so for me Auburn was chosen at birth. But to be honest, my love for Auburn truly matured and became my own the summer before my senior year of high school as I began to try and finalize my college path. That summer, before attending a Junior War Eagle Day, I knew my college decision would come down to Auburn and Mississippi State. Honestly the thought of choosing between the two made me anxious and afraid that I would make the wrong decision. That was until I attended the Junior War Eagle Day at Auburn where they presented on home and the presenter said something that has stuck with me since that day almost 9 years ago. The presenter spoke on the fact that when you choose what university to attend, you need to choose the university that feels most like home, as the university you attend will be your home for 90% of the time for at least the next four years. While this is a true and important statement, what left a lasting impact was when the presenter said that wherever I chose to attend school had to feel like home whether that was Auburn or another university. For me, this was the first time a university truly wanted what was best for me even if I ended up choosing to attend another university. While I did end up attending another university, my love for Auburn never ended. So, after graduating knowing I wanted to work in college admissions to help future students find their college home, I knew I had to work at a university that I loved that so many years before had made me feel that they truly wanted what was best for me. I wanted the opportunity to show students the same love Auburn had shown me so many years before, as they make one of the biggest decisions of their life up to that point.

Getting the opportunity to be an Admissions Advisor at Auburn has been a dream come true and given me the opportunity to make Auburn my home. From working with students as they are making their college decisions, to attending baseball games at Plainsman Park, and getting many Vanilla Lemonades from Toomer’s, I still have moments of awe that I get to make my home in Auburn. I have loved Auburn for as long as I can remember, but I will never forget when Auburn loved me enough to let me choose my own path. And that is Why I Love Auburn.

By Mary Hanlon Hunton

The Auburn Family has many sayings like “Bodda Getta” and “It’s Great to be an Auburn Tiger”, but my favorite is “if you love Auburn, it will love you right back”. This could not be truer, and I am among countless other Auburn students who will attest to this fact. I was born into the Auburn family having had both my parents graduate in the early 90’s. I first fell in love with Auburn because of them and their love for this university! There are countless videos of me singing our fight song and pictures of me on Samford Lawn in a cheer uniform with Aubie. I was a die hard fan, and there was no doubt that I bled orange and blue. I remember going to football and baseball games, attending family members’ graduations, and visiting campus for various events. I looked forward to every fall because that meant I would be in the most magical place tailgating with friends, cheering on my Tigers, watching our beloved eagle soar around Jordan Hare, and shouting “War Eagle” as loud as a kid could!

When the time came to choose my post-secondary path, I applied to only one school, Auburn. It was my dream to attend Auburn University, major in Nursing, be on the Tiger Paws dance team, and make new friends from all over the globe. I loved everything Auburn and couldn’t wait to hit the ground running as soon as I stepped foot on campus. I made the dance team, joined a Greek sorority, and got involved in many service projects. In my role as Tiger Paw, I was afforded the opportunity to be a university ambassador, have a front row seat to some of the most exciting games in Jordan Hare as well as Neville Arena, and my senior year I led our team as captain. Nothing will ever compare to the pure joy I experienced each time a child ran up to me on gameday to give me the biggest hug, borrow my poms, or snap a photo. I was now the girl on the field I used to watch not that many years ago. I was able to share my love of Auburn with Auburn’s future, just as my predecessors did for me.

You would think being a nursing major and student-athlete would be enough, but my desire to meet new people, share adventures of a lifetime, and serve Auburn pushed me to inquire about other opportunities that were not originally on my radar. I applied to be a part of a summer study abroad to Italy and Greece where I didn’t know a soul when I signed up, and after 4 weeks I made lifelong friendships. I participated as a volunteer in Nashville courtesy of Alternate Student Break Program, worked as a camp counselor at Camp Smile A Mile, and just this year became a Student Recruiter. My journey over the last four years has made me into the woman I am today. Quite simply, I LOVE Auburn because it’s more than a place on a map to me; it’s family and an undying spirit that resides inside my heart. It will forever be a part of who I am because of the amazing experiences I was a part of and the incredible professors, coaches, and advisors who all poured wisdom, strength and confidence into me. I will always believe in Auburn and love it!

By Virginia Elliott

Why do I love Auburn? Affectionately known as the Loveliest Village on the Plains, Auburn is home to some of the happiest students in the nation (according to Auburn students, the Auburn Family, and Princeton Review’s list of the Top 20 Colleges with the Happiest Students). Known for its friendliness and tightknit family atmosphere, Auburn University is one of the best universities in the nation. As an Auburn alumnus and admissions advisor, I may be a little partial 😊 but …what’s not to love?! It truly is lovely!

As an admissions advisor, prospective students regularly ask many questions like why they should choose Auburn or what is so special about Auburn. While each student will ultimately choose Auburn for their own individual reasons, my response is always that Auburn’s students make Auburn so special. When you tour campus and speak with our Student Recruiters, you’ll experience their energy and excitement. Their strong love for the small college town that they now call home is palpable. When prospective students and their families return home from a campus visit, they rave about how amazing and how genuine and friendly the Auburn students were to them. From a random student asking if the family needed help finding a building or location on campus to their tour guide helping with food recommendations, Auburn students recognize visitors and actively help them while on campus. They know that they were in the same shoes just a year or so earlier, and they want to help prospective students and their families in the same way a current Auburn student helped them when they were touring campus.

Prospective students and their families have such an unexpected and unique experience when they visit campus, I often hear that there must be something in the water in Auburn. We don’t have orange and blue water yet, but we’re working on it! 😊

Auburn students not only help prospective students and visitors, but they truly take care of each other. If you’ve been keeping up with the blog, you’ve most likely seen the AU Creed series. If not, I highly recommend reading through that series. The Auburn Creed gives insight into what Auburn students live and feel every day. Auburn students have a great way of staying on top of their academics all while making the most of their college experience by getting involved. They take full advantage of the many amenities and academic support services available to them so that they can remain mentally and physically healthy and happy.

Auburn students also take full advantage of attending the many athletic events. When attending a sporting event, regardless of the outcome, Auburn students end each event shouting “It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger!” at the top of their lungs. Students then lock arms and sing the alma mater together which is an awesome experience. Win or lose, any day as an Auburn student is the best.  

From your first campus visit when you feel like you’ve found your home, through graduation and getting your first job, to remaining lifelong friends with your freshman year roommates; Auburn stays with you your entire life. Auburn students know this and take full advantage of the time they have on campus. Hopefully you’ll get to talk to an Auburn student soon to learn why they chose to attend Auburn and what they love about Auburn. Hopefully you’ll be a part of the Auburn Family and shout “It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger!” soon too. Then you’ll be able to share your Auburn story with another family one day!

By Cassi Taylor, senior in Finance & Business Analytics

One word…Family. Knowing someone, whether it be professors or friends, will always have your back is what makes this school truly incredible. During campus tours when they say, “You’ll never meet a stranger at Auburn”, that is one hundred percent true. I have had professors reach out and offer me a quiet place to work when the air conditioning stops working or when the Wi-Fi goes out. I also have friends who celebrate the highs and help me through the lows. Coming to college, life can get a little lonely because you are essentially starting over, but you will never feel alone at Auburn. You are bound to meet new people and share college experiences with any of the other 25,000 students that go here. This is why Auburn has been special and will remain special to the surrounding community in the future years.  Auburn also has plenty of options for fun activities and things to do. It could be sporting events on the weekends, late-night walks with your friends, and even movie nights on the green space. You’re bound to find something that fits your wants and needs. I personally love to take walks with friends to clear my head from schoolwork and also to get a little exercise in. When I need a snack break, I love to visit the “c-store” in the student center and grab either some sour candy or an ICEE from the machine. Another favorite is the treadmills in the library. Sometimes I get very bored when studying and find myself not being able to sit still, so I love to walk and study at the same time. These are just a few of the many reasons why I LOVE AUBURN!

By Kara Mautz, senior in Human Development and Family Sciences, with a minor in Journalism

I grew up an Auburn fan all of my life and always dreamed of going to school here ever since I was a little girl. Both of my parents met at Auburn, and we grew up coming to games as a family. When it was time to apply for college, Auburn was my number one choice, and I was so excited to finally be a student.

As a freshman, I was so nervous that I would feel homesick or have a hard time adjusting to life in college. However, it was the total opposite. From day one when I moved into my dorm room, I immediately felt that I was where I was meant to be. I felt so accepted by the people in my dorm, and my suitemates became some of my best friends at Auburn and helped me make it through my first year as a student. I kept waiting for that feeling to fade away and to get homesick, but it never came. I always tell people that I truly believe in the power of the Auburn Family. I think what made it so easy to transition from high school to college, was the acceptance and friendliness of the students and faculty I have encountered throughout my time at Auburn. I have had professors offer to bring me groceries when I was sick and students in my classes who have become some of my best friends.

As a first-year student, I was nervous about where I would fit in and what organizations I could join to be active in the Auburn community. There are so many ways to get involved at Auburn. It felt very overwhelming when I would scroll through AU Involve looking at various clubs and organizations. However, as a senior now I always tell freshmen that they will find where they are supposed to be and the people they are supposed to meet. My favorite thing that I have done in my time as a student at Auburn is joining The Auburn Plainsman, the student newspaper. Throughout my time on staff, I have had so many opportunities to meet people and go to events I never would have had if I had not applied and joined this organization. For me, this is where I was supposed to be. However, my sister is a freshman at Auburn and her favorite thing at Auburn so far has been becoming a member of a Panhellenic sorority. I think that what makes Auburn so special, and the reason I love Auburn is that there are endless opportunities to try new things and find yourself and so many ways to get involved and make the most of your time here. Even in hard times, I know that my professors and fellow students all love Auburn too, and we are always rooting for each other to succeed. 

By Elaine Shankute, current Auburn student

War Eagle! My name is Elaine Shankute. I am a junior here at Auburn studying psychology, hailing from just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. As an out of state student, I understand there’s a lot more that you have to consider when looking at Auburn. For any of you that are from Georgia like me, you’re familiar with the HOPE scholarship and the role that it’s playing in your respective situations. Personally, I have always wanted to go to school out of state, so I understood what that sacrifice was going to look like for me from early on. I do want to stress the importance of considering logistics like distance and finances, but keep an open mind while exploring your options. Consider my Auburn story as proof that life on the Plains can be for anyone. It’s a long one, but there are lots of lessons that I still carry with me today, and of course, I wouldn’t be here without it. 

 I first visited Auburn as a sophomore in high school. It was my first time ever visiting a college campus and I had absolutely no expectations. The tour wasn’t even for me; my best friend wanted to check out the architecture program while we were on spring break together, and I agreed to making a stop along the way. Little did I know, that day was going to change my life forever too. Auburn felt like a dream. I was in awe of everything I saw and how much older everyone was than me, and how happy they all looked to be here. That day is when I fell in love with the idea of college life and really started getting serious about what I wanted out of my university one day. 

I kept this in the back of my mind, and once I got to my junior year I started doing some research, spent a lot of time on the CollegeBoard website, and began visiting other campuses. I noticed that no matter how excited I was about visiting a school, they all fell short of the way I felt when I was at Auburn. I would listen to tour guides share facts and figures and each time I would be comparing them to what I remembered about Auburn. After giving a few more schools a chance, I decided I wanted to come back to Auburn for another tour— just to make sure I was remembering it correctly. Sure enough, I left that tour even more excited, not just about college, but by the possibility of my future here as a student.

So one year and two tours later, I was finally sure of the fact that this is where I wanted to be. But college decisions are a big deal, and as sure as I was about Auburn, I was still scared to make things final; I was on the hunt for as much affirmation as possible. This is the part of my story where things get a little crazy. 

New age philosophy suggests that if you make a wish when the clock is at 11:11, whatever you wish for will come true. It’s something about how that number is supposed to represent the universe telling you to listen to your heart, follow your dreams, etc. Well, personally, I just don’t think there is enough luck out there for the whole world to be wishing at the exact same time, so I’ve always preferred to wish at the time that matches my birthday just to make things feel a little more personal between me and the universe. My birthday is February 17th, so for my entire senior year of high school I dedicated 2:17pm to making the exact same wish. Every single day for months, I wished for a sign to come to Auburn. I knew this is where I wanted to be, but I needed one small push to tell me to go through with it, give up that HOPE Scholarship, and make myself a Tiger once and for all. During that year of wishing, I also applied for scholarships, talked to as many alumni as I could, all while I waited for my sign to come. 

Well, as I’m sure you suspected, nothing happened. Eventually deposit season came around, and I decided to pay my deposits at Auburn and the last few schools I was considering. I gave up my daily wishing in exchange for pro-con lists and running the numbers in an effort to think more practically. I was half-way to convincing myself that life on the Plains was a little too good to be true, when I got an email from Auburn with my housing assignment—Glenn Hall, Room 217. My Auburn student email shares these digits as well, and according to the university, this was pure coincidence. But to me, it meant finally saying yes to my dream. 

Now I am not suggesting that all of you will have your destiny spelled out for you the way mine was. Your journey to Auburn could be a lot simpler, and that’s great too. But if there’s one thing I hope you can take away from my story, it’s that the Auburn family wants you here just as much as you want to be—however big or small that amount may feel to you. If you’re passionate about this place after just one tour, or maybe you have been for a while and the numbers aren’t adding up the way you need them to, whatever part of you that’s not ready to give up just yet, pursue that. If you’re like me and need a little something extra to say yes, I promise you, the fact that you’re looking for a sign is symbolic enough and there’s nothing wrong with owning what you want. You’ve worked so hard to get to this point in your academic career, and your decision should be a celebration of that. 

Maybe you came here today looking for some more practical advice. Well don’t worry, I have some of that too. Please, if you’re able, come visit campus. Our admissions office offers a few different options for you to get a feel for life here at Auburn, but nothing beats planting your feet on the land and getting to explore your future home. Secondly, do your research. Consider the factors that are important to your college experience and see what they look like in the context of each school you’re considering. For me, financial aid, involvement, and quality of life were under a microscope everywhere I visited. Ultimately, all of that falls under how you feel and how hard you’re willing to work to make sure those boxes are checked. Since my decision to attend this university, the Auburn family has stepped up massively through scholarships and anonymous donors, virtually eliminating any financial burdens I faced when making my decision. That truly goes to show if you care enough about where you are, people will notice. HOPE scholarship is an amazing opportunity, and your in-state schools may be sending you some very intriguing offers right now, but I challenge you to think about where you would be if that wasn’t a factor. For me, that was Auburn by a mile. And you can call me the poster child of a high-risk-high-reward mentality, but I know that looking back at these last two years, I wouldn’t trade the outcome for anything. I hope I get to share that joy with all of you one day being here at Auburn too, but truthfully I just want you to feel this good about wherever you end up. I was in your shoes not too long ago and I wish I heard that more often. Now all I hear is “War Eagle” and that sounds really good too.