Saints vs. Niners

Guest blogger: Sarah Swig

49er Faithful

The New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers have always been my two favorite NFL teams. My mom grew up in New Orleans and lived there until she moved to San Francisco when she was 30, when she met my dad, who is from San Francisco. They got married, had my two sisters and me, and we’ve lived in San Francisco our entire lives. I grew up an avid 49er fan – my dad worked for the 49ers so we went to nearly every home game. Naturally, my mom grew to love the Niners too, but is a true Saints fan at heart. Since everyone on my mom’s side of the family is from New Orleans, I’ve always had a lot of love for the Saints, so as you can imagine, the 49ers vs. Saints games were always fun and intense in our house.
When I was accepted and committed to Tulane, I knew that the rivalry would only continue. My sophomore year, the Saints played the 49ers in San Francisco in the playoffs, and my mom and grandparents (obviously Saints fans too) were at the game. I watched at a bar in New Orleans, which was a sea of black and gold. There were a few red shirts in there, but we, 49er fans, were no doubt in the minority. The game was one of the best I’ve ever seen, with three touchdowns scored in the last three minutes. The 49ers came out on top and won 36-32, and ever since then, the Saints have anxiously waited for their “revenge” on the 49ers.
Now, my senior year, I was ready to splurge on tickets for the game. I’d been saving up my money from the summer and fall, since I was determined to fulfill my childhood dream of going to a Saints vs. 49er game in New Orleans. I’d never seen the Saints play in the Superdome, and the 49er game was the perfect opportunity. My roommate and fellow Niner fan ended up winning four tickets in the second row from a Tulane raffle, and took two friends and me.

A picture my mom sent me
showing her true loyalty

Even though the 49ers lost, the game was still perfect. It’s my senior year, we won free tickets to see my two favorite teams, and our group had both 49er and Saints fans… I couldn’t have asked for anything more. The Saints ended up winning the game – and I of course was very sad, but seeing the Saints win in the Superdome was very special. It was a close game (20-23) and the Saints fans stepped it up in the last quarter and got LOUD. The Who Dat chants were unlike anything I’d ever heard or seen before, and it is no wonder the Saints haven’t lost a game at home yet this season. For those of you who don’t know, the Who Dat is a chant in support of the Saints. It goes like this, “Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say say dey gonna beat dem Saints?”.  Fans are also called Who Dats, the general Saints community is referred to as Who Dat Nation, and there are beautiful black and gold Who Dat signs all over the city.

As sad as I was for my Niners, for my friends from home, and for my dad, I couldn’t help but also feel happiness at the Saints win. The Saints are a team that unite New Orleans, and provided hope that New Orleans could once again be what it was after Hurricane Katrina. Following the storm, there was talk and worry that the Saints were going to move to San Antonio, and New Orleans would lose its NFL team. Almost five years later, the Saints reached a deal, and will stay in New Orleans until at least 2025. That same year, in 2009, the Saints won Super Bowl (My mom made so much jambalaya I literally couldn’t eat the next day). This united and bonded everyone in New Orleans, and provided optimism and hope that the city would grow to be even better than it once was. There is something very unique about the spirit of Saints fans - whether going to school here for four years or having been born here – everyone equally feels that same passion for Saints. They represent love for this city, and proof that New Orleans is resilient against all odds. The 49ers will always be my number 1, but the Saints will forever hold a very special place in my heart.

My sisters and I when the Saints won the Super Bowl

Bruff Creations You MUST Try

Guest blogger: Walker Daniel

Sometimes, the idea of going to Bruff for the 4th time in a day seems unappealing. However, with Wavebucks dwindling and Boot pizza making us hate our scales, it is often the only option. Day after day, our on-campus dining hall presents us with an amazing salad bar, various hot food options, cereals galore, and cookies to our hearts content: but it’s our third month of school. We’ve already tried every combination at the salad bar, and eaten enough sandwiches for a small army. Never fear, Tulane students - there is more to our on-campus dining hall than meets the eye. 

Entrées

As you already know, Bruff has a wide array of hot foods that change on the daily. Here are a couple things you can try if you’re looking for something new:

Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich

This Bruff Creation takes some time, but it’s definitely worth the wait. First, head on over to the grill and ask for a chicken sandwich. It should take about 10 minutes or so. Once you have your sandwich, sprinkle on some bacon bits from the potato section to the left of the grill. Then head over to the salad bar to top it off with some creamy ranch!

You can also try this with a burger – simply sprinkle the bacon on top and add bleu cheese dressing! You’ve got yourself a black and bleu burger!

Twice Baked Potato

Bruff’s baked potato section is often overlooked, but this option guarantees an awesome meal. Head over to Bruff on Wednesday for Fried Chicken Wednesday, and get yourself some mashed potatoes. Then grab a baked potato, slice it open, and grab a fork to mash up the insides. Then put your mashed potatoes inside of your baked potato along with bacon, shredded cheese, and any other fillings you wish. Then, throw your potato in the microwave for about a minute. When you take it out, top it with some sour cream and chives from the baked potato section, and maybe a little ranch from the salad bar!

Chicken Quesadilla 

Ever craving a little Mexican food? Problem solved! Jump in Bruff’s sandwich line, and ask for a tortilla and chicken. Then, take your wrap and head over to the salad bar. Sprinkle ample amounts of shredded cheese on one half of the tortilla, and then fold it over into a half circle. Head to the Panini presses at the end of the sandwich line and gently lay your quesadilla inside (note: it will take two presses to make your quesadilla). Once the cheese is melted, take your quesadilla over to the baked potato section to grab some sour cream and chives!

You can also make your own grilled cheese from the sandwich line. Just ask for a sandwich with only cheddar cheese. Then head over to the waffle section for a little butter. Butter both sides of your grilled cheese, then put it in the Panini press. When the cheese is melted, voila! You’ve got yourself a grilled cheese without the wait at the grill (grilled cheeses can also be ordered at the grill). Make your grilled cheese and a day that Bruff is serving a tomato soup – what a meal!

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

This is a very simple Bruff Creation, but often goes overlooked. Sometimes, we’re just looking for a simple lunch. Well, here you go! Head over the the waffle section and you’ll find a bread cabinet. Take two slices of bread, and lather them in the peanut butter and jelly you’ll find to the left of the bread cabinet. Once your sandwich is made, head over to the pita and hummus section, near the grill, to grab some carrot and celery sticks. On your way to sit down and enjoy your sac lunch, stop at the salad bar for some ranch to dip your veggies in!

Dessert

If you’ve stuffed yourself full of the delicious desserts Bruff offers every day, here are some ideas for a new after-meal snack.

Ice Cream Sandwich

An ice cream sandwich is the perfect dessert that combines all of the treats you could want: cookies, ice cream, and crushed up candy. First, grab two cookies of your choice from the bakery section. Put them on a plate and carry it over to the ice cream. Pick a flavor of your choice, and apply a generous scoop on one cookie – then sandwich it in with the other. Then, pick a topping from the ice cream bar – crushed Butterfinger, Oreos, sprinkles – and put a heaping spoonful on your plate. Roll your ice cream sandwich in the topping so that the topping sticks to the ice cream. Yum!

Rootbeer Float

Sometimes, a trip to City Diner for a rootbeer float seems a little much, and a little costly. Never fear, Bruff has your back! Simply take a cup, and put 3-4 scoops of vanilla ice cream inside. Then, fill the rest of the cup with rootbeer from one of the soda fountains. Grab a spoon and enjoy!

PB & Y: A Healthy Option!

If you’re feeling like you don’t need a dessert, but you’re still craving something sweet, peanut butter and yogurt is the perfect thing for you. Just head over to the yogurt section at the beginning of the salad bar, and put some plain white yogurt on your plate. Cover this in Nature Valley granola, and head over to the waffle section for your peanut butter. After putting a dollop of peanut butter atop your yogurt, drizzle it with honey from the ice cream bar. This also goes really well with a diced up banana on top!

Tiny Tips and Tricks

Here are some smaller tips to help you navigate Bruff:

• Watery pasta sauce? Use the marinara from the breadsticks, near the pizza, to even it out.
• Looking for some sweet for your salad? The cranberries from the yogurt bar offer a sweet topping to a delicious salad.
• If you want an omelet on a weekend morning, get there early! Omelets take time, but they are delicious!
• Try dipping your cookies in a French Vanilla Cappuccino from the Cappuccino maker – to die for!
• Powerade can make an awesome drink! Put ¼ blue Powerade, then fill the cup ¾ full with ice. Then, fill the rest with yellow Powerade and you’ve got yourself a sweet drink!
• Need to eat quick? Avoid going at 11:50 am or around 7:00 pm. These are the times when Bruff is most busy.

That’s all I have for Bruff Creations so far! However, keep in mind the possibilities are endless. Don’t be afraid to try these out, and come up with your own! 

Follow me on Twitter for more updates on what life is like as a freshman at Tulane! @TulaneWalker

NOLAween

Peyton (left) and Sarah (right),
both interns for Tulane Admission

 Guest blogger: Sarah

If you think Halloween is fun in your hometown, just wait until you hear about Halloween in New Orleans. Two weekends of celebratory events, concerts, festivities on campus, plus the general fun of any weekend in New Orleans makes for an unbeatable combination. 

To get into the spirit, my roommates and I went on a little shopping spree. We first went to the pumpkin patch right off Tulane’s campus and bought some decorative pumpkins for our house. Three hours later, after stopping at two different Halloween Superstores and Wal-Mart (and Chipotle), we came home and began our decorating. Soon enough, our house was ready for a pre-Halloween party.

We invited our friends over for a Halloween costume contest and haunted house. I think it’s safe to say everyone and everything looked incredible and that our friends were sufficiently spooked.

While most cities or college towns spend this weekend preparing, decorating, or finding costumes, New Orleans uses Halloween as an excuse to celebrate for TWO weekends. Bars and clubs around the city had Halloween parties and one krewe paraded near Jackson Square. I made sure to check out one of the most intense Haunted Houses in New Orleans, referred to as the House of Shock. After the actual haunted portion, there was an outdoor music festival with food, drinks, and live music. It was one of the more terrifying experiences and my wrists had fingernail marks imprinted from one of my friends, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from New Orleans.

Tulane also got into the Halloween spirit! The Tuesday before Halloween there was a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you’ve been to a live show, then you know that audience participation is half the fun. I’d been once before, so I knew what to expect, but it was a totally different experience being on campus, surrounded by so many young people dressed up in their lace and fishnets. 

Finally, to Halloween weekend itself!!! We started the weekend off on Thursday, which was Halloween night. It’s a tradition in New Orleans to go to Frenchman Street, which basically turns in to a big party in the street. Everyone is dressed up in their costumes and roams around with their friends, marveling at everyone’s unique and clever costumes. To catch a break from the craziness outside, everyone can head into the bars on Frenchmen - which always play live music on Halloween (and most other nights too). My friends and I dressed up as the cast of Orange is the New Black, and we saw three other groups dressed up just like us. I also saw two teachers, which made class extra fun on Monday ;).

I spent the rest of the weekend at Voodoo Music and Arts Festival. My favorite artist had to be Macklemore. He opened his concert with this elaborate story about his arrival to New Orleans. It went something like this… “I got off the plane, and I was just so happy to be here, I was feeling so alive. It’s New Orleans! And I just wanted to go to the river. I had to be in the water. So I went to the river, took off my clothes, and dove right on in. I was feeling so alive, so happy, when I looked over and I see these two dudes holding my pants. And I yell, dude, those are my pants! And they run away”. Macklemore goes on to explain that he finds this old lady feeding the birds, and she tells him to follow her. He continues, “So I followed her, naked, in a foreign city, with no idea what was going on. And finally I ask her, where are we going? And she responds and says, well, it looks like you don’t have any pants on. So we’re going to the THRIFT SHOP!” You’d think I could have predicted that ending to the story was heading… but I didn’t. It was an incredible show and I’m even more in love with Macklemore than I was before. Mary Lambert was there too to perform ‘Same Love’ which was also a beautiful performance.

Other highlights of the weekend included Calvin Harris, Matt and Kim, Paramore, Afrojack, Kid Rock, Pearl Jam, and Bassnectar. The weekend was a total break from reality and honestly felt like a mini-vacation. The weather was perfect (high 60s), the music was great, and the spirit of New Orleans was strong. 

No other city has quite the amount of festivities as New Orleans does. From regular concerts, to parties in the street, 3-day music festivals, and fun events on campus, New Orleans, or Nolaween, is a party similar to none other. We hope you can join us for it next year!

Follow me at @Tulane_Sarah for more scoop on life as a Tulane senior! 

Arriving in Madrid

Guest blogger: Jordan Hainsfurther


Stepping off the plane in a country you've never been in and where English is rarely spoken is a surreal experience. After an 8 hour flight from Chicago I finally arrived in Madrid not knowing what lay ahead of me. The first day was a little rough as I had to adjust my body to the new time zone (7 hours ahead of Chicago). My flight left at 4:40 pm and arrived at 8:30 am. I immediately set off for the hotel my friend and I had booked and opted to take a cab as opposed to the subway considering the amount of luggage I had. I thought I had an accurate idea about the cost of the cab but I was either very wrong or got ripped off because he could tell I had never been to Spain and that my Spanish was not the best. I believe it was the latter. Either way flustered when I got to the hotel I gave him the money and got out. I took a little nap as I waited for my other friend to arrive a few hours later. Once he got there it was time to explore! We had arrived approximately one week before orientation thus two weeks before classes started.

The first two days we had to accomplish a lot of house keeping items such as getting a subway pass, Spanish cell phone, moving into our apartment and getting groceries. Of course none these were easy tasks. Taking the subway even 3 stops with two huge suitcases and a carry on is no easy chore. Once we were all settled it was time to begin site seeing. I opened my Trip Advisor app and quickly saw there were so many things to do. We had heard from many people to go to the royal palace. I could not dream of what I was about to see. The Spanish royal palace dwarfs the White House.  Please see the attached picture. There are over 3000 rooms of which we saw a mere 20. Back in the day the king had separate rooms for lunch, dinner, special events, sleeping and even getting dressed. Unfortunately no photos are allowed inside the palace but each room is adorned with spectacular ceiling frescos, unbelievable chandeliers and amazing sculptures. It is truly a site to be seen. My favorite rooms were definitely the throne room and the dining salon. This table must hold at least 70 people. After we exited the palace we moved on to plaza mayor, puerta del sol and the Prado museum. Each just as amazing as the next.

The following day we took a day trip to Segovia which is an hour north of Madrid by bus. Segovia is an amazing city with cobble stone streets and an ancient aqueduct designed by the Romans. In addition there is a spectacular cathedral (see attached picture) along with a castle the king used for relaxing years and years ago.

Finally, let me tell you a little about the Madrid nightlife. I must preface this by saying lunch is eaten normally anywhere between 2-4 and dinner not until 10 or 11 pm. Spaniards go out very late. The first club I went to, Kapital, did not get busy on a Thursday until about 3 am. Kapital is one of the many amazing clubs Madrid has to offer but the city also has amazing bars on every corner. One of my favorites is el chapandaz also know as the cave bar because of its interior decoration. They specialize in a drink called el leche (the milk). The milk even comes down from the ceiling.

That's my experience in Madrid so far but I'm only two weeks in. I expect much more in the coming weeks and months. I have trips planned to Oktoberfest, Prague and Amsterdam thus far. In fact, I'm writing this on my way to Barcelona.

Adios y buena suerte,
Jordan Hainsfurther

Welcome to Tulane (and Hurricane Isaac)

Guest blogger: Samantha Becker

Welcome Week is the week everyone looks forward to all summer long. It is the first week of freshman year, and the excitement is flowing as student after student is moved in and gets ready to embark on the best four years of their life.

My start in school was a little different. Move-in day went as planned, I moved into Butler Hall, the Honors dorm. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t too excited to live in Butler at first; after all, it is the Honors dorm and that comes with assumptions about the people who live there. However, a week later I would be proud to call Butler my home for the next 9 months.

The day after move-in came the warning of the hurricane. Most didn’t think too much of it, it would most-likely blow over. The parents that were still in town were worried, but mine were well on their way home to California. All of a sudden, in the next few hours people started to become more worried as more and more warnings were sent out.

Nonetheless, we had our first day of classes Monday, although students who had gone home were told they would not be punished. Jump forward a few hours, and we were getting word that there would be a lock-in until further notice, effective Monday evening. That afternoon my roommate and I ran to the local rite-aid, hoping to stock up on snacks for what would turn into the best 48 hours of freshman year.

While Hurricane Isaac knocked down trees and power lines all over the city, we were safe in Butler. Yes, we had to sleep in the hallway that first night. But the hurricane from the inside was not as scary as it was from the outside. Our parents were frantic, while we happily watched National Treasure and Anchorman with people piled in the lounge and in the doorway. That is, until we lost power. And then we made our own fun; we had a dance party with portable speakers that ran on batteries and played random games. As laptops and phones died, we had to rely on the connections we were making with one another. I can’t tell you how many people I met during those 48 hours. We even had a giant jam session in my room that lasted two hours. It included a saxophone, ukulele, guitar, and drums made out of my calculus textbook. We were hot and the building was full of humidity, but the “nerdy honors” kids in Butler found ways to make fun.

That being said, when the power came on a few days later and we were let out, the feeling was bittersweet. We were sad that our bonding experience was over, that we would again be separated by cellphones and laptops and busy class schedules, but happy that we had amazing memories to look back on. I will never forget the memories Hurricane Isaac gave me, or the friends it led me to make, friends that I still have to this day. I am so happy I got put in Butler. The lock-in allowed me to give the dorm and the people a chance, and I will be forever grateful. I say to this day when I give tours that it doesn’t matter what dorm you are in, what matters are the connections you make with the people in it.

Thanks to the hurricane, it was the most untraditional Welcome Week any school could ever have, and while basically all of the official activities were cancelled, I don’t feel like I missed out. I feel like I had the best Welcome Week I could have asked for. As we say, only at Tulane, only in New Orleans. Thanks for the great welcome Isaac.

The TIDES Have Turned: My Summer Into an Unforgettable Experience

Guest Blogger: Taylor Fox

Year: Rising Sophomore

Major: Philosophy/ Gender Studies

Hometown: Boca Raton, FL

Email: tfox2@tulane.edu

It's my last week here this summer, and as my internship finishes up, I wanted to take a little time to reflect on what a rollercoaster ride these past few months have been.

Tulane is a school for people looking for an adventure, and so many students travel from all over the country (and more than a few different countries) to find it. Because they know this experience can be overwhelming at first degree, they hold approximately eight billion events that you can attend. In addition to all that, part of your first degree semester schedule is a Tulane Interdisciplinary Experience Seminar (yes I googled what it stands for), better known as your TIDES class. These are small classes designed to help you meet likeminded people and immerse yourself in the city of New Orleans. Most of them have really fun titles, and super cool subject matters. My roommate took one called Hauntings in New Orleans, and wrote a final paper about zombies. Another friend took one called A Running Conversation. They literally just ran while having academic discussions. This sounded like my worst nightmare, but she is one those people who runs for fun, so she loved it. There's even one taught by the president of Tulane Scott Cowen on leadership.

Mine was called Being An Advocate for Women. I didn't exactly know what that would entail, it fit in my schedule and I'm all for equality, so I figured why not? My professor was this wonderful woman named Catherine Hancock, who actually was a professor at Tulane's law school. I googled her after the first class, turns out she argued in the Supreme Court before deciding she wanted to go into acedemia. NO BIG DEAL. She taught us all about the legal aspects of helping women struggling through domestic violence situations. I had absolutely no idea that this field of law even existed, and I was shocked to discover what an uphill battle it can be for the brave women who find themselves trying to navigate it.

After the second class I waited until everyone had left and told her that I wanted to be her when I grew up. She smiled. Then I said, No, but like, how do I do that? And she told me to talk to all of the speakers she invited to class, and that she would help me. This woman, who spends her time teaching college graduates who had applied, gotten into, and started specializing in law school, was taking me seriously at eighteen years old in my second week of college. She introduced me to the head of the Tulane Law Domestic Violence clinic, who after I shamelessly begged, allowed me to help run a CLE.

The woman who was coordinating that program with her worked for the city's domestic violence department. The head of the DV clinic began her program by telling these seasoned DV lawyers that my excitement about what she did reminded her of why she got into this line of work in the first degree place. I may or may not have teared up and immediately called my grandma. An hour into the event, she offered me an internship.

So that's how everything happened. I got a grant from Newcomb (more on that later) to cover some of my expenses. So now every morning at 11:32am (because I'm usually giving the 9:30 tour), I get on a city bus. Public transportation was new and scary for me, but now I am an absolute master. Which means I know to pull the cord hard enough so the driver pulls over at my stop. I pass a lot of beautiful, brightly colored buildings. Then I pass a building with five ceramic men all wearing giant bunny costumes. I try to take a picture of this every single day and either the bus moves too quickly or the windows are too dirty. Then I walk two blocks to city hall, and ride up to the top floor in a very shaky elevator. Then I work on a big report for my boss.

I have never once been asked to go get coffee or make copies. I am doing real work that really matters. My boss repeatedly asks me, Do you feel like you're learning things? Do you feel like this is helpful to you? I've met DV detectives. I went to a conference for domestic violence advocates that really should've been called a superhero convention. I listened to my boss give a webinar that people from all over the country listened to. I have analyzed data and reached super classified conclusions. I can see the Superdome from my desk.I HAVE AN ID BADGE WITH MY PICTURE ON IT.

(picture of superdome, badge, fancy dress selfie, new orleans deliveries only, movie poster)

I've loved, loved, loved this experience.

***And because this is super important, I have to include it. A healthy relationship does not have jealousy or violence. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that you can do to a person that makes it okay for them to do anything that makes you feel scared or unsafe. I can tell you with absolute experience that you can have better, and that there are a lot of people who want to help you find it. Find a safe place, and call 1−800−799−SAFE(7233).

Uptown New Orleans Was Far Enough

Guest blogger: Adam Griego

Since I was born and raised in a suburb of New Orleans to a family with no ties to Tulane, Tulane was never really on my radar for where I wanted to go to college. I was raised like all of my friends where you rather donned yourself in purple and gold or believed that this was your time to get out of the Southeast or at least Louisiana.  When it came time to pick which colleges that I wanted to apply to and ultimately attend, I had four categories that I assessed when breaking down each individual school.        

I wanted to:
 . Get as far away from home as possible
 . Have a big sports school atmosphere
 . Be one of a thousand students in big intro level classes
 . Attend an academically challenging institution

 Well, one out of four ain’t bad, but ignoring numbers one through three led me to learn more than I ever thought I could about my city and other areas of the world.

As a New Orleanian, I learned more about my hometown in my freshman year than I ever had in my first 18 years. I was able to do this because I got the opportunity to experience my home for the first time, again, with people who were in complete amazement about every single aspect of the city that I already loved. Also, I got to learn more about how what I saw as “normal” growing up by our city’s standards is truly unique to this one area of the world. I could have gone to college in Georgia, South Carolina, or New York, but I never would have gotten the diverse cultural experience like I did in my own hometown. My roommate freshmen and sophomore year was from Kansas, and our neighbors during our two years were from California, New York, Boston, Chicago, Arkansas, and many more, and during my two years as an Orientation Team Leader, I met people from almost every state in a matter of 60 days. By meeting all of these people, I have made connections all around the US and even in other countries. These connections have led me on trips to Boston, Washington D.C., Knoxville, Chicago, and a few others. Though my thought was to get as far away from home for college so that I could learn about another area, I learned that Uptown New Orleans was far enough to open my eyes up to a whole new world and to the lives of others from all around the world.  Another big perk of staying close to home for college is that my parents can still act like I go to school hours away, but when I really need some family time, they are right around the corner to see me for special occasions and feed me a dinner or two from time to time.  Last but not least, I learned the very important lesson that seersucker fabric is only appropriate to wear for Spring events or Homecoming.

In regards to a big sports school atmosphere, I soon learned that a sports program will not make or break my college experience. Sports are a huge part of my life, and if sports are as important to you as they are to me, you can attend every game here for free and enjoy the brand new Yulman Stadium. Also, you have a city that has two big league sports teams, Saints and Pelicans, a minor league baseball team, Zephyrs, and an Arena Football team, Voodoo. Since 2011, we have had the Super Bowl, Men’s Final Four, Arena Bowl, and Women’s Final Four, and the NBA All-star Game is coming next year. The opportunities for getting involved in the sports industry are endless, and I have taken advantage of it by volunteering for multiple events and having an internship with the Triple AAA New Orleans Zephyrs for this entire summer.

As far as being one of a thousand students, that would have been the worst situation for me. I have gotten to know so many incredible professors that have been able to talk to me one on one on both and academic and social level. The professors that I have met during my time here have not tried to fail me to prove that they know more than I do. They will do anything they can to make sure that I understand the material so that I walk away with new information to use in the future.

Lastly, the academic challenges are exactly what I was looking for in my college experience. I am challenged every week with foreign material but have the essential tools and information to complete my work. Our finance program ranks 3rd in the nation and top 30 internationally. The people that I am meeting and classes that I am taking are setting me up to succeed in my life after Tulane.

To this day, going against my original train of thought and attending Tulane was one of the luckiest decisions that I have made because of the time I have spent getting to explore my hometown and the people that I have met during this incredible experience.