Well it's official...I'm a Former Student. That's Aggie language for "alumni" for those of you who have yet to be engulfed in the culture that has so deeply impacted my life for the past 5 years.
This post aims to serve as a place for me to showcase my thoughts, highlight my memories, and express my gratitude for my time at Texas A&M. Through the words in the rest of this post I hope to relive a journey that has played a pivotal role in creating the person I am today. So, if you're still reading...come along for the ride.
The Prequel
Growing up, I had little experience with Aggieland and all that it had to offer. The majority of my family had gone just over the border to McNeese State University and settled back in good ole Orange, TX. When it came time to represent a Texas team during college football season there was one standout team that the family gathered around to watch. Unfortunately, it happened to be from that school up in Austin.
As I grew into my teenage years, I began to meet new friends who showcased a profound love for the Texas A&M Aggies. Initially, I was like every other person who had never experienced Aggieland and immediately discounted what my friends had to say as preposterous.
Then one day Cameron Parker and his family so graciously invited me to a football game at the home of the Fightin' Texas Aggies - and boy was I hooked. The whole atmosphere changes when you walk on the campus here in College Station and my first experience exceeded any expectations and shattered any preconceived notions that I might have had.
Fast forward a year or two and Cam and I were moving into our first apartment in College Station to begin our journey as the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2020.
Life as an Underclassman
Being an underclassman in College really isn't all that bad. There's so many people that no one really knows whether you're a freshman or not. Although, some would argue that the giddy smile and constant Texas A&M apparel that I wore every day to class was a dead giveaway of my class year.
However, even as a freshman, I was given tremendous opportunities to become an active member of the student life at Texas A&M. The most notable way that I was able to become active within the campus community was by applying and being selected for admission into One Army.
One Army is a men's organization at Texas A&M that centers their efforts around providing mentorship and support for a boy's home in Bryan, TX called Still Creek Ranch. The most impactful way that they do this is by planning and executing a 2.3 mile obstacle-integrated mud run known as Gladiator Dash. All of the proceeds go directly to the boys impacted by crisis situations down at Still Creek Ranch.
To apply for One Army as a freshman was an accomplishment in itself and while Cameron and I both knew it was a longshot, we applied and went through with the recruitment process anyways. Thankfully, we both got in and as freshman and immediately had a support system of 75 other guys whom we could rely on as mentors and best friends in the coming years.
As I fully immersed myself into the opportunities that One Army had to offer, I was grateful to have a defining moment towards the end of my sophomore year and be elected to lead as President of the organization. Being elected to serve in that role provided me valuable insight into how to lead a group of peers and successfully combat adversity within the group. Being a part of One Army in general is something that defined my time at Texas A&M and I'll be forever grateful for having been selected.
In addition to One Army, I became involved in organizations like Fish Camp and PREP that created plentiful opportunities for me to meet new people and make lifelong friends. My early years at Texas A&M were defined by being mentored by upperclassmen within One Army, meeting countless friends through student social life, and also finding my way within the business school.
As I transitioned into my junior year, I had a new perspective on college.
Junior and Senior Year
Junior year was a fun one. I had turned 21 the summer before and could finally go to the beloved bar district in College Station - Northgate.
However, aside from the fun I was having legally buying margaritas at dinner...I had some other pretty exciting things happen during my junior and senior years at Texas A&M. Most notably, I started dating a beautiful blonde that I had met the prior year.
Rachel and I met during Songfest, which is a dance competition where men's organizations partner up with a sorority on campus and compete for prize money to donate to their respective philanthropies. One Army was partnered with Rachel's Delta Gamma sorority and as fate would have it - we were partners.
I remember the first time we met because the girls were lined up at our first practice in their positions on the stage. From there, the boys were told to go find a partner. I walked straight to the final row and found the cutest girl I could find - and I'm sure lucky I did.
In addition to margs at dinner and fun times with Rachel, I also began to immerse myself with my studies during my older years at Texas A&M. I applied and was selected to join May's Business School's Professional Program of Accounting (PPA, as it will further be referred to) and landed myself two different internships for my junior and senior years, respectively.
Part of PPA is that you spend an extra year at Texas A&M and receive both your Bachelor's in Accounting and then a master's in a business track of your choice (i.e. finance, marketing, audit). I chose Management Information Systems and to explain what that means is a story for another blog post. At a 30,000ft level - if you've got some technological problems but also need help with accounting - I'm your guy.
The Spring of 2020, the semester I would "technically" graduate if it weren't for my extra year for my master's was quite a wild one. The start of the semester I was gone on internship and had a pretty "covid-free" experience. The final day of my internship, March 13th, was cut short due to the business going virtual.
I finished off the remainder of my courses for the semester and ensuing summer all online and entered my 5th year having become a veteran of "Zoom University."
The Victory Lap
Often times, when college seniors stick around for a fifth year, they use the term "victory lap" to describe it. My final year at Texas A&M has been drastically different than expected due to COVID-19. However, in all regards, I'd consider it a victory.
My 5th-year has proven to be a stepping stone for the future. Many of the notable memories from this past year consist of big decisions that will impact my future.
I've been able to strengthen relationships with friends who are stuck in online classes and CPA exams with me. We've relied on each other as support systems throughout the countless hours of study that have taken place to finish these behemoth exams. Throughout my final semester I was able to successfully pass the first 2 of 4 exams and am patiently awaiting the score for my 3rd. I would not have been able to stay sane and focused without the group of friends I had in College Station helping me along the way.
All things considered, my 5th year was a successful one. I took what I deem to be necessary steps to further my career and my life goals in the coming years. Despite it being my final year at Texas A&M - it proved to be every bit as memorable as the rest.
Final Thoughts
There's a saying around Texas A&M that, while as corny as it may sound, lives true to this day.
"From the outside looking in, you can't understand it and from the inside looking out, you can't explain it."
As I write this reflection, it's hard for me to explain just how much of an impact attending this university has had on me. The amount of friends and opportunities I've been blessed with are a great representation of how Texas A&M allowed me to set myself up for success in the future. Even more, the amount of friends and opportunities I hope to gain in the future through utilization of the Aggie network are countless.
I'm sad to say goodbye. The difficulty that comes in growing up is often deeply rooted in our human instinct to want to remain in what we know as home. While I haven't been here for the majority of my life - this town will forever be considered part of my home.
I hope that through sharing this journey I might have inspired the next generation of aspiring Aggies to take advantage of the their time at Texas A&M and maybe even follow a path similar to mine.
As I move to the next chapter, I just want to say thank you to those who have remained a constant in my life and have helped me get to where I am today. The impact that family, friends, and fellow Aggies have had on me throughout my life has never gone unnoticed.
So tomorrow, as I walk across the stage to grab my diploma, I'll think back on my time at Texas A&M - and with a bittersweet goodbye - I'll say thank you.
Vin
Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2020
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