Conveying a recent and frequent thought.

What is it about collective mentalities and frames of thought that allows individuals to internalize these social emotions and make them their own? This is probably one of the most common questions I was asked throughout my studies at the University of Maryland. The ironic thing is, we were always encouraged to figure out the answer in relation to the world outside of us, but now that I belong to that outside world I ask myself this question in regards to that same institution which instilled that curiosity inside of me.

Recently (and it's most likely a product of all the Terpness all over Facebook due to commencement ceremonies) I've had this abundant pride in my alma mater. While in the athletic spectrum we haven't been very relevant as of late, it amazes me how some of my best friends from college and I STILL have this unyielding love for ALL of our sports teams (but most notably Basketball and Football.) And although the people around me these days have attended different universities than mine, it's always a pleasure to see the satisfaction on their faces when they realize where I went to school. Then again, we are a Top 20 Research University (USNews), Top 20 Party school (Princeton Review), Top 5 rowdiest and craziest fans (Sports Illustrated), and number one with facilities (Princeton Review) :-)

Did the North Campus Diner put something in the crappy food they fed us to make us want to keep coming back, even after we all moved into South Campus? Or perhaps all of those heavily diluted shots and mixed drinks they gave us at Cornerstone, Santa Fe, The Thirsty Turtle, and yes...even Bentley's, could have been secretly spiked with something to keep us coming back week after week. Quite honestly, I still haven't figured out the answer...and I probably never will. What I am 100% certain of is that I love MY school, I love all of the experiences I had there (the good and the bad), and I love the fact that I will be a Terrapin forever! GO TERPS!