ever grateful. ever true.

there are many words I use to describe myself. many indeed.

blonde.

loud.

organized.

loud.

blonde (repetition is key, huh?)

boilermaker.

and the last one is important. because I am. I always knew I would go to Purdue. 

It was the only college I applied too. 

My sister went there. And some of my best memories of the two of us center around Jake's, Discount Den, Triple XXX, football games, study trips to Starbucks and too many other Purdue places.

I met some of my best friends there. And I had some of the best roommates a girl could ever want. Girls that I am still friends with today--even 13 years later. Girls that have shaped my life and I couldn't imagine doing life without.

The Princesses we get from Purdue are some of the most generous and kind-spirited young women on the planet. 

I spent four fabulous years in West LaLa. Four wonderful, challenging, amazing, difficult years. Going to football games. Cheering on Drew Brees as he took us to the Rose Bowl. Wearing black and gold. Singing (at the top of my lungs) "hail, hail to old Purdue...". Fountain runs. Drives to Discount Den. Studying in the Hicks library (no relation). Breakfast Club at Where Else? Thursday nights at Jakes. Parties at AGR. Sledding down Slater Hill. Vawter Hall. The Co-Rec. Visiting Linz and T$ at Hillenbrand (because they had the best food). Flag football games. Studying on the lawn by Beering Hall. 

And yesterday...when the news was focused on one young man and his decision to cause chaos and fear on my beloved campus by destroying another man's life...all I could think about was how much I loved Purdue. 

Yes, I thought about this evil world we live in. 

And I hate it.

I thought about all the Purdue students that I know and I tried to imagine what they were feeling when they heard the news.

And I was heartbroken. Because stuff like this shouldn't happen.

And I hated evil even more.

I hated Satan even more.

But then I realized that he doesn't win. He may win this battle. But he loses the war. 

And at the end of the day, love wins. Love always conquers fear. So today...starting today....I am vowing to show love more. Because love wins. And just because there is evil in this world, doesn't mean it should out-shine love.

Want to know why I love Purdue so much? 

This picture says it all.

 

ever grateful. ever true. as we raise our song anew.

all the days we've spent with you.

all hail our own Purdue.