Why Carolina

In honor of National Decision Day, I have been tweeting #WhyCarolina all day. But my love for this school could never be adequately expressed in 140 characters. Perhaps the magic that exists in the Southern Part of Heaven, in the poverty of human language, can never have its measure taken.
But for you, UNC Class of 2019, I'll give it the old college try.

Academics
We get called obnoxious and pretentious but we're just too busy taking classes on every subject from anthropology to zionism to care. You will bond with your fellow tar heels over how students at other colleges complain about the stress of general education credits. Try going to a liberal arts school, we have pre reqs for our gen eds. Over Fall Break your first year at UNC you will catch up with high school friends who go to other schools. They will talk about how hard micro economics is, but you go to Carolina, so you're taking micro and macro together. It's fine, you have Balaban.

Songs 
2 words. James Taylor. Singing Carolina In My Mind as a UNC student is indescribable, but I can guarantee it's a lot better than listening to me sing it. Not to mention Chase Rice, if you don't have to hold back tears listening to Carolina Can, well you probably go to Duke. At Carolina you will hear every song about North Carolina you can think of performed by our a cappella groups, and you will pick a definite favorite. The Clefs, Cadence, Tar Heel Voices, Psalm 100. We all have one. Interestingly enough, Pitch Perfect's regional competition is at an allegedly fictional "Carolina University"...coincidence? I think not.

Aesthetics 
Admittedly, I'm biased, but there are tons of Buzzfeed articles like the one below to back up my opinion that UNC has the most beautiful campus in the world. My worst picture of the Old Well will always get more likes than my best selfie. Take that as you will. Between the murals on Franklin Street, the Pit, Historic Wilson Library, Coker Arboretum, the Bell Tower, the Davie Poplar, South Building and the Quad, your campus pics, and your campus life for that matter, will never lack a stunning backdrop.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/carolynkylstra/beautiful-colleges-and-universities#.sbmXj5RG7 

Southern Charm 
The hospitality here is unparalled. Everyone always thanks their bus drivers, the crossing guards always greet you with a smile and the Carolina Dining Services employees could make your grandma seem cold and unfriendly. For some reason at this school we even say "thank you" to our professors after we turn in an exam. I've never understood why we thank them for giving us tests, but I think it's still a nice gesture. Chancellor Folt genuinely makes herself accessible to students and how many other college chancellors will take a selfie with you? I'll wait. 

Alumni
James K. Polk. Mary Pope Osborne. Rick Fox. Mia Hamm. Andy Griffith. Mamrie Hart. Danny Green (#GoSpursGo). Sarah Dessen. And...Ken Jeong (the gangster from The Hangover).

Finally, the J School would kick me out if I didn't mention Charles Kuralt...
"What is it that binds us to this place as to no other? It is not the well, or the bell, or the stone walls, or the crisp October nights or the memory of dogwoods blooming. Our loyalty is not only to William Richardson Davie though we are proud of what he did 200 years ago today. Nor even to Dean Smith, though we are proud of what he did last March. No, our love for this place is based on the fact that it is as it was meant to be, the University of the people."
-Charles Kuralt

Athletics
Maybe you've heard of Carolina basketball? As much as President Obama loves UNC, I think Buzzfeed loves us even more (see link below), and who could blame them? Tobacco Road is the greatest sports rivalry of all time and you will never convince me otherwise. Every winter we get #dookfans trending on Twitter and hilarity ensues. And at the end of every UNC game, we all link arms and sing the alma mater for all to hark the sound that's been beating in our hearts forever.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/nicholasschwartz/7-reasons-why-duke-unc-is-seriously-the-best-rivalry-in-spor#.mlm14e0wb

Local Flavor
We don't have a Bojangles or much to my dismay, a Taco Bell, but we make up for it in eateries specific to Chapel Hill. A Cook-Out tray costs $4.99, but taking in the view from Top of the Hill on Blueberry Day, hanging out with friends at He's Not, getting BSki's delivered to your dorm, trivia at Goodfellows, and ending the night with Time Out are priceless.

Lux libertas
Light and liberty.
Light. For tar heels, the sun always shines a little brighter in Chapel Hill.
And liberty. UNC is somewhere you can be unapologetically yourself.
There are so many amazing organizations, clubs and student groups just waiting to change your life. By senior year when you take your obligatory cap and gown pic by the university seal, you will look down at our motto and it will hold a definition unique to you. So don't worry, you will find your niche, it's the Carolina Way.

Last in this list but first in my heart...
Carolina For The Kids Foundation
I have been telling my brother for years to choose a college based on its Dance Marathon program, and of course what I mean by that is pick UNC based on Carolina FTK. For 4 years, this organization has given me a place to belong and people to belong to. In my time at Carolina, we have raised over $2 million for the patients and families of UNC Children's Hospital. Our founder, Michael Bucy, said, "UNC Dance Marathon is a worthwhile investment of your time. You will get far more from UNC Dance Marathon than you will give it." and for me and 2,000 other students, that could not be more true. So believe in the magic that happens for 24 hours every year in Fetzer Gym.

http://www.carolinaftk.org/


And finally, I will leave you with my 3 favorite quotes on the place I have been blessed enough to call home for the best 4 years of my life.

"Down through all the years of your lives, wherever you may go, your heart will always beat just a bit faster when you hear the symphonic syllables: Chapel Hill."
-W.T. Carmichael Jr.

"It’s on your shirt, and it’s in your heart.”
-Stuart Scott

"We'll hold it briefly, feel its pulsing heart before letting it go to impart that Carolina magic to those students there now, and to all those who will come in the endless future, stay awhile, and leave a part of their soul in a place called Chapel Hill."
-A.C. Snow