For The Glory of Old State

I was a freshman in the fall of 2010. The October night was chilly with the autumn air slowly shifting into the winter freeze. Roughly 7:45 pm on All Hallows Eve 2010. I came rushing out of the tunnel onto the perfectly green grass of Beaver Stadium. It was a night game. Against Michigan. A huge game. I looked up at a white mass of people. Students. All between the ages of 18-22, screaming their brains out. For a marching band. The Pennsylvania State University Marching Blue Band. As I got into my fanfare block position, I was on the verge of tears. I had waited my entire life for this moment. The sound of the percussion roll-off signaled me to spin my horn up. Air flowed out of my mouth, through my horn, and cut through the night. As we got to the end of the fanfare I could hear the excitement of the crowd heighten. Ian Kenney, the drum major was on his way down the middle of the field. He hit the fifty yard line and did the infamous 'flip'. The crowd erupted in a huge cheer. I literally couldn't find my breath because of how amped up I was. My legs pumped down the field and finally stopped on the 40 yard line. I faced the students and played America's National Anthem. Then moved into the famous PSU formation. As the introduction to the alma mater started, I got chills thinking about how I was connected with every student, alumni, and fan in that stadium. Seeing the students joining together and singing. I knew that I was where I needed to be. It was where I wanted to be. It was somewhere that I belonged. Everyone was linked together, through Blue and White. Through the chanting of WE! ARE! PENN! STATE!

This is my definition of Pride. This is my definition of Tradition. And of Excellence and Success with Honor. This is my Penn State.

In spite of all of the allegations that have happened in the past few days, every Penn Stater has their own Penn State that they know will never change.

My Penn State is about having PRIDE in my school. The reasons that I am here. Why are you here? Why did you come here. Why do you want to be a part of Penn State. It could be a major, a class, a professor, a sport, a memory, a family tradition, or a desire to go above and beyond what you believed you were capable of. Find the reason and always keep it with you. Never forget it.

You may have your own opinion about how these need to be handled. But I just want you to remember why you have Penn State in your heart. The actions of a few wrong people does not change my definition Penn State. It shouldn't change yours either.