Penn State Proud" is not just one of those cliche sayings.
Penn Staters worldwide take the chant "We Are ... Penn State" to heart even after leaving Happy Valley for the dreaded real world.
Penn Staters are proud to be Penn Staters. Working at Ace Hardware of Lake Gaston, N.C., the past two summers, I realized the meaning of "Penn State Proud."
Nine hours from campus, I talk with Penn State students or alumni almost every single day I work. I would say in the past two summers, working full time, I can think of three or four days that I haven't seen someone with a Penn State shirt on.
The difference between a Penn Stater and someone from another school is the pride a Penn Stater feels to show off their colors.
I would be naive to think other big name schools aren't represented in that store each and everyday as well. But, they don't seem to wear their school's shirt to prove it. They graduated, got into the real world, and that was that.
Upon arriving on campus last fall for my first semester as an official Penn State student, I realized what I had gotten myself into. I had wanted to attend this university since I can remember. My earliest memory is being an annoying (but I must admit cute, too) little squirt at a tailgate sporting a Nittany Lion suit.
I just knew there was something about Happy Valley that drew me in, and no it wasn't just because my grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins had already received degrees from Penn State.
Coming from North Carolina, it would be much easier on the wallet to attend one of the many prestigious schools in my home state.
Though expensive in monetary terms, what you pay for when you go to Penn State is really priceless. You pay to go to the nation's best school. Not in the rankings, unless you count party school rankings, but it is the best school for a student to attend.
As soon as you walk on campus, there is an overcoming feeling of pride. That Penn State pride makes it socially acceptable to shout "We Are," anywhere at anytime. Just think if you had yelled chants during the school day at your high school -- you'd probably be considered strange. At Penn State, you're odd if you don't blow everyone's ear drums with a "Penn State" in response for everyone to hear.
You have chosen to attend the school that has the greatest alumini following in the nation -- the nation's biggest dues-paying alumni association. That is, alums who are willing to seek out an organization to pay back to this place. It must have meant something to them.
When we apply for jobs, we have a greater chance than anyone to "coincidentally" apply at a place where the employer is Penn State Proud and just so happens to like the education section of our resumes.
I'm not so naive to think we are getting the best education out there as far as academics, but I do think getting wrapped up (or as some of my friends from home would call it, "brain washed") with Penn State is better than going to a "better" school.
Just remember: As Nittany Lions, we have earned the right and responsibility to wear our pride on our sleeves.
