Undergraduate / UNC Essay- If you could change one thing about where you live, what would it be? 250 word limit [3]

School spirit is the string that holds together a pearl necklace. In a diverse group of students, belonging to the same school is a uniting factor for students, faculty and community alike. The string holding the pearls of my school is fraying.

​Rival football games are the epitome of school spirit. One would assume that the entire student body would be not only present, but be cheering passionately for our team. Unfortunately, at the rivalry game this year, only about one-third of the students at my school attended. I recalled going to the College Lacrosse Championships in Philadelphia: UNC's student section was triple the size of my entire school's crowd. The feeling of unity could be felt across the field; it was hard not to be swept up in the emotions of those wearing Carolina blue and white. It dawned on me that UNC students and Alumni were willing to travel across state lines just for lacrosse games, where as the kids at my school won't go a few miles for a local football game.

After attending that championship, I went back to my school wanting to share my experience. My peers and I expressed different ideas in which we could top other schools hype. School spirit is not just winning games, but rather the honoring the pride of the school. At the next football game, I stood in the crowd as I was captivated by a newfound enthusiasm embedded in my school. That night, the pearl necklace was strung as tight as could be.