#NowATerp
I was presented with that slogan when I first received my acceptance letter to the University of Maryland, College Park. In all honesty, though it was my first application I sent out, I was hesitant about going, due to plenty of second thoughts.
College Park, first off, is about 20 minutes from my hometown. From my high school, many people had always gone there, and since it was a high school of remarkable academic standing, many looked down on UMD, considering it "too close" and even worse, "a safety school."
The reason I was so concerned was because I didn't know if I would get in, and then I was concerned that if I did, I'd be just like every other kid. But once I got that letter, and saw what the school had to offer, I couldn't have accepted the application faster.
Why, you may be asking, would I immediately accept an application in early January, especially after I had been hesitant to attend? Well, I soon realized that a lot of that reluctance came from listening to what everyone else was saying and what everyone thought about the school. I took too long for me to see that the only voice that mattered was my own, because this was going to be would be my life I was leading. And the life I wanted to lead would start with me becoming a Terp, just like my mom was. My heart was in College Park.
Now that I am a Terp, and extremely proud to say so, I wanted to share what it's like to be a Maryland Terrapin.
First and foremost, it's the greatest feeling in the world, and it will always remain one the greatest decisions I have ever made. Though it is a huge campus of about 40,000 other strangers, and the walks from class to class may be long, the campus is alive. It is full of opportunities, happiness and life-long memories. Those sights and sounds from campus make the long walks just about worth it.
When you're walking to McKeldin Library, and you see the statue of Testudo (our beloved mascot) overlooking the mall and the huge fountain in the middle, or when you look at that beautiful red "M" on your way in, it takes your breath away. You will say, "Wow, I am proud that I go here."
That is because being a Terp becomes a lifestyle, and you won't even realize it until you actually have the time to step back and think about it.
You always offer Testudo something before a test, and rub his nose for good luck whenever you pass by, even if you aren't superstitious to begin with. You will find yourself under the flag at a Maryland sporting event, jumping up and down and having the time of your life, even if you're not a sports fan. You will hit up every convenience store possible and burn through all of your "Terp Bucks" halfway through the semester, especially if you have no self-control and a deep love for ice cream and Doritos (like myself).
These are the rituals that you will fall in love with, and what seems to be just a college campus becomes your world.
I think that the reason that I love this school so much is because of the people that I have met. Again, it's full of strangers and a huge diverse group of people, but these are people who all have a story. When you take a look at the best friends that I have made here, you would never think that I would meet this cast of characters anywhere else.
Who would think that my best friends would be a music-loving, kind girl from small-town Pennsylvania, a hilarious, relatable girl from New York who is just like me and finally a creative, insightful engineering major who turns out to live 10 minutes from my hometown?
Thanks to this campus, the place I call home, I have met people that I would never think I would be friends with. It introduces you to a whole new world, one that doesn't just present you with typical girlfriends. Everyone is different, and we all share different stories that all intertwine with one another. It's unbelievable.
Just like everyone has a story, there is something for everyone at this school, and yes, I mean everyone (we have a legitimate Quidditch team). You don't need to be an athlete to go to Maryland, and when it comes to meeting people, there are plenty of other options besides Greek Life (which is phenomenal here at UMD as well). You can be a novelist, an artist, a singer, a dancer, an ultimate frisbee player or even a future astronaut. The school, which is ranked as one of the top schools in the country, has so many different majors, programs, clubs and organizations that you will find out where you belong immediately.
Lastly, the University of Maryland, in my opinion, houses one of the greatest athletic programs in the country. Sure, you may know us because of the big names, like "Melo Trimble" and "Diamond Stone," but let me tell you something: they are the best program because of what lies beyond the stats. These athletes and these teams teach you what being a Terp is all about.
In my opinion, the team that best exemplifies this is the Maryland Women's Basketball team. As a court side photographer, I get to see what lies beneath the stats, beneath the shell, and I see a close-knit team that cares, respects and loves one another. They work for each other and their main goal is to look out for one another.
By simply looking at how the players huddle before each game, or how they celebrate a big win, it's easy to see that they represent what the Maryland Terrapins are.
We are one giant family, made up of 40,000 brothers and sisters, that demonstrate intelligence, innovation, individuality, teamwork, leadership, respect, responsibility and empathy. We are Terps.
PHOTO: 
Photo by myself, Sammi Silber, from Maryland's win over Bowie State.