Senior year of high school, I didn’t want to apply to Notre Dame. My older brother (attending his sophomore year) convinced me to apply, and 10 years later I’m a proud alumnus.
In honor of college football season kicking off, I wanted to walk through a few reasons why I love Notre Dame (ND).
Community at the school
Attending college is jarring as you come in knowing no one. Yet Notre Dame makes this easy on everyone by acing the three conditions sociologists say help us make friends.
- Proximity
- At ND you join a dorm where students stay for 3 (often 4) years, every student’s door is unlocked, and you almost literally run into your friends
- The campus isn’t in a big city so students primarily stay on campus and run into each other when walking around
- Repeat, unplanned interactions
- Everyone takes similar classes in the first year studies program and it’s all in the same building (DeBartolo Hall)
- The entire student body attends ND football games for a reduced price resulting in a lot of chance encounters
- A setting where you let down your guard
- ND has two dining halls (North and South), two student centers, and only one library despite ~8.5K students
- Students are surrounded by each other especially in relaxing situations
Tradition
Some traditions are undeniably cheesy (see most dorm traditions), but many of the experiences I had added to feeling connected to something larger than myself.
- Every student learns the alma mater and win or lose, we held each other and sang at the end of every football game.
- When there’s tough times and loss people come together, mourn, and pray at the Basilica and the grotto
- And there’s even whimsical ones like a glorious snowball fight following the first snow of every year
The Alumni Network
Though I loved my experience at school, my favorite part of ND is since I graduated.
- New friendships – When my wife and I moved to DC, we knew hardly anyone. We went to a few Alumni association events and had a thriving friend group within months
- Reunions – For friends who are farther away, ND football games act like de-facto weddings. Win or lose, I see those I care about every year. Regardless of the score, I always consider the Irish lucky
- Connection – Every time I meet someone wearing an ND hat or shirt, there’s an immediate shared connection. From the stranger who cheered Go Irish on my run today to striking up a conversation at a bar in Europe, I am consistently impressed by the kindness of ND alumni
While Notre Dame’s education and mission are admirable, the people made my experience.
Go Irish!! And keep sharing the love!