A Little Ring Made of Gold

I am now in my third year at Texas A&M University. Although, according to my credit hours, I am classified as a senior. That fact terrifies me. It feels like just yesterday that I was a freshman eating ice cream for dinner just because I could and getting lost on campus. One fact that is not so scary is that I have just ordered my Fighting Texas Aggie Ring! (WHOOP!) I am so excited and cannot wait for the day that I receive my very own piece of Aggie gold.

I grew up with two parents who met and were married during their time here at Texas A&M. I was raised an Aggie and have always had a love of the traditions this school holds so dear. I grew up looking at my dad's Aggie ring and thinking of the day I would get my own. I can remember countless times when a complete stranger would recognize his ring and start a conversation with him. Within no time, they would have realized they had a class together or had a common acquaintance or something. I also remember thinking how strange it was that random people would recognize such a small detail on a stranger. 

I now know that the Aggie ring is not merely another gold ring. It is a symbol. A symbol of the hard work and dedication it took to earn it. It embodies everything Texas A&M stands for and instills in it's students. It is a physical representation of the Aggie Spirit. The Aggie ring is not like any other class ring. There is a reason Aggies wear this ring for the rest of our lives. If you see someone wearing it, you immediately know the values and character of that person because of the education they earned while at Texas A&M. The core values of the university are Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service. Each graduate has these values instilled in them throughout their time here. There is a saying that the Aggie ring is not given, it is earned. You have to earn the right to wear it. Completing 90+ credit hours at Texas A&M is not an easy feat to accomplish. Believe me, I know. 

I am so happy and proud to be eligible for my Aggie ring. I cannot wait for the day I can walk into the Alumni Center and be presented with my very own piece of Aggie gold. I've worked so hard for this. Texas A&M has chewed me up and spit me out time after time, yet I persevere. For which, I have to thank my parents. They put up with my dramatics when I call home crying because I'm overwhelmed. They push me to achieve what I thought I never could. They have done so much to give me this opportunity and I want to do everything I can to assure them that I was a good investment. 

Receiving my ring is not just going to be me getting a class ring. This is me carrying on a family tradition. This is me becoming one step closer to my degree. This is me setting myself up for the rest of my life and forever being affiliated with the greatest university on Earth. I will probably cherish this ring more than wedding ring. And to some that might seem ludicrous. But, this is something I did for myself. It is something no one can ever take away from me and it was not something given to me. This is something I earned. I can say without a doubt that I will more than likely cry like a baby when I see my name engraved inside that beautiful gold ring. April 8th cannot come fast enough!