Not to brag, but...

Okay, so not to brag, but Tulane pride stems from a lot of different factors, including its affiliated alumni and professors. It is an amazingly unique educational setting (ah-hem, notably designated as a "College with a Conscience" and for having the "Happiest Students" by the Princeton Review). Forbes high-ranked Tulane for its affordability and productivity. Tulane University grooms and inspires its graduates to make a positive, societal impact later on in life!

First, Tulane is the former stomping ground of alum David Filo, who co-founded yahoo. (Sidenote: to support my fellow TU alum, I always use yahoo as my search engine of choice). As a loyal, proud alum, technological whiz Mr. D. Filo donated $30 million dollars to Tulane. Niiiice!

Another Tulane alumna worth mentioning is the lovely Erica Trani, who opened up an impressive Tulane campus store that only sells free trade products. The name of her socially conscious and responsible store is InExchange. After visiting, I was wowed by its international goods that help artisians, craftswomen and craftsmen from around the globe and Nola locally:

Another Tulane graduate and hero of mine whose creativity blossomed from her studies at TU is Mignon Faget, whose classy jewelery is one of a kind. Ms. Mignon has the same sorority affiliation as me, and was a previous Homecoming Queen.

Gorgeous lily design of Mignon Faget (BFA 1956). She also has designed the Newcomb class ring (below):

Alumna Mignon Faget continues on creatively designing Nola charm bracelets, as in the above.

Tulane's faculty members are also humble, but so well-accomplished. In my time there, I was always impressed by their knowledge. Current professor Nick Spitzer is the host/creator of the American Routes program on National Public Radio (NPR).

Rocking the Tulane gear

Guess what? Tulane actually offers St. Patty's Day gear, which essentially provides the marriage of fun holiday with school spirit! Good job, my beloved alma mater! I'll be sportin' a TU clover here in Southie,

(See, we don't need the extra fourth leaf, because we're already lucky Tulane alumni!)

Man oh man, did I ever tell you how much I love the Tulane bookstore? They always have great school designs and insignia on their school spirit clothing! I always make it a point to go here to stock up on goods (read: green and white gear) whenever I revisit Nola. I mean, I'd have a whole drawer filled to the brim with adorable TU gear (since there's so much to chose from) if I could, but that would be a bit excessive.

See our awesomely angry wave mascot. We're so fierce!

Seriously, I can't get enough of said angry wave mascot! It never gets old! Let me buy this hat!

Last but not least, this would be my dream, soft Tulane sweatshirt that appears oh so fashionable. Looks like the perfect bday gift to self!

I also liked how the Tulane bookstore always carried books authored by its professors in the front of the store. Way to support your faculty members! :) My dream one day (if this blog grows) is to have this blog turned into a "I Heart Tulane" book published by Tulane press and sold in the bookstore (of course) to students, staff, and faculty no less.

Sharing My Positive Experiences with Prospective TU Students

Picture this: an 100 plus person audience consisting of prospective and accepted Tulane students and their parents.

Imagine this: a somewhat shy me at the front of the room who would rather hide behind the written word. Somehow I managed to publically speak about my positive Tulane experiences and (I think?) actually make coherent sense. It took shaking, sweaty palms, and a handful of panicky, written out notecards.

See above, going "out on a Tulane limb" tree branch here, because I had several positive, first-hand experiences to share with Tulane perspectives.

Actually, in the name of alma mater pride, I've swallowed my public speaking fears twice and somehow managed to engage in helpful outreach to these youths. In doing so, I (alongside my fellow alumni panelists) have harbored hopes of convincing these prospective students to go to a school we loved for undergrad. Many thanks to the encouragement of my good friend, Sarah W. who bleeds green and white and might be the biggest Tulane fan I know. She is a Tulane B-school graduate, Class of 2005, as well as a TU L.A. alumni club leader). Sarah W. somehow has convinced me to be an integral part of this L.A. based, Tulane alumni panel, when the springtime rolled around.

In the end, I felt triumphant and happy that I could share something I felt so passionate about: my sincere love for Tulane. I even got more into my groove when afterwards, I got really specific questions from prospective Tulane students and was answering them like a pro. (Me: "oh so you like art? Tulane offers photography and glassblowing classes, and has a wicked nice Newcomb art gallery!)

See above: Woldenberg Hall, which houses beautiful Newcomb pottery and has featured some kick-ass art exhibits by its students. It also was the location of a multicultural student welcome mixer during orientation of my freshman year.

Talking to persuade interested, accepted students to go to Tulane and have cutesy, fun experiences like the above.

How do I Love Thee, Tulane, Let Me Count the Ways...

Because I am filled with Tulane alumna pride, let me share with you the following things I love about Tulane (and there are many).

1.) Taking a samba dance class in the last semester of my senior college and for extra credit, getting a chance to samba in the Mardi Gras parade, Endymion, (dressed up as a parrot)!
2.) The ancient, sprawling oak trees around campus that shade you, making you feel like you are in an enchanted land, when you are walking down the sidewalk. (See snapshot below):

3.) My two closest friends I made from college,  Kimberly K. and Jessica C. (both Class of 2003 ladies) that I met in my hallway residence of my Josephine Louise all girls dorm. We have been good pals for about 12 years now with major history, even though they live in different cities and states than I.

(See above): J.L. dorm, complete with swank-o-rino ballroom to study, where I met some of my best friends).
4.) My favorite Professor James McGuire, who taught me in a non Physics major class called Our Physical World. Because it was the last ever undergraduate class I took, he let me pop a bottle of champagne for the last class and toast to the seniors. I will be forever grateful because he wrote me a stellar recommendation for graduate schools that got me into every single one that I applied to. Am so happy to keep in touch with him throughout the years. Also, he insists that I call him "Jim" and took me out to lunch in the faculty dining room of the Lavin-Bernick Center (LBC) when I visited a few years ago. :)
5.) The fact that I can go without seeing Tulane friends for YEARS, pick right back up again, and I'm so appreciative that they'll go the extra mile for me. (Example in summertime: a) Jocelyn L., Tulane class of 2005, was an old sorority sister of mine that I had not seen 8 years, and for completely no charge, designed a postcard for the nonprofit I was working for. Example b.) Erica L., Tulane class of 2003, who I met back in the day in my International Relations class freshman year, let me stay with her for the 4th of July in Washington DC, even though we had not seen each other in 6 whole years).

Wow, check out the carving handywork on that watermellon above!

6.) Despite moving to cities post-college where I didn't have many friends initially, my involvement with the Tulane alumni clubs in: NYC, L.A, and now Boston has helped provide an extremely warm, environment for which to cement new friendships.

(P.S. Catch my pun on referring to a "cozy community" here with posting the above picture of a Tulane throw blanket. I really want one to get me through this winter!)
7.) Tulane helped me deepen my connection with international undergraduates at the time who expanded my horizons (I lived with 2 Ecuadorians enrolled in the business school my senior year of college).
8.) Tulane took the time to interview me twice for two different positions, Assistant Director of Admissions for the Law School (and flew me into Nola, round trip ticket for free) and for the Project Manager for the Community Service Center. Way to help out a then job-seeking alumna! (Even though I didn't get the positions in the end, the point is that they considered hiring me).
9.) Tulane provided me a very strong undergraduate academic background so I could gain acceptance into my graduate, Ivy League dream school.
10.) At Tulane, I was surrounded by classmates who worked pretty hard and played very hard, and that influence has enabled me to balance work and social elements very well to this day.
11.) Because of transfer credit flexibility, Tulane enabled me to stay loyal to my home institution and remain enrolled, yet take a year off and do a domestic exchange program for 2 quarters and a Scottish, non-Tulane affiliated study abroad program, for the semester. My Newcomb academic advisor, Kim Belchere, was really good about welcoming me back and helping me make sure I graduated on time with all of the necessary class approvals, signatures, and proper paperwork.

12.) That despite the hullabaloo occurring with the merging of Tulane-Newcomb Colleges together in the liberal arts, that Newcomb College (sisterhood) still seems still to be alive and well. My fond memories in this realm include: serving as a class representative 3 times on the all-female Newcomb Senate (undergraduate studeng government), of tree-hugging on the Newcomb Leadership retreat my freshman year, serving on the all-women's Mortar Board, and putting on a Women's Leadership Conference for local jr. high girls to create school improvement projects.
13.) That before they hit it big, I got to interview Apple D Ap from the Black Eyed Peas (fall 2001) for Tulane's Arcade Magazine.
14.) That my knowledge of local New Orleans music expanded through readership of the student publications, and availability around campus of the local publications such as Where Y'at. I scheduled the much beloved Rebirth Brass Band to play on campus my sophomore year.
15.) Bruff breakfasts (No matter how late I had stayed up before, I would always make sure to get my fluffy, southern style bisquets).

A Proud Alumna

Greetings, fellow readers,

I am a proud alumna of Tulane University, Class of 2003. I work in higher education, and want to contribute back to my undergraduate alma mater through the collection of heartwarming alumni stories. They each remember their time back at Tulane lovingly. This blog exists to be a compilation of fond Tulane recollections from those that graduated from it. These stories may entail professors that were an inspiration, the classmates that changed your life for the better, the curriculum that inspired you to do what you do now, and the campus activities you felt passionate about. Please email me at: islandgirl.TNL@gmail.com with your amazingly fun stories and/or pictures.

Please remember that they all have to be tied back to Tulane somehow. For instance, a memory going to a Tulane fundraiser or Greek life date party in the French quarter works, but this blog will not include random New Orleans stories that don't have some sort of TU organization/classmate connection. (Sorry).

(Dang, I wanted to be part of this Tulane "T" formation! Jealous! Behind is the Willow dorm I lived in jr. spring semester post study abroad).

The problem is, like many young alumni working in non-profits, social work, etc, I can't afford to contribute financially very much. Although I have attended as many alumni events as I possibly could, ranging from hitting up crawfish boils at South, the alum owned bar in L.A, Thus, this blog is my way of giving back, and I am going to promote it anyway that I can.

(As much as I'd love to be a heavy contributor to student scholarships, rehaul of the library and such, or even have a nice fountain built in one of the lush, grassy, and green quads, this is a small initiative that I hope to go). Go Green Wave!

Our beloved insignia!

I think this will be a rich tapestry of contributors with such Tulane alumni commentary from teachers, doctors, journalists, fashion designers, graphic designers, lawyers, business people, entrepreneurs, former Peace Corps and Americorps participants, and more professions from across the globe that all share one thing in common: their love for their time spent at Tulane!

My favorite shot ever of Gibson Hall at night with streetcar whirring by!