We began our journey the weekend of Nov. 11 in New Jersey. I didn't realize how much I missed Virginia with its rolling hills in intoxicating colors of yellow, orange, and red and the Appalachian mountains of southwest Virginia. I had made many road trips between Richmond and Blacksburg with the radio cranked playing the latest Van Halen album.
When my son and I reached Route 460, which goes into Blacksburg, I had the feeling that I have had every time I entered the campus: a sense of belonging, of being a part of something so much bigger than myself, and of long-lasting friendships. My four years at Virginia Tech were definitely the best four years of my academic life. Not only do I have the pride of attending and graduating from such a top-notch university, but now my only child is going to get his degree there and experience all of the awesome things student life has to offer.
Virginia Tech's colors are maroon and orange, which, in itself, is a fashion statement. The mascot is a Hokie, which looks like a turkey but is not a bird at all. It's a term coined in a competition for the Hokie Cheer. One of the most memorable events during the open house on our visit was when the Marching Virginians' tuba players guided us in a hilarious rendition of the "Hokie Pokie" that had us both laughing. The Marching Virginians, as I recall, are an amazing part of all of the sporting events, something that I hope my son will experience while he is a student there.
