Things to Try at Purdue
As a junior I have had a few years to explore Purdue and the Greater Lafayette area. This post is a guide to some of my favorite memories so far but this only scratches the surface of what Purdue has to offer.
1. Season Football Tickets- This goes especially for freshmen year. Attending games with fellow ticketholders helped me meet some of my best friends. The atmosphere is awesome regardless of how bad our team is doing. I’m a basketball fan but if you only go to one game make it football. (p.s. the walk to the basketball stadium during winter is significantly less fun)
2. Eat off Campus- Sophomore year I got stuck in the routine of eating out at the same 5-10 places within walking distance of my apartment. As a junior I have started branching out and driving further to find the best food. This one requires a car but it is definitely worth the effort. There are hundreds of great places to eat that are less than 10 minutes from campus.
3. Explore a New Building- When it got really cold last year I tried to see how far I could get using the tunnel system. I ended up nowhere near my class but it was great seeing the inside of some buildings I would never normally go into. There are a lot of buildings at Purdue that you won’t have classes in and it seems that each has a different look and feel even if the outside is always red brick.
4. Celebrate Spring Break- Contrary to popular belief you don’t need to go to a beach to do this. My roommates and I went to Chicago for Spring Break. This was the highlight of my college experience thus far. The food was incredible and we went to the Shedd Aquarium, and even caught Purdue’s NCAA Tournament game.
5. Join Something!- For me, this was my current job at the Exponent as well as the Deans Ambassadors program. In both instances I came across a callout or email and decided not to ignore it. If you know where your interests are, join that organization. If not follow the flyers you see around campus. Both of my organizations give me a chance to learn more about what I’m interested in, Communications. I know people who joined salsa dancing, muy thai, and even improv comedy.
Whatever you might be into rest assured there are several others on campus who share that interest.
Purdue is a place where everyone can find their niche. Whether it be your major, a club, study abroad, or just your friends you will walk out of here with some lasting imprint. College is about making the most of these four years and Purdue University gives you a great opportunity to do just that.
Yonas Kebede
Advertising, May 2013
