I've been meaning to write this for a long time, and as such, this could turn into a long post. Last year I began my career at Georgia Tech, and having grown up a Tech fan but having decided not to pursue my B.S. at Tech, I was looking forward to enjoying my time as a student fan. As such, I joined "The Swarm," a student fan club located right behind the North Endzone, in the first section against the field and next to the band (and also located on the floor behind each basket at basketball games). I thought this was great fun, and as a member I received a copy of a "T-Book," which I thought was a great read about GT traditions and history, and served as an excellent primer for Ani to learn many of the traditions as well.
Although The Swarm was full of people committed to Tech, it didn't come close to living up to what I expected. Many of its members didn't even know the words to the fight song! While reading the T-Book in my spare time, although I was familiar with many of the traditions already, I learned of an organization called The Ramblin' Reck Club, whose charter was the promotion of Georgia Tech traditions and spirit, and the maintenance and driving of The Ramblin' Reck. It mentioned that the membership drive was in the spring, and as this sounded like what I had hoped for when I joined The Swarm, I eagerly awaited my chance to join the club.
Finally, after an awesome football season and midway through an awfully mediocre basketball season, Reck Club recruitment began:
Then come out and apply for Ramblin' Reck Club! The Ramblin' Reck Club was established in 1930 to uphold Georgia Tech spirit and tradition. Most visibly, we are the sole caretakers of the Ramblin' Reck, which has led our football team onto the field for every home game since 1961. However, we also have great responsibilities at athletic events and during Homecoming, such as managing SWARM and organizing the Mini-500, Cake Race, and Parade. Most recently, we were responsible for reviving the "T-Book" freshman guide to GT Traditions and History.
Additionally, the Ramblin' Reck Club is a very social organization. Among other things, we participate in intramurals and travel on road trips throughout the Southeast to cheer on our Yellow Jackets!
I furiously completed my application and brought it with me to the first recruitment event, a simple social with the club and all of the prospective new members. At this point I reflected on how much this felt like Greek recruitment at Rose-Hulman (my undergrad), and despite having been through it all, having gone through rush, pledgeship, membership, serving as President, and then being an old-fart alumnus, I was more nervous than ever. For a hardcore Tech fan, being given the opportunity to join a club with people just as dedicated as me, if not moreso, as well as being given the chance to help take care of the one and only Ramblin' Reck, was more than enough to make me a little nervous.
Partly by drawing on my rush experience, but mostly by just being my Tech-loving, Mutt-hating self, I managed to get myself invited to the second week of recruiting and ultimately was extended an invitation to join the club as a probationary member. You could say I was just a bit excited.
In the time since then I have washed and waxed The Reck a handful of times. I've ridden shotgun, on the running boards, and in the rumble seat. I've polished unfortunate scratches off her fender until my arm almost couldn't polish anymore. I've helped load, transport, and unload it to and from weddings. I've gotten to see the smiles it brings to people's faces as we drive around campus. I've written and edited parts of this year's T-Book, handed tons of copies out to this year's freshman class, and watched them learn about all the Tech traditions I hold so dear. I've attended sporting events and cheered our team on (or jeered U[sicGA]) surrounded by people doing the same thing just as passionately. That's only a part of the experience so far, football season hasn't even started yet, I've loved every minute of it.
When I explain Reck Club to friends of mine from outside Tech, I'll normally describe it as a sort of co-ed fraternity whose primary focus isn't on brotherhood, scholarship, leadership, etc., but is on Ma Tech, her traditions, and having fun. It's amazing what you can do when you focus on having fun and promoting the things that you enjoy throughout campus so others may enjoy them as well. You find that things such as leadership and friendship follow, but without anywhere close to the same amount of politics getting in the way.
I meant to write this about mid-way through last semester, and then at the end of last semester, but I've really been slacking on my blog lately. It's been interesting switching from undergrad to grad school, from quarters to semesters, from a private school in the middle of nowhere to a state school in the heart of Atlanta. Here's some of my observations:
Feel free to share your experiences as well, even if you're working at the same time as getting your M.S. or PhD (which I'm sure is a completely different experience, and one I'm glad I'm not doing).
Coming to a Congress near you!
A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.
Here's my get rich quick scheme, let me know if you want a piece of the pie!
I'm watching a recording of Thursday night's game against Miami, and amidst the awesomeness all I can think is TO HELL WITH GEORGIA!
GO JACKETS!
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