"All of you will experience failure and success, tragedy and joy, rough times and great times," the professor assured our small freshman class.

It was the first day of classes in the fall 2004 semester at Texas State University – San Marcos, and we, 20 of the roughly 3,000 incoming freshmen, collectively wondered: "Why is this guy talking like a commander in a corny war movie?" The strapping, oddly-intimidating lecturer had a look in his eyes that could only be described as "intellectually psychotic."

The craziest thing about the prophetic professor, though, is how right he was. His prediction was fulfilled for me and, I'm sure, for most of my classmates as well. In short, he was describing the "college experience," and for my (tuition) money, nowhere is that experience more satisfying than at Texas State.

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