Ram pride is like the green and gold glitter we plaster on ourselves at the Rocky Mountain Showdown every year – it never really goes away. As such, College Avenue sat down with a current CSU student and a former CSU student to gain their perspectives on the Ram lifestyle.

An alumna from the Class of 2012, Kalyn McGinnis, who was a psychology major at CSU, became a Ram to begin with because the psychology degree here is a Bachelor of Science rather than a Bachelor of Arts.

“The best part of CSU was the community,” McGinnis said. “There was always a place for everyone and the campus was always busy with activities and events, but it easily extended out of campus to incorporate most of Fort Collins. You never left CSU.”

According to McGinnis, a Denver native, Fort Collins proved to be far enough away from home that she was able to independently develop into the person she is today. McGinnis said CSU is the way your regular hometown suburban college would be, neither isolated nor snobby.

“Immediately after graduating, I was over CSU,” McGinnis said. “But, after some time, I definitely am proud to be a CSU Ram.”

As for current student Spencer Downing, a senior in human development and family studies, she was drawn to CSU because it was the only out-of-state school her California family would help her pay for, and many of her relatives live in Northern Colorado.

“The best part of CSU is having the availability of all the resources on campus and what they can offer to students,” Downing said. “Plus, CSU is in Fort Collins. Fort Collins is beautiful and it doesn’t feel like just a college town.”

According to Downing, the structured opportunities offered to her here to explore the community at CSU have helped her to cultivate greater confidence and academic skills.

“What’s different about CSU is the community within the student body,” Downing said. “We support each other when times get stressful and our goals are oriented towards a more sustainable future, both locally and globally.”

Truly, CSU, the Home of the Rams, is a culture like no other. And, what makes it such a special environment for young adults to grow in is the opportunity it grants us to learn about ourselves all throughout life and realize that we have been capable people all along.

This article was created for the 2014 Fall Graduation Guide produced by College Avenue Magazine staff.