TOURS! (And being a tour guide, of course!) Today, just like every Monday and Friday at noon, I gave a tour to prospective students. I only had three families to give a tour to, and it made their visit that much more special. I’m known as the “Queen of Random Facts” by some tour guides. I like to point out things that aren’t pertinent to SLU’s history but very unique to our campus. I also like to talk..a lot! I always tell campus visitors that they can ask questions throughout the entire tour, interrupt me if I’m talking too much, or slow me down if I’m sprinting a marathon. That tends to be one quirk about me: once I get really, really excited about something, I talk one mile a minute and don’t take any breaks.

This morning started off a little windy, but when it came time for my tour it was absolutely gorgeous! The sun was shining and the sky was the most beautiful blue. I couldn’t have asked for better weather. Everyone who visited today seemed to love the campus. (But honestly, who wouldn’t?!) One of my favorite things to do while on a tour is brag about everything that SLU has to offer. As a result, I end up taking a little more than the estimated one hour. The families seemed to enjoy it though. I could see their smiles light up as I talked about things that interested them, and I heard some of their comments they made to their family members. On a day like today, I didn’t want the tour to end. Instead I wanted to sit down with the families and continue to spread my passion for SLU.

But, of course, the time came for me to finish the tour. I thanked two families for visiting as they left for meetings. One family was left. The prospective student asked me how many tours I give per week. When I told her that I give two, she quickly questioned whether or not I enjoyed it. Obviously I told her yes! For me, there is nothing like sharing all of the wonderful qualities that SLU has to offer. Why do I like tours so much? Aside from the fact that I get to tell everyone how spectacular SLU is, it brings me back to my own indecisive college application process. When I visited SLU for the first time, I was shocked at how different it was than what I expected. The campus didn’t just include buildings and streets: it had ponds and flowers. And to make things even better, SLU has a one-of-a-kind feel to it that I didn’t sense when I visited any other college. As corny as it sounds, I told my mom that I was going to be a Billiken as we walked back to Laclede Parking Garage after my tour.

Normally when trying to impress others, people get advice to “put their best foot forward.” But when it comes to SLU, it’s hard for me to stop bragging. Do I talk about our bountiful green space and flowers in the middle of the city or the half of a block walk to Grand Center? The numerous dining options or the view of the Gateway Arch from campus? The 95 programs of study or the hundreds of professors with terminal degrees? The one-of-a-kind community or the never ending opportunities? See what I mean?? Saint Louis University has something for everyone, but we’re missing one thing: YOU!

Now it’s YOUR turn. Be Unique. Be Outstanding. Be a Billiken.