By Emma Hawkins
DISCLAIMER: This is a satirical column.
Preview Day: the day in which Samford displays its campus and student lifestyle in real time. These families traipsing around our grass and sidewalks have the opportunity to see an average day here — their potential future.
Led by active students, the tour guides bring these families from the Caf, to the library, to the rec, living spaces and, of course, Ben Brown. They speak of the comfort and welcoming aspects inside the gates of Samford — the opportunities that await them here if they decide to come.
Preview Day is the ability for the outside to look in. It is a day, a solution, to those unfamiliar with what life looks like here at this school. There is just one problem.
As high school students, their parents and occasional younger siblings file in the lower UC or line through the quad, innocent student standbys stare over.
Just when you thought you could eat your bagel in peace, that peace is disturbed by a swarm of people you have never seen before. When the chance to finally get your essay completed right before class arrives, so does the preview group.
Now, this is not to say we do not adore and cherish this dear school. In fact, we encourage everyone to come here and have such an amazing college experience themselves! Samford is unique and a perfect environment to grow in faith and community.
But, I cannot say I am prepared for a herd of high school students to gaze at me while I’m stuffing my face in-between classes ten minutes apart. I also, somehow, end up looking my absolute worst on preview days — families are going to think my ambition is lost, and I don’t care about my appearance anymore in the midst of my academics. I promise I did not lose my spark, it is just 8 a.m.
All of this to say: come to Samford, but not for a preview day! As a student here, preview days are never enjoyable. It’s like I’m in an aquarium with a bunch of college kids and visitors are tapping on the glass — I will get scared and swim away.
