Written by Jordan Porter ’17, Admission Counselor

Any Alabama resident will likely tell you that homecoming in the South means three things: barbeque, mac and cheese, and definitely good friends.

When I was growing up, I didn’t experience homecoming in that sense. I was raised in the South, but I don’t come from a family that hosts large reunions, I’m not a member of a church that calls members home, and I’m not the type of person to excitedly attend an organized sporting event just because a couple people who graduated some years before me said they would be there. Homecoming for me was dressing out in a cheer uniform, smiling through the game, then dressing up in heels and smiling through the school’s dance. That’s it.

So you can imagine how bewildered I was in college when I realized Birmingham-Southern’s Homecoming was a week-long call to action. Throughout the week, you participate in a competition among campus organizations, decorate fraternity row to the designated theme, and register your family for catered barbeque. Then, on the weekend, you attend the open house, the party on the lawn, the tailgate, the football game, the volleyball match, the swim meet. I could go on, but I’m sure you get my point.

There’s obviously a lot that makes up Homecoming on the Hilltop, but it took me this long to realize that it’s not a physical thing — it’s an emotional state. As cliché as it sounds, BSC made us into the people we are today. It forced friendships out of orientation icebreakers, it initiated connections among faculty and staff, and it ushered us into active involvement in our local and global communities. Sure, there’s an argument to be made that not everyone had the same collegiate experiences, and not everyone walks away from college feeling that same sense of pride. But even the four years of tuition account for something. We all paid money to be a part of this community. And who wouldn’t want to come home to see their family?

Homecoming on the Hilltop is designed to celebrate those facts of life. For one weekend a year, we return to our roots and to the institution that made us who we are. We rekindle old friendships, and we spark new ones. We reflect on the past, but we engage with the future. And we get to do it over barbeque, mac and cheese, and a football game. October 18 and 19, can you hurry?

The Panthers will take on Berry College at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 19, at Krulak Stadium. See the full Homecoming schedule and register for events here.

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Jordan Porter ’17 is from Selma, AL. As a BSC student, she majored in business administration, minored in English literature, and received a distinction in leadership studies. Her favorite spot on campus (the one that convinced her to attend BSC) is the overlook point between Bruno and Pierce Hall where you get a glimpse of the large campus and the Birmingham city lights. You can find her in the admission office or email her at [email protected].