Name: Ali Straka
School: University of Missouri (also known as Mizzou)
Colors: Black and Gold
Mascot: Truman the Tiger!
Latest Campus Trend: As the Missouri weather has chilled in recent weeks, fall fashion staples have been coming out in full force, particularly skinny jeans tucked into tall leather, suede, or moccasin-style boots in brown, black, and gray hues. Personally, it's one of my favorite looks because it instantly pulls together an outfit and dresses up basic tops. Another campus trend that refuses to go away is the eternal UGG boot. I don't think anyone expected that fad to last past 2005, but maybe they're just too warm and cozy for us cold-weather Midwestern girls to give up!
Campus Vibe: Mizzou is relaxed and very eclectic; sometimes our beautiful campus feels small and intimate and other times, it has a the energy and vibe of a small city. The same can be said of the students: You'll find a mix of personalities and styles all connected by a common spirit for all things Mizzou. Columbia, our college town, has great music and art scenes, adding some cultural flavor to campus that's akin to a more metropolitan setting.
Weirdest School Tradition: Our school has seven "unofficial" traditions that every Tiger tries to complete prior to graduating and each one is a bit quirky, nearly impossible to accomplish, or illegal! These traditions include: riding the tiger statue in our Tiger Plaza, swimming in Brady fountain, kissing the 50 yard line of our football field, streaking across the Quad, yelling "I love Mizzou!" three times while standing in a spot on our campus called Speakers' Circle, exploring closed-off underground tunnels connecting various buildings to our main administrative building Jesse Hall, and finally, scaling the dome of Jesse Hall without sounding the alarm (did I mention it's several stories tall?!). I've never heard of anyone completing all seven, perhaps because few people are sure if the underground tunnels are anything more than a campus legend. And gaining access to the roof of Jesse Hall, a University landmark, is easier said than done!
Favorite College Hotspot: Lately, everyone has been going to Ingredient, a new dining addition to Columbia. It's chef-owned, features unique entrees and sandwiches made with fresh ingredients, and specializes in custom salads. It's good food with a gourmet flair. For a fun night out, I love going to the Penguin Piano Bar, a dueling piano bar situated amongst the most popular clubs right on Broadway, the main street of our downtown.
Best Thing About Being Here: The best part about college in general is the freedom. Being away from my family and on my own has really forced me to rely on myself and develop as an adult. At Mizzou, people are easygoing and there's a place for everyone to be accepted, which is a very nurturing when it comes to learning about yourself and growing as a person. Our beautiful campus and amazing college town are added bonuses as well!
How I Show My Unique Fashion Sense: To make sure I stay true to my personal style, I try to avoid slipping into a cozy slump. Most of the women at my school trek to class in Nike shorts and Mizzou t-shirts, but that's just not my style. It can be difficult to stand out in a crowd when everyone else is used to dressing down, but I feel most comfortable when I'm expressing my love for fashion by looking pulled together. I don't allow myself to get into a lazy rut of wearing hoodies and sweatpants to class. Transitioning from living outside a big city to a town in the middle of the country could easily have sucked the style right out of me, but I try to ignore what everyone else is wearing and dress the way I would if I were back home in Chicago or living in New York. There's nothing wrong with being fashion-forward, wearing new trends, or styling yourself differently than those around you. I just try to stay true to myself!
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