All school rivalries aside...

In a college football game for the history books, some came to cheer for their undefeated Eagles, others came to share an unforgettable experience with friends. As for me, I came to South Bend, Ind., for those things and more.

I have unusual ties to Notre Dame - my twin sister, Dianna, is a senior there. I was fortunate enough to attend two Boston College games in South Bend, the first during my freshman year and the second this past weekend. As I sat in the stands on Saturday, I could not help but remember how I felt as a freshman in the same surroundings. I realized just how much of my heart actually lived on this campus in South Bend, and how much I owe to the university that I never attended.

Dianna and I have kept in very close contact throughout these four years and have matured together into adulthood at these distinct, but still very similar, universities. I learned of her daily routines and what made life at Notre Dame different from life at BC. We had different experiences, different friends, and a chance to shine as true individuals for the first time in our lives.

I grew to appreciate Notre Dame more than I ever thought I would. I hear updates about the standings of interdormitory football leagues, I know how delicious the candlelit dinners are at South Dining Hall, I know not to walk up the front stairs of the main building out of fear of not graduating, and I know that the parties at Turtle Creek are mayhem.

So, as my roommates Lauren, Marina, Melanie, our friend Joe, and I departed for South Bend on Friday, I knew that we were not embarking on an ordinary road trip. Indeed, it was a chance to get away from campus and cheer for the school I love. It was an adventure with my friends that has allowed me to appreciate what life at BC has meant for me. It was also a chance, however, for me to reconnect with my best friend and the university that has shaped her life as well as mine.

The trip to Indiana was as awesome as I imagined it would be. We told life stories; tailgated with friends; cheered for the victorious Eagles; laughed at Lauren's inability to do math; saw a buffalo, a jack-o-lantern, and a duck boat; set off the car alarm at a rest stop at 3 a.m.; and fell asleep while Melanie rocked out to Christmas CDs.

Even though we drove 27 hours in two days and spent only 23 hours in South Bend, we made memories that will last a lifetime. It was amazing to reunite with my family and spend time with the friends who have shaped my experience at BC. As a senior, I treasure the opportunity to cheer for the Eagles at a road game against a rival like Notre Dame. But most of all, the weekend helped me to realize just how long, difficult, yet joyous my journey in college has been, and how much my experiences have molded me into the person I am today.

Sitting in Notre Dame Stadium as freshmen, Dianna and I talked about how far away senior year was - the next time our teams would meet again in football. I tried to imagine what kind of people we would be after three years at BC and Notre Dame, and what we would have experienced. Sitting in Notre Dame Stadium as seniors, I realized that the people and places that have defined this chapter of my life were all in this one place - my family, my friends, BC, and Notre Dame - and I realized how fast time has passed, but how grateful I am for all I have learned and accomplished. As Dianna developed at Notre Dame, I grew at BC, and her experience has become so intertwined with mine that they are no longer separable.

Call me a traitor if you want to, but while sitting in Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, I truly appreciated that while they may be our biggest rivals, a special place in my heart belongs to the Fighting Irish.