When someone asks me what my dream job is, I tell them it's to be a professional sports photographer. I've loved photography for almost my whole life, and sports photography runs in my blood. Still, when asked numerous times if I wanted to be on the field this past Saturday to shoot the game for The Observer, I turned the opportunity down in an instant. Why would I give up something that is part of my dream? For something that I feel is an even more priceless experience: my last first home game in the student section.

Football was not new to me when I came to Notre Dame. At the time I was born, my father was the ticket director for the Seattle Seahawks. When I was growing up, Sundays were dedicated to both church and football. My father would not let anything keep him from Monday Night Football. When he had to drive me to my Monday night ballet class, my father would watch the game on his portable television in the car.

Before I came to Notre Dame, I had only known football as a game. But here, football is an experience. As well as the actual sporting event, there's the addition of pep rallies, tailgating, The Shirt, and the greatest University band. But aside from the added events and traditions, there's an energy present on this campus on football weekends. I first felt it the morning of the Notre Dame-Kansas game three years ago. I had never seen this campus more alive, heard the fight song more times, or seen more kids aspiring to be future Irish players as they tossed footballs around with their dads. It is an image that will stay with me for the rest of my life. And as much as I may complain about how crazy and crowded this campus gets on football weekends, after Nov. 23, I will truly miss it. Sure, I'll be back for games in the years to come (especially Washington State and Washington), but the experience will never be the same.

So, for the last first time, I joined the "Sea of Green" on Saturday, this time in my coveted spot in the sometimes shaded senior section. It was crowded, horribly hot, loud, and I was surrounded by a few people who had tailgated too enthusiastically. I loved every minute of it. Next week, I will again trade my ticket for a press pass and a camera. But the excitement of the first home game is too much for me to miss — especially when it's my last.

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