“Chivalry is dead.”
“There aren’t any real men left in this world.”
“I don’t need a man.”
Simply words. Words by people who are looking, but maybe not seeing what is actually around them. I don’t believe chivalry is dead, although sometimes it may be hard to see.
What does it mean to be a man? As a man who do I hope to become and what do I hope to do? I’ve compiled a few things, my opinion, on the measure of a man.
A man is gentle, daring, aggressive, loving and potent.
A man is good at his work.
A man stands in front of those he loves.
A man knows how to love and knows how to be respectful in a group of people.
A man is there for his friends and his family when they need him, but mostly when they don’t.
A man is true to his word.
A man understands himself, his values, his goals, and his aspirations.
I am a man. And as a man, …
I vow to open the door for every lady in my vicinity.
I vow to remove my hat when speaking with a lady.
I vow to give up my seat for a lady in my presence, on a bus or in public space.
I vow to respect my elders.
I vow to love, and love with all I can.
I vow to give my life for the things that I love: my God, my country, my family, my friends, and my alma mater.
I vow to be the best man that I can be.
Chivalry may be dying, but it isn’t going to be because of me.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
It's All Happening
What a wonderful day it has been. I came to campus a little earlier than planned in order to do one last Ags of OAK shift. I joined OAK this semester because it was something I always wanted to do. Our purpose is just to do nice things or Open Acts of Kindness around campus. We do things from hand out candy, to open doors, to give high fives and say “howdy” around campus. I’ve had an awesome time being a part of this group and was sad to have my last shift time this morning. We decided to go to every floor of the libraries on central campus and hand out candy (Smarties) to the people studying.
Near the end of the shift, my OAK partner, Rachel asked an Asian woman if she would like some candy. The lady looked at her, paused for a few seconds, and asked, “But, why?” Rachel laughed and simply told her we were handing out free candy for no reason. Then the lady responded with “Why do you do such good things?” I laughed this time too, waiting for Rachel’s response. I honestly don’t even remember how she responded, but she could have said one of many things: because it’s the mission of our organization, because we like doing nice things, or because this is Texas A&M. It’s awesome how such a simple concept can brighten so many people’s day. While I was handing out candy a girl asked me, “Hey, aren’t y’all the nice people?” I responded, “Why yes, yes we are.” Whoop for Ags of OAK.
After my shift I went to the Marketing and Communications Graduating Senior Luncheon. It’s all happening so quickly: goodbyes, pictures, hugs, and tokens of appreciation. I don’t want it to happen, but at this point there is nothing I can do to stop it. In the words of Dalton, quoted from ‘Almost Famous’, “It’s all happening.”
Near the end of the shift, my OAK partner, Rachel asked an Asian woman if she would like some candy. The lady looked at her, paused for a few seconds, and asked, “But, why?” Rachel laughed and simply told her we were handing out free candy for no reason. Then the lady responded with “Why do you do such good things?” I laughed this time too, waiting for Rachel’s response. I honestly don’t even remember how she responded, but she could have said one of many things: because it’s the mission of our organization, because we like doing nice things, or because this is Texas A&M. It’s awesome how such a simple concept can brighten so many people’s day. While I was handing out candy a girl asked me, “Hey, aren’t y’all the nice people?” I responded, “Why yes, yes we are.” Whoop for Ags of OAK.
After my shift I went to the Marketing and Communications Graduating Senior Luncheon. It’s all happening so quickly: goodbyes, pictures, hugs, and tokens of appreciation. I don’t want it to happen, but at this point there is nothing I can do to stop it. In the words of Dalton, quoted from ‘Almost Famous’, “It’s all happening.”
Monday, December 7, 2009
I Can't Get Over It
Today I overheard someone complaining about President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Seriously? That happened several months ago. Get over it. On October 16th he visited campus to talk about community service. I was out of town, so I didn’t get to see the craziness that was Texas A&M on this day. I returned from San Diego and read some news articles about the event and was very proud of the Aggies – no negativity (that I could find) in the media. Whoop! Despite this, it didn’t stop a thousand or so protestors from coming to campus and making a big ruckus over something that was completely irrelevant to President Obama’s visit to campus. Again, get over it.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize, and they are not going to take it back. He’s the President and Commander in Chief, whether you like it or not. Closed-minded people and ignorance really bother me. Just like people who chew with their mouth open or don’t wash their hands. I have a lot of pet peeves, and a lot of things that really bother me. Does this make me a negative person, or just someone who is very, very easily irritated? (That is an intentional leading question, hoping for the latter) I started thinking to myself of all the things that bother me and things that even I can’t get over.
Off the top of my head, some of my pet peeves: misspelling the word ‘definitely’; smacking noises; anything that deals with bodily fluids; use of the ‘n’ word; blatant disrespect; being loud in public to draw attention to yourself; girls that act like a stereotypical ‘dumb blonde’ for attention; typing in all caps; the same question being asked a million times (ex: is the MSC closed?); when people are disrespectful to their parents in front of other people; when people don’t clean up after themselves; oh, and the list goes on….
And despite me complaining about others who can’t seem to move on, there are some things that I can’t get over myself:
1. High school class rankings – this is such a long and depressing story that I am going to make an attempt to condense. Background: in eighth grade I made the decision that I was going to be the Valedictorian of my graduating class. I told all my teachers that as well as my friends. At the end of sophomore year when we received class rankings for the very first time, I was ranked number one. At the end of junior year when we received ranks again, I was still number one. End of the fall semester senior year, I had dropped to number two. When junior year had ended I had to make a decision: take band or AP Calculus. Competing for the top spot, the question seems like an obvious one, but I chose band. This was going to hurt my ranking simply because Calculus was weighted more than band. My plan to stay on top? I would take dual credit classes after school at the local community college, with the understanding that they would be dual credit. I got this approved through my counselor and went about senior year feeling on top of the world. Spring semester, senior year rolls around, and here I am trying to finalize all my college credits on my high school transcript. Problem: my high school had never had anyone take dual credit classes that were not offered through the high school, therefore had no rules on the weight of each class or even how to transfer them. They would have to make new rules, vote on them, and start them the following school year. Here I am, a few weeks from graduation, my Salutatorian speech in mind, and I find out that I am ranked third in my graduating class. I remember leaving the principal’s office, going to the bathroom and crying. I felt like my entire high school career, my extra work, the lack of social life outside of school, was completely wasted. I balled and balled and to this day I can’t get over the fact that I did not give a speech at graduation. It seems petty. No one will ever remember or even care who was what rank, but when you work that hard and that long for something, it’s hard to just let it go. Almost five years later, I haven’t.
2. The trouble with A&M – the details to this story are in a previous blog so I won’t repeat them. Despite the trouble I got in to, and how bad the department of Student Affairs has tried to make me look and sound I cannot look myself in the mirror and feel like I did something wrong. They want me to learn something from these incidents that happened while I was in the Corps, and I cannot legitimately say that I have learned anything or that I would have done something different. I can’t get over it because the fact is that on paper I am still currently in “Bad Standing” with A&M for conduct. If you care enough to read this blog, then you have an idea of how much I love this school and how much that bothers me. I think I’ll get over this one day, but I will always hold strong animosity against the Department of Student Affairs at A&M.
3. Narrow minded best friends – when I tell people I left my home county as a Hispanic Conservative and A&M turned me into a Liberal they are shocked. A&M really is not as conservative as people think, but that fact aside some of my very best friends are very conservative to the point of ignorance and it bothers me a lot. The part that is even harder to admit is that it is something I will never talk to them about because of how close I am with them. Yes, they are entitled to their opinion, but I know that if I had not had the experiences I have had here, there is no way they would even be my friends. Why does this standard change and why can’t I stand up for what I truly believe in, including myself? This is one of my weaknesses and hard to admit in writing that I don’t share beliefs with some of my very best friends, but for that reason I will never be able to get over it.
4. Taboo – several blogs have talked about “Taboo.” Taboo was that person who defined what it means to be crazy for someone, and who I fell hard for. Unfortunately they did not feel the same way and ended up cheating on me. Those of you who have been cheated on can relate. I have never felt this close with anyone, and over two years later, I still can’t get over it. If the chance presented itself to start over, despite that I say that I “don’t give second chances,” I would probably give them a second chance. I’m weak.
This blog closely aligns to the mood I am in. I am irritated. Things are supposed to be falling into place right now, but as the days pass by I am more and more unsure of what it is I want to do come January. I am also feeling sad. It’s hard to leave here and it’s hard to look back at all these things and take a step forward with full confidence that everything is going to be okay. I’m nervous, but excited. I’ve made the most out of my time here, but I feel like I will wish I would have spent more time with my friends, or with my organizations, or at work. I guess I’ll just have to get over it. Soon it’ll be time to move on.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize, and they are not going to take it back. He’s the President and Commander in Chief, whether you like it or not. Closed-minded people and ignorance really bother me. Just like people who chew with their mouth open or don’t wash their hands. I have a lot of pet peeves, and a lot of things that really bother me. Does this make me a negative person, or just someone who is very, very easily irritated? (That is an intentional leading question, hoping for the latter) I started thinking to myself of all the things that bother me and things that even I can’t get over.
Off the top of my head, some of my pet peeves: misspelling the word ‘definitely’; smacking noises; anything that deals with bodily fluids; use of the ‘n’ word; blatant disrespect; being loud in public to draw attention to yourself; girls that act like a stereotypical ‘dumb blonde’ for attention; typing in all caps; the same question being asked a million times (ex: is the MSC closed?); when people are disrespectful to their parents in front of other people; when people don’t clean up after themselves; oh, and the list goes on….
And despite me complaining about others who can’t seem to move on, there are some things that I can’t get over myself:
1. High school class rankings – this is such a long and depressing story that I am going to make an attempt to condense. Background: in eighth grade I made the decision that I was going to be the Valedictorian of my graduating class. I told all my teachers that as well as my friends. At the end of sophomore year when we received class rankings for the very first time, I was ranked number one. At the end of junior year when we received ranks again, I was still number one. End of the fall semester senior year, I had dropped to number two. When junior year had ended I had to make a decision: take band or AP Calculus. Competing for the top spot, the question seems like an obvious one, but I chose band. This was going to hurt my ranking simply because Calculus was weighted more than band. My plan to stay on top? I would take dual credit classes after school at the local community college, with the understanding that they would be dual credit. I got this approved through my counselor and went about senior year feeling on top of the world. Spring semester, senior year rolls around, and here I am trying to finalize all my college credits on my high school transcript. Problem: my high school had never had anyone take dual credit classes that were not offered through the high school, therefore had no rules on the weight of each class or even how to transfer them. They would have to make new rules, vote on them, and start them the following school year. Here I am, a few weeks from graduation, my Salutatorian speech in mind, and I find out that I am ranked third in my graduating class. I remember leaving the principal’s office, going to the bathroom and crying. I felt like my entire high school career, my extra work, the lack of social life outside of school, was completely wasted. I balled and balled and to this day I can’t get over the fact that I did not give a speech at graduation. It seems petty. No one will ever remember or even care who was what rank, but when you work that hard and that long for something, it’s hard to just let it go. Almost five years later, I haven’t.
2. The trouble with A&M – the details to this story are in a previous blog so I won’t repeat them. Despite the trouble I got in to, and how bad the department of Student Affairs has tried to make me look and sound I cannot look myself in the mirror and feel like I did something wrong. They want me to learn something from these incidents that happened while I was in the Corps, and I cannot legitimately say that I have learned anything or that I would have done something different. I can’t get over it because the fact is that on paper I am still currently in “Bad Standing” with A&M for conduct. If you care enough to read this blog, then you have an idea of how much I love this school and how much that bothers me. I think I’ll get over this one day, but I will always hold strong animosity against the Department of Student Affairs at A&M.
3. Narrow minded best friends – when I tell people I left my home county as a Hispanic Conservative and A&M turned me into a Liberal they are shocked. A&M really is not as conservative as people think, but that fact aside some of my very best friends are very conservative to the point of ignorance and it bothers me a lot. The part that is even harder to admit is that it is something I will never talk to them about because of how close I am with them. Yes, they are entitled to their opinion, but I know that if I had not had the experiences I have had here, there is no way they would even be my friends. Why does this standard change and why can’t I stand up for what I truly believe in, including myself? This is one of my weaknesses and hard to admit in writing that I don’t share beliefs with some of my very best friends, but for that reason I will never be able to get over it.
4. Taboo – several blogs have talked about “Taboo.” Taboo was that person who defined what it means to be crazy for someone, and who I fell hard for. Unfortunately they did not feel the same way and ended up cheating on me. Those of you who have been cheated on can relate. I have never felt this close with anyone, and over two years later, I still can’t get over it. If the chance presented itself to start over, despite that I say that I “don’t give second chances,” I would probably give them a second chance. I’m weak.
This blog closely aligns to the mood I am in. I am irritated. Things are supposed to be falling into place right now, but as the days pass by I am more and more unsure of what it is I want to do come January. I am also feeling sad. It’s hard to leave here and it’s hard to look back at all these things and take a step forward with full confidence that everything is going to be okay. I’m nervous, but excited. I’ve made the most out of my time here, but I feel like I will wish I would have spent more time with my friends, or with my organizations, or at work. I guess I’ll just have to get over it. Soon it’ll be time to move on.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Within the Realms of the Plaza
It’s about 4:30 in the afternoon on the second day of November 2009. I’m sitting here in Academic Plaza, looking around, and as usual, reflecting. I’m sitting under one of the oak trees on a bench. According to my phone it is 76 degrees outside, a very light breeze, with not a cloud in the sky. If I could define my adopted catch phrase “what a beautiful Aggie day,” I think today would be it. Some of the trees have begun to slightly change in color, as a Texas autumn sets it. The Century Oak stands majestically with its branches draping over the ‘forbidden’ sidewalk and bench. There are probably a total of ten students on the Plaza. Two fish walk nervously from the left corner of the Academic Building in front of the Sul Ross Statue. There’s a girl studying; a young couple laughing; and a guy lying on the bench from across the plaza. I sit here and type away. I left work early, and decided to come here before my Tuesday dinner tradition with my good friend Angie. Today is a very special day at Texas A&M: tonight we will have Silver Taps.
The tradition of Silver Taps is held on the first Tuesday of every month at 10:30 pm. It is a memorial-like event in which we honor a student or students who passed away in the previous month. Tonight we will honor Robert Davis Briggs, Aggie class of 2013. At 10:30, this Plaza will be filled with thousands of students, most of who never had the opportunity to meet Robert, but who will be there standing as members of his Aggie family. There will be a 21-gun salute and a song called “Silver Taps” played on the trumpet from the top of the Academic Building. Besides that, it is a time of reflection, prayer, and thought. There will be no speeches and no candles. Simply camaraderie and unity, as we share this unique experience together. Unique would be the best way to describe it, as no other school does anything like this. With a school of 49,000, I am constantly amazed at the community that exists here. Silver Taps is an example of that.
To my friends at Baylor, Texas, Oklahoma, and so on, you will never understand. You will earn a degree from a respectable school and you will give money back to your alma mater because of your memories and experiences. If you make enough money, maybe your school will honor you in some way. Maybe. That’s usually how it works, isn’t it? I was lucky enough to choose Texas A&M; a school where I can be myself, honor those around me, serve the greater good, and be successful, all in a day. I chose A&M, a school that will honor me not because I held a leadership position or because I made stellar grades, but simply because I walked the realms of Aggieland as a student. I will be honored because I am an Aggie, and it will be a legacy that will stay with me, literally for the rest of my life.
Be jealous, because it is something you can only experience once. You can have your great football team and expensive tuition. But thank God I’m an Aggie.
The tradition of Silver Taps is held on the first Tuesday of every month at 10:30 pm. It is a memorial-like event in which we honor a student or students who passed away in the previous month. Tonight we will honor Robert Davis Briggs, Aggie class of 2013. At 10:30, this Plaza will be filled with thousands of students, most of who never had the opportunity to meet Robert, but who will be there standing as members of his Aggie family. There will be a 21-gun salute and a song called “Silver Taps” played on the trumpet from the top of the Academic Building. Besides that, it is a time of reflection, prayer, and thought. There will be no speeches and no candles. Simply camaraderie and unity, as we share this unique experience together. Unique would be the best way to describe it, as no other school does anything like this. With a school of 49,000, I am constantly amazed at the community that exists here. Silver Taps is an example of that.
To my friends at Baylor, Texas, Oklahoma, and so on, you will never understand. You will earn a degree from a respectable school and you will give money back to your alma mater because of your memories and experiences. If you make enough money, maybe your school will honor you in some way. Maybe. That’s usually how it works, isn’t it? I was lucky enough to choose Texas A&M; a school where I can be myself, honor those around me, serve the greater good, and be successful, all in a day. I chose A&M, a school that will honor me not because I held a leadership position or because I made stellar grades, but simply because I walked the realms of Aggieland as a student. I will be honored because I am an Aggie, and it will be a legacy that will stay with me, literally for the rest of my life.
Be jealous, because it is something you can only experience once. You can have your great football team and expensive tuition. But thank God I’m an Aggie.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Those Lesbians....
It’s been a hectic day. I woke up, wrote a paper, went to campus, turned it in, got a haircut, swam 800 meters at the Rec, and now I’m in Phoenix. Whoa. My little brother will graduate from Marine Corps Boot Camp on Friday, and I couldn’t be prouder. I am so happy about the man that he has become and I am stoked about seeing him tomorrow. I’ll be in San Diego later tonight, and honestly, I am ready to hit the sack.
I had a really interesting conversation with a girl on the bus today when I was on my way home. I feel like it’s worth mentioning and reflecting about because so many people have a perception on Texas A&M and College Station, Texas. My experience in one sentence: I left high school voting Republican and considering myself conservative, and four years later I would say I am very liberal. Outsiders will tell you that that’s what happens when you go to college, but Texas A&M? Who would have thought?
Anyway, about this girl. She sat across from me on the bus. I didn’t get her name, but she had glasses, long black hair, tan skin, and informed me that it was her first year at A&M.
Assumption 1: she is Hispanic.
She had a rainbow umbrella, rainbow shoelaces, and a rainbow button on her backpack. I looked at her and smiled. I asked her if she was an activist. She was astonished that I was talking to her.
Assumption 2: She has never talked to a Corps guy before
Assumption 3: She is generally shy when meeting new people.
She replied that she wasn’t an activist but was proud of who she was. I smiled and said that I thought that was great. I asked her if she had watched President Obama’s speech at the Human Rights Campaign opening gala. She said that she didn’t own a TV, so she had not watched it. I talked a little about it and gave my opinion. The speech was great. It’s a step in the right direction for Human Rights activists, even though I feel like it’s taken a long time to get rid of, what I feel is, a primitive policy. She asked me why I thought people were so against this aspect equality, and my response was that people have a religious base for most of their arguments. She laughed and informed me she was Agnostic. I told her everyone is entitled to their own opinion and in my opinion, the important thing about life is to believe in something, whether it is a higher being, in yourself, in something that motivates you, etc. She looked at me and informed me she doesn’t believe in anything not even herself. I was immediately saddened to hear this. I questioned her more about herself, about why she came to A&M, about her major, and other things. I told her a little bit about myself, the Corps, and what I was doing for the rest of the semester. Then she asked me, “Are you a straight ally?” I thought about it and told her “no.” Then I said, “I’m in the same boat you are.” She smiled and lifted her fist for me to pound. I laughed and looked at the girl sitting a few seats next to us. She knew what we were talking about, and for the first time in my life I did not care. At this point, is it something I want to continue to hide from everyone? My best friends know, and to me, that is what matters.
Like Dr. Seuss said: “Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
I feel like I have experienced some personal growth today and it makes me happy. To the girl on the bus, I enjoyed our conversation and I am glad that you can be yourself. You’ve inspired me to be more comfortable with the person that God made me.
I had a really interesting conversation with a girl on the bus today when I was on my way home. I feel like it’s worth mentioning and reflecting about because so many people have a perception on Texas A&M and College Station, Texas. My experience in one sentence: I left high school voting Republican and considering myself conservative, and four years later I would say I am very liberal. Outsiders will tell you that that’s what happens when you go to college, but Texas A&M? Who would have thought?
Anyway, about this girl. She sat across from me on the bus. I didn’t get her name, but she had glasses, long black hair, tan skin, and informed me that it was her first year at A&M.
Assumption 1: she is Hispanic.
She had a rainbow umbrella, rainbow shoelaces, and a rainbow button on her backpack. I looked at her and smiled. I asked her if she was an activist. She was astonished that I was talking to her.
Assumption 2: She has never talked to a Corps guy before
Assumption 3: She is generally shy when meeting new people.
She replied that she wasn’t an activist but was proud of who she was. I smiled and said that I thought that was great. I asked her if she had watched President Obama’s speech at the Human Rights Campaign opening gala. She said that she didn’t own a TV, so she had not watched it. I talked a little about it and gave my opinion. The speech was great. It’s a step in the right direction for Human Rights activists, even though I feel like it’s taken a long time to get rid of, what I feel is, a primitive policy. She asked me why I thought people were so against this aspect equality, and my response was that people have a religious base for most of their arguments. She laughed and informed me she was Agnostic. I told her everyone is entitled to their own opinion and in my opinion, the important thing about life is to believe in something, whether it is a higher being, in yourself, in something that motivates you, etc. She looked at me and informed me she doesn’t believe in anything not even herself. I was immediately saddened to hear this. I questioned her more about herself, about why she came to A&M, about her major, and other things. I told her a little bit about myself, the Corps, and what I was doing for the rest of the semester. Then she asked me, “Are you a straight ally?” I thought about it and told her “no.” Then I said, “I’m in the same boat you are.” She smiled and lifted her fist for me to pound. I laughed and looked at the girl sitting a few seats next to us. She knew what we were talking about, and for the first time in my life I did not care. At this point, is it something I want to continue to hide from everyone? My best friends know, and to me, that is what matters.
Like Dr. Seuss said: “Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
I feel like I have experienced some personal growth today and it makes me happy. To the girl on the bus, I enjoyed our conversation and I am glad that you can be yourself. You’ve inspired me to be more comfortable with the person that God made me.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Optimism Blog
Over the past few months I have had my share of bad luck. Deaths, trouble, moments of depression, and just this past weekend someone steals my phone and wallet. Why me? Did I do something wrong? I’ve thought about it a lot and it is something that sincerely bothers me. Last night I spent a few hours on the phone with someone really special to me, hearing some things that I didn’t necessarily want to hear. A realist verses an optimist. It’s inevitable that there would be a clash of opinions, but the conversation made me realize again – I’m an optimist, and I’ve always known that. I’m taking a few steps back and reevaluating what I am doing and why I am doing it. I’m happy and I’m blessed. Sometimes it just takes a few negative encounters to reinforce that.
I am graduating in December. It’s crazy and I am working on my last nine hours this semester. Not a day goes by when I am not thankful that I’m an Aggie. Talking about it on a daily basis helps, which is why I love my job. No one who is not an Aggie will ever understand it. When I woke up this morning I walked into the kitchen to find one of my roommates sitting on the couch. He looked at me and said “It’s going to be a great day.” I laughed about it, as he talked about how that was something he told himself every day this summer while he was out of state for an internship. I left home with that attitude. As I was walking to class I was looking down in a world of my own. A girl out of the corner of my eye waves at me and says “Howdy.” I looked at her and she said it again. I didn’t know her. She looked back at me and said, “I was just saying howdy. I hope you have a great day.” I smiled; my day would be better because of her, and she will never know it. It gives me chills and sometimes tears to my eyes to talk about my Aggie experience. I don’t even understand it sometimes, and I admit to taking it for granted. I have given a huge part of my last four years to A&M, and despite hard times and some trouble I’ve gotten myself into I am very thankful for this experience. I will be led in the right direction. I will continue to make great memories. I will forever remember all of these things through the piece of gold wrapped around my finger. My best friends are all around me, and three of them live with me. Graduation can take it’s time, because I am in no hurry to get out here.
Optimism, optimism, optimism. It’s going to be a great day, and I’ll rejoice, rejoice, rejoice.
“There is nothing that will make you happier than simply being content in the moment you’re in. Enjoy the long wait, learn from the stress, love your enemy, and rejoice in the present. Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice; life is worth it.” -Me
I am graduating in December. It’s crazy and I am working on my last nine hours this semester. Not a day goes by when I am not thankful that I’m an Aggie. Talking about it on a daily basis helps, which is why I love my job. No one who is not an Aggie will ever understand it. When I woke up this morning I walked into the kitchen to find one of my roommates sitting on the couch. He looked at me and said “It’s going to be a great day.” I laughed about it, as he talked about how that was something he told himself every day this summer while he was out of state for an internship. I left home with that attitude. As I was walking to class I was looking down in a world of my own. A girl out of the corner of my eye waves at me and says “Howdy.” I looked at her and she said it again. I didn’t know her. She looked back at me and said, “I was just saying howdy. I hope you have a great day.” I smiled; my day would be better because of her, and she will never know it. It gives me chills and sometimes tears to my eyes to talk about my Aggie experience. I don’t even understand it sometimes, and I admit to taking it for granted. I have given a huge part of my last four years to A&M, and despite hard times and some trouble I’ve gotten myself into I am very thankful for this experience. I will be led in the right direction. I will continue to make great memories. I will forever remember all of these things through the piece of gold wrapped around my finger. My best friends are all around me, and three of them live with me. Graduation can take it’s time, because I am in no hurry to get out here.
Optimism, optimism, optimism. It’s going to be a great day, and I’ll rejoice, rejoice, rejoice.
“There is nothing that will make you happier than simply being content in the moment you’re in. Enjoy the long wait, learn from the stress, love your enemy, and rejoice in the present. Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice; life is worth it.” -Me
