Close Menu
The Baylor Lariat
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    Trending
    • Students react to emergency alert following campus lockdown
    • Baylor shelter-in-place lifted following police pursuit of robbery suspects
    • Baylor graduate charged after killing cats with pellet gun, hanging bodies over utility lines
    • Baylor Football’s Alex Foster dies at 18
    • Board of Regents confirms budget, renovations, new leadership in May meeting
    • How facilities responds to storms, flooding in campus buildings
    • Welcome Week leaders now paid in hopes of increasing numbers
    • 5 Baylor sports storylines to look forward to in 2025-26
    • About us
      • Spring 2025 Staff Page
      • Copyright Information
    • Contact
      • Contact Information
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Subscribe to The Morning Buzz
      • Department of Student Media
    • Employment
    • PDF Archives
    • RSS Feeds
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    The Baylor LariatThe Baylor Lariat
    Subscribe to the Morning Buzz
    Tuesday, July 8
    • News
      • State and National News
        • State
        • National
      • Politics
        • 2025 Inauguration Page
        • Election Page
      • Homecoming Page
      • Baylor News
      • Waco Updates
      • Campus and Waco Crime
    • Arts & Life
      • Wedding Edition 2025
      • What to Do in Waco
      • Campus Culture
      • Indy and Belle
      • Sing 2025
      • Leisure and Travel
        • Leisure
        • Travel
          • Baylor in Ireland
      • Student Spotlight
      • Local Scene
        • Small Businesses
        • Social Media
      • Arts and Entertainment
        • Art
        • Fashion
        • Food
        • Literature
        • Music
        • Film and Television
    • Opinion
      • Editorials
      • Points of View
      • Lariat Letters
    • Sports
      • March Madness 2025
      • Football
      • Basketball
        • Men’s Basketball
        • Women’s Basketball
      • Soccer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
      • Equestrian
      • Cross Country and Track & Field
      • Acrobatics & Tumbling
      • Tennis
      • Golf
      • Pro Sports
      • Sports Takes
      • Club Sports
    • Lariat TV News
    • Multimedia
      • Video Features
      • Podcasts
        • Don’t Feed the Bears
      • Slideshows
    • Advertising
    The Baylor Lariat
    Home»Opinion

    Learning with LUV

    Baylor LariatBy Baylor LariatJanuary 16, 2018Updated:January 16, 2018 Opinion No Comments3 Mins Read
    "On a few flights, we got to assist flight attendants by passing out the snacks so they could better serve our customers in other ways," said Birmingham, Ala., senior Penelope Shirey, who worked as an intern for Southwest Airlines in Dallas last semester. Photo credit: Penelope Shirey
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    By Penelope Shirey | Design Editor

    Last semester I had the privilege of interning for Southwest Airlines in Dallas. Not only did this give me the incredible opportunity to learn from some of the top professionals in the communication field, but it also taught me lessons that stretched me as a person even outside the office. Living the Southwest way, I learned, does not stop when you leave the walls of headquarters. In fact, some of the my biggest opportunities for growth were not at my desk, but rather while traveling.

    Interns are eligible for unlimited free flights on Southwest, as long as there are seats available after passengers who paid for their tickets board the plane. Just like Southwest’s advertisements once said, I was “now free to move about the country.” For 14 weeks, that is exactly what I did, taking 38 flights to 16 states and living out my Southwest values as I went.

    The first part of living the Southwest way is having a warrior spirit. Remaining calm and flexible when your flight fills, possibly minutes before boarding, takes perseverance and a positive attitude. As a chronic over-planner, releasing the anxiety surrounding unknown plans became one of my biggest goals, and one that I proudly accomplished.

    Another element of Southwest living is doing everything with a servant’s heart, following the golden rule. While traveling, this meant being gracious to customer service agents at the gates, even in stressful situations. On a few flights, we got to assist flight attendants by passing out the snacks so they could better serve our customers in other ways. Peanuts or pretzels, anyone?

    One of my favorite parts about Southwest is the undeniable dedication to living with a Fun-LUVing Attitude. LUV, Southwest’s symbol on the New York Stock Exchange, is the company’s standard spelling for the concept that so permeates its culture. When I look back at the memories I made throughout my internship, it is difficult to think of an experience that does not embody this philosophy. The one I am most fond of involved driving a rented cherry red Chevrolet Camaro down the Pacific Coast Highway at 4 a.m. during a 13-hour layover in Los Angeles. We had planned the trip only hours prior to leaving, and the spontaneity of it all felt like we were truly living life to the fullest and having the most fun possible.

    The best part of the semester, however, was definitely the relationships I formed by surrounding myself with other people who all believe in living this way. My friends became more like family, growing closer more quickly than I ever thought possible. My coworkers embraced me with open arms and mentored me personally and professionally. I learned the importance of viewing every opportunity as a chance for growth, and I will forever be grateful to Southwest for showing me so much LUV.

    Penelope Shirey is a senior journalism major from Birmingham, Ala.

    Baylor Lariat
    • Website

    Keep Reading

    Don’t believe myths about autism — reduce stigma by learning facts

    I never thought I’d miss my meal plan

    Violent predator catchers do more harm than good

    Lariat Letter: My pre-medical studies have shaped me into a better man

    It’s time to write more handwritten letters

    The end of the semester is just the beginning

    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    Recent Posts
    • Students react to emergency alert following campus lockdown June 27, 2025
    • Baylor shelter-in-place lifted following police pursuit of robbery suspects June 26, 2025
    About

    The award-winning student newspaper of Baylor University since 1900.

    Articles, photos, and other works by staff of The Baylor Lariat are Copyright © Baylor® University. All rights reserved.

    Subscribe to the Morning Buzz

    Get the latest Lariat News by just Clicking Subscribe!

    Follow the Live Coverage
    Tweets by @bulariat

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    • Featured
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Arts and Life
    © 2025 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.