Welcome to Baylor, Freshmen. It’s hot in the summers and hot in the winters. At best you’ve got inside of four years here. It’s crowded sometimes and the dorms aren’t the best and you should probably wear sandals in the shower—just saying.
I’ve lived in this town for 22 years and in spite of everything I love it.
It’s poor, and dirty, and in places a little scary for Baylor kids. Unfortunately that keeps people from enjoying it as much as they should.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “Theres nothing to do here”.
Well, yes, there aren’t amusement parks or a beach or tons of concerts. There isn’t a happening night life or a lot of clubs.
Waco doesn’t hand fun to you. That doesn’t mean you can’t make your own.
For the outdoorsy types there are plenty of trails to hike and bike and a great river and lake to fish and ski and boat. There are hills for longboarders and parks for skateboarders.
There are museums and a world class zoo and a lot of really great places to eat and talk and meet people.
So I don’t want to hear anyone whine about it anymore.
Also, get used to the fact that Wacoans [WA-co-ans, never pronounce it wa-CO-ans] might not like you as much as your friends at Baylor.
And who can blame them.
Most of the time all Wacoans see of Baylor kids is the groups of identically dressed girls in crush T-shirts packing out booths and chattering loudly about nothing, Or groups of soon-to-be frat brothers breaking cups and twisting up forks.
In short— Baylor kids. That’s just the way it is.
If you personally take issue with that, feel free to not act like a complete heathen when you run around my town. Feel free to not scream out the windows of your father’s escalade at people walking down Franklin. Feel free to not talk loudly about how much you hate people that live here in an establishment frequented by locals.
Feel free to let this city fill you with its odd brand of charm. Please, take advantage of everything we have to offer.
Wacoans, when you get to know us, are some of the kindest and most giving people on the face of the Earth and you will reap the benefits if you don’t act like a typical Baylor kid.
And for the love of God, only do Sic ‘ems at Baylor games.
Rob Bradfield is a senior journalism major from Waco and Editor-In-Chief of the Baylor Lariat
