Here’s a reminder to slow down and celebrate yourself. Celebrate the mornings you have woken up and made it to that 8 a.m. class. Celebrate the moments you decided to keep studying instead of hanging out with your friends on a random Saturday. Celebrate being present, being persistent and being proud of how far you’ve come — even if you’re still figuring out what’s next.

Life is a beautiful tragedy. When we slough off the blanketing anxiety of our age, trusting God’s provision in the midst of uncertainty, tomorrow begins to feel a lot more inviting.

I believe transparency is vital to any news outlet, and I would like to address the response to The Lariat’s poll on Dave Aranda. Additionally, explain the posting of our social media community guidelines following the response to a separate story. I stand behind and support all the decisions my staff has made over the past few weeks and want to relay that to our audience clearly.

It’s easy to chase the polished cities and careers. But leaving Waco means leaving behind the porch light conversations, the neighbors who know your name and the kind of realness you don’t find everywhere. In a world that rewards hustle, this town reminded me what it means to be grounded.

Representing other cultures does not negate your own Christianity, the same way being a student at Baylor does not automatically make you a Baptist. As students, we represent Baylor as a Christian university as much as you, and we reflect God’s love by showing the same compassion and care to our fellow students.

In the desert, there was no air conditioner humming, no cars passing or machinery whirring. There were no signs of humanity; I was extremely uncomfortable, and that’s exactly why I think everyone should experience camping.