I remember the first time I drove down 19thstreet and saw all the huge, beautiful houses. I was a sophomore in college, going to a small rodeo school in north Texas, and the combination of the west Texas landscape and the beautiful architecture of Texas Tech captured my heart the moment I set foot on campus. Well, I’m almost positive that’s what it was that made me fall in love with Texas Tech. It also helped that I was madly in love with my college sweetheart. I think the combination of the cool winter air and the rose-colored glasses I wore made me fall in love with Lubbock more.
As I made my way back to my small, sleepy, old town with my horses in tow behind my big girl truck, I watched the landscape change from flat and dusty to green and hilly. I know what you’re probably thinking- how can you give up the beauty of the hill country for the desolate plains of west Texas? And let me tell you, I have no clue what it was. Maybe it was the combination of west Texas tradition or the love this town has for its football team, or maybe it was the rich music I heard coming out of blue light every night. It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly when I fell in love with this city, but this south Texas girl fell hard and fast.
So, I packed up my ponies, my puppy, and my personal belongings and made the long trip up to the land of beautiful sunsets and bipolar weather.
I walked into the student union building giddy with excitement, which sounds weird when I explain that I was excited about new student orientation. I walked into the ballroom and swear my life had never been more vibrant. The reds were somehow redder, the smell of coffee seemed sweeter, everyone was so happy that I had chosen to become a Red Raider that it made me smile even wider than before. But the best was yet to come.
The Jones stadium looks big from the outside but walking into the stadium for my first football game as a Red Raider, I swear it was bigger than the entire moon. There was so much energy in the stadium I could feel it through the cold metal bench. I don’t think I had been happier or more excited to be a part of a community.
As I sit here and write about the first time I fell in love with this dusty old town, I should probably tell you about the day I fell out of love. I remember the air was cold, but not the warm inviting cold that I felt the first time I moved here. This cold was different, it was harsh and chilled me down to the bone. It was almost like the wind was telling me Lubbock was ready for me to leave. As I walked to my car with tears in my eyes from the cold wind, I looked up to catch a glimpse of the sunset. This beautiful west Texas sunset that always felt warm and inviting seemed to change. It was as if the sunset went from vibrant shades of reds to cool shades of blue. It was like the sunset that used to tell me, “Tomorrow is a new day, to learn new things, to learn new ways to be as beautiful as me,” had now turned into “It’s time for you to leave, I have nothing left for you.” I don’t know if the distance from home had finally gotten to me, or if my college sweetheart breaking my heart had changed my view of Lubbock, but something changed the energy of this town.
But don’t let this be a warning for you. This wind in this town might have knocked me down a few times, but without Lubbock, I wouldn’t have learned how truly amazing life is. So, before I scare you off, let me tell you about all of the lessons this town has taught me.
- Get a job. I know this sounds weird and overwhelming, but let me tell you, having someplace where you are needed gives you a sense of purpose. You will meet so many amazing people that you won’t know how you ever lived without them.
- Get a great group of friends. Your friends will be the biggest blessing that has ever graced your presence. Y’all are just as lost and confused as each other that having someone to lean on as you learn who you are making this awkward growing pain bearable. It’s nice to have people on your side when you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, and it’s even better to have a great group of friends who will cheer you on as you conquer this crazy thing called life.
- Call your momma. I know this one might be hard for some people, but call your momma. She’s been there more than you could understand. She knows what it’s like when you fail your first midterm in biology. She knows what it feels like when a girl you thought was your friend talked about you behind your back. She knows what it feels like when you finally land your dream internship and are one step closer to achieving your goals. She will be there to dry every tear and share every laugh, so please, call your mom.
- Get to know your professors. They know how hard college is, and despite what might be written on RateMyProfessor.com, they’re actually pretty understanding and cool people. Our teachers want us to be as successful as possible and they only want to share knowledge with us. Trust me on this one, you’ll be glad you took the time.
- Call your dad. I know he seems big and scary and you think he only wants to yell at you, but he loves you more than life itself. Call him when you need to know how to change a tire. Call him when you’re feeling sad. Call him when you just need a friend to talk to. I know it seems like he might not understand where you’re coming from, but he’s been right where you are and he knows how scared you are, so just talk to him.
- Learn how to say thank you. I can’t tell you how far a thank you will get you in life. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and the quickest, easiest way to do that is by a simple thank you. I’m convinced it’s good for the soul.
- It’s really okay to admit you’re wrong sometimes. This one takes a lot of practice and swallowing your pride, but boy will you learn SO much from knowing when you’re wrong. I know this seems like a hard lesson to learn, but you’ll thank me later for telling you that it’s okay to be wrong sometimes. It’s what makes us human.
- It’s also okay to be right. I think Elton John said it the best “Though you can see when you’re wrong, you know you can’t always see when you’re right.” So my crazy child, slow down and take some time to see when you’re right. But even when you are, be humble about it.
- Get a dog. My dog has been the biggest blessing. It’s nice to have someone who’s always so excited to see you, whether its bright and early in the morning before you’ve even brushed your teeth, or after a big test you studied your butt off for. No matter what is going on in your life, they will be there with a big smile and lots of kisses to make any situation better.
- NEVER LET THIS WEST TEXAS WIND GET THE BETTER OF YOU. I’ve had my fair share of knock-down, drag outs with the wind up here, but let me tell you, there is nothing in this world that can push you down that you won’t be able to recover from. If there is anything I’ve learned from Lubbock is that life is going to push you around, and it’s going to get so hard some days but you’re stronger than any bad day and tougher than the ground the wind might knock you down on. So listen to me and listen good, you can do this. You’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for.
I hope I haven’t scared you away from Lubbock too much. This town has a way of making you into the person you’re meant to be and I promise you won’t be the person you’re meant to be without Lubbock or Texas Tech. So breath in that dusty air and soak in the sun from the beautiful sunset because there is no better experience in this world than the experience of being a Red Raider. WRECK ‘EM.
The Breakdown 