Heading Home

Posted on March 31, 2015 by alexa_godfrey

By Avery Jackson

It’s starting to hit me that this is my very last semester of college, of school, and of Baylor. These are also my last few weeks of “freedom” before the realities of the real world hit.

For the first time in my life I am faced with the reality that in the future, I won’t be able to go home and celebrate every holiday with my family. I’m from Indiana, and I am planning to move to Florida after I graduate and take a job at a scuba dive shop. I will also not be able to see the family of friends that have worked so hard to maintain at Baylor as often as I do now. This means I cannot just skip class to go home or get a few extra days off. I cannot just text one of my friends to come over to study and eat ice cream and just talk about life.

If college has taught me one thing, it’s that home is a luxury I need to visit as often, and for as long, as I can. It has also made clear that friends mean everything. Baylor is an amazing school in the ways it promotes family. Everything about it is family oriented and centered around your “adopted” family made up of students and faculty alike.

When you come to Baylor, come with the mindset that you will meet people that you will never want to let go of. Spend as much time with these people! Skip a class or two if it means flying or driving home early to spend time with your parents and siblings. Use this free time to make lasting memories with the people who mean the most to you.

Making the Most

Posted on January 21, 2015 by hank_dehay

By Susannah Mohrmann

Over Christmas break I was asked by all of my relatives and my parent’s friends about my future more than ever before. I was reminded that I only have three semesters left, my dad checked multiple times to make sure I was set to graduate at the four year mark, and I had multiple interviews for summer internships all over the break!

At first the thought of “I have one more Christmas break, one more fall semester and one more summer” really freaked me out. However, after my first week of my 6th semester at Baylor I have realized I will be so prepared for what is ahead! It is not that I am scared of the future, or the fact my long breaks from school are coming to a close, it is the fact that my time at Baylor is getting closer to an end. If I could even put into words how much I love Baylor I think it would look more like a dissertation instead of a blog post. I may only have three semesters left here at Baylor (well as a student), and I plan to make the most of it!

Being a Baylor Bear was the best decision I have made in my short 21 years! The community, the friends, the professors, the games, the city of Waco, the restaurants, the Dr Pepper and Common Grounds addictions that have formed, are just a few of the reasons why I love Baylor. So here’s to second semester Junior year, and here’s to you (high school student)! Come visit Baylor and understand why I love this community. #sicem

The Next Step

Posted on January 15, 2015 by hank_dehay

By Frances George, a Baylor parent

Over Thanksgiving Break, my daughter (who is a junior) and I had long talks about her future. Whereas many of her friends are clearly set on their post graduate plans, some are not quite so sure, my daughter included. As we talked, I reminded her again that my advice to my children in college (which was the advice my dear daddy gave to me) is to study what you love during these wonderful four years and what you are to do next will unfold at the proper time. She has heard that many times but “crunch time” is approaching and she was a little unsure.

On the way to the airport at the end of the break, it was just the two of us (a rare early Sunday morning departure and so it was just me driving Mary Scott to the airport rather than the whole family), we picked up our conversation about future plans and I gave her one last piece of advice: “Mary Scott, you don’t need to know today what you are supposed to do in a year and a half. The only thing the Lord asks you to do is ask Him what you are to do tomorrow on campus. May 2016 will be clear when it needs to be clear. You don’t need that clarity today. All you need is a plan for Monday morning on Baylor’s campus. Whoever needs encouraging? Seek them out, and encourage them. What task has the Lord set before you in your sorority for next week? Do it with excellence. The path of the journey will be made clear as you walk on the path for today, tomorrow and next week. You don’t need the way lit to journey’s end right now.”

And Baylor is the place where this kind of advice is given, opportunity to take root and find nourishment with exceeding excellence among its students and from its faculty. The advice of a loving mother does not end where the campus begins. The Baylor experience nourishes and encourages with the wisdom of the ages. The advice I gave my daughter is the same counsel that would be given by her house advisor, by upperclassmen, and by faculty. The very next week, Mary Scott called with new energy and excitement. She said she’d spent the week counseling many friends and that she found complete joy in engaging her peers on so many topics and grappling with so many issues.

She returned to her campus confident that she would find answers, that there would be light for the path and encouragement along the way. Perhaps she will pursue a path toward post graduate work in counseling. Who knows for sure at this point, but a little light was shed on her path and she was encouraged! This is the Baylor experience. At a school where the possibilities are endless, where the support from faculty and friends is evident, and where students are encouraged to look at all things through the prism of the eternal, the “Baylor Prism” is lovely. Baylor is academically rigorous and at the same time there is something positively unique about the atmosphere among students. They look to the future with hopeful eyes, with a vision of doing all things better than they’ve been done before. It is the way they go through college, the way they tackle papers, the way they conquer tests, and the way they encourage peers. Post graduate life is simply a continuation of what is familiar to them. So many college campuses focus on the fun- only of the four undergraduate years and never mind the future (the final playground of childhood) but at Baylor, students have a broader and deeper view in the approach to college life. They live life, everyday college life, with a purpose and a focus. Even the “fun” is done with excellence: SING, Homecoming, Recruitment. I continue to be impressed with every aspect of the Baylor experience. (Did you see the homecoming floats? I give you Exhibits A, B and C in excellence!)

Just in case you wondered…is there much fun to be had at Baylor? Trust me, there is! I see it on social media everyday among my daughter’s friends.

So do we know the next step? Not yet but I am confident that the future will unfold with outstanding clarity with options galore and the path will be well lit. The path leading from Baylor to life will be a clear path, an exciting path, and not only for my daughter, but also for every Baylor student I know. And at its end will be a life’s work that makes a difference with eternity in view. This is the Baylor difference.

Homecoming From a Parent’s Perspective

Posted on November 6, 2014 by alicroom

By Frances George, a Baylor parent

Friday arrival: Our arrival kicked off with dinner with our daughter and her best girlfriends, TWO Pigskin performances, a late night Pep Rally (10,000 plus in attendance!), the band, the cheerleaders, an enormous bonfire and pictures galore with family and friends!

Saturday: The day started with the early morning Homecoming parade, the largest collegiate parade in the nation, that rivals the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade (The floats are pulled with 18-wheeler tow trucks. They are THAT big). Then, we enjoyed coffee and spiced tea, tailgating on the Brazos in the early afternoon and a wonderfully packed walk across the bridge that led us straight to the beautiful new stadium where everyone was wearing green or gold! Following the crushing defeat of the Kansas Jayhawks, we attended the final performance of Pigskin Review!

Sunday: After a mid-morning brunch (it was a very late night, and we decided God would forgive our lapse in attending church – which is always a highlight of our visits), I gave a few words of motherly advice, hugs and kisses to my beloved daughter. Then, we returned to the airport to fly home.

During this hectic weekend, some thoughts cross my mind: When do they sleep? When do they eat? And study? And wash clothes? Then I remembered, it’s college. They are young. They eat on the run, they study late into the night and they wear whatever is clean and available (and when all else fails, they shop!). This is life lived to the fullest.

So, how is it different at Baylor? Most colleges have Homecoming. They all have fun tailgates and special traditions. But Baylor is different. On Friday at the Pep Rally, I noticed several things that made me think to myself, “This is no ordinary major university campus.” As I observed the students, faculty and parents all mingling together, I saw the Baylor difference right before my eyes. There was not a hint of alcohol on the breath of the tightly packed students. The conversations were pleasant and profanity free. Even when the announcement was made for the winning float, genuine cheers from the winning groups rang out but without the typical boos or hisses from the losing groups. Congratulations all around! As I stood watching the crowd, I noticed strollers from faculty and alumni with their young children. Students were polite as they could be to the guests on campus, mingling like one family. Younger siblings and parents were welcomed and treated with respect and honor amid all of the enthusiasm from the students. However, most outstanding to this parent was the opening of the Pep Rally. The university chaplain stood to officially open Homecoming Weekend, and a hush came over the crowd of 10,000 as he opened in prayer. He didn’t ask everyone to be quiet. Everyone just knew.

Baylor is a highly competitive university with a very diverse student body. It is made up of students from around the country and the globe who do not all share the same religion or background. But they are alike in the things that matter for a culture to thrive. They understand the importance of doing all things to the best of their abilities whether in the classroom or working on a top secret design for a Homecoming float or practicing endless hours for Pigskin Review. They have sense of esprit de corps (a feeling of fellowship and common loyalty shared by the members of a group) even when they don’t “win” a competition. There is a sense of pride (the good kind!) in how they treat their campus. The campus was as tidy Sunday morning when we left as when we arrived Friday night. All of these observations are not the result of students living under a long list of do’s and don’ts that are forced upon them by overseers constantly monitoring their every move. Actually, there are very few “rules.” These students seem to have an innate sense of right and wrong. And when they do make a mistake, they seem to quickly acknowledge, take responsibility, understand what needs to change and make the adjustments. They use the word “grateful” frequently in conversations. They open doors for others and speak with grace. As a result, doors will open for them in life.

Baylor Homecoming. It is just part of this amazing place where you will make a memories in just four short years that will last a lifetime. And for parents, it is an amazing place to confidently send a young adult who right before your eyes will blossom into an adult with whom you will be happy to pass the baton. Baylor Homecoming…we can hardly wait for next year! Sic ‘Em!

Being Where I’m Meant to Be

Posted on October 29, 2014 by alicroom

By Avery Jackson

One of the many reasons Baylor stood out to me above all other universities was the high level of school spirit, especially during Homecoming. At Baylor, Homecoming is an even bigger event than Christmas! Alumni of Baylor and families of students from all over come to see Pigskin, marvel at the parade floats, watch the big home game and spend quality time with the Baylor family for a weekend.

I remember the first time I visited Baylor and the moment when I realized that I wanted to go here one day. I was nine years old, and my dad and I were watching the big parade by the Bear Habitat. I was clutching my fancy Baylor leather notebook that law students and business professionals (like my dad) use, when I told him this was where I was going to go to school.

Now, it took traveling around the world, transferring from another university and earning an academic scholarship to get me here, but I can honestly say there is no other school for me.

Ohana Means Family

Posted on September 24, 2014 by alicroom

By Lauren Woods

My first week on campus was one of most bittersweet, eye-opening weeks of my life. I’ve lived on my own before, but this was a whole new ballgame. If you ask anyone, they’ll tell you. Baylor University is so much more than a college; it’s a loving community. I’ve never been able to freely discuss how I view things from a Christian perspective. That changed my very first week of college. I am now on week three at Baylor and loving it. I feel as if my experience thus far can be described through something I witnessed my second day of classes.

I was walking to the Draper building where my sociology class is located, but before I got there, I spotted a group of students cheering on the curb. Now, when there’s a group of people cheering at Baylor, chances are something cool is happening. Naturally, I walked over to see what was going on. It took a moment to process what was in front of me. There was a family of duck-like birds who had just crossed the road. All but one of the babies had made it over the curb. This innocent baby bird was dramatically flailing its little wings in hopes of joining its family. The crowd of Baylor students was encouraging this baby bird with such passion; I couldn’t help but smile. All you could see was a group of students cheering, a baby bird jumping and a family of birds waddling away. An upperclassmen guy had finally had enough of the familial separation. He grabbed his notebook, scooped the baby bird onto the curb, and exclaimed something along the lines of, “BE FREE!” The crowd was simply overjoyed.

I had doubt about attending Baylor before I had arrived on campus. This doubt was thrown to the wind as soon as I had stepped on campus. I felt as if I was like this baby bird. Through welcome week activities and classes, I have been encouraged and welcomed with wide arms into the Baylor family. A separation or gap in my life has been filled, and I’m so excited for the next four years. As the wise Stitch once said, “Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.“ I’m so glad to be a part of the Baylor Ohana.

Last Tips for Incoming Freshmen!

Posted on May 13, 2014 by alicroom

By Brooks Goodwin

For all the graduating high school seniors who will be coming to Baylor to start of their college careers in the fall, I thought it would be nice to give some tips for how to make the most out of your summer.

First off, be sure to spend plenty of time with your family and friends. Heading off to college is a very exciting time. You will meet plenty of people and develop new friendships, but don’t be so eager to leave home without spending some last moments of quality time with your closest friends and, of course, your family. There is no telling how long it will be before you see them again once you move to Baylor, so make the most of your time with them while you can this summer.

Secondly, GO TO LINE CAMP! Seriously, I think that anyone you meet who finds out you are an incoming freshman will tell you to make this a priority. Line Camp is a really fun experience and definitely gets you excited to be a Baylor Bear. Line Camp will not only allow you to get a feel for living on Baylor’s campus for a week, but it will also allow you to meet many of your fellow classmates before classes even start, which can be beneficial if you don’t know anybody else attending Baylor. You also learn a lot of things about Baylor, such as it’s history and the chants/cheers done at football games, which you absolutely have to know. For more information, check out the Line Camp website.

My Line Camp Group!

Lastly, get excited! You are about to start the experience of a lifetime and join the wonderful community that is the Baylor family. College is a fun, challenging, life-changing and rewarding time, and I honestly believe that Baylor is one of the best places to make home for the next four years. Enjoy your summer and have fun when August comes around and it is time for move in. I look forward to seeing you all on campus, Class of 2018!

May 1st

Posted on May 6, 2014 by alicroom

By Laura Teague

College Decision Day! Today marks the start of a life changing adventure for the Class of 2018! Get ready – these next four years are going to rock your world. Some of you (I hope most!) will start your journey at Line Camp this summer and continue on with Welcome Week. Then all of a sudden, classes start, and you are an official college student. I can’t wait to cheer on our football team to victory with you in just 121 days in our brand new stadium, watch y’all run the line, experience Homecoming for the first time and pass on Baylor to you. Enjoy these last few weeks of senior year, even though school may seem like the last thing you want to do!

Today is very special for me, as my little brother is a senior in high school, and his decision is final today. As much as I wish he would be sporting his Line Jersey this fall, he has found his own perfect fit. He is fulfilling his dream of playing collegiate baseball at Samford University.

Although he will not be on this campus with me next fall, my advice to him is the same.

Enjoy every second of this new adventure. Get excited about all of these next steps: meeting your roommate, choosing your classes and moving into your residence hall; it really is an exciting time! So this summer, practice your Sic ‘Em and get all of your Baylor gear ready for August 30th!

Congratulations Class of 2018, and welcome to the Baylor family!

Feeling Homesick

Posted on April 22, 2014 by alicroom

By Michael Allen

Throughout college and especially during your freshman year, you are guaranteed to feel a little homesick. Whether it be missing family or high school friends, everybody gets overwhelmed and just wants to visit home. The one thing to remember when this happens is that you are not alone. This happens to everybody.

The first words of advice I can give about feeling homesick are to reach out to your family and old friends. Sometimes a Skype session or a quick call is all it takes to start feeling better again. When I felt down during my freshman year after receiving a bad grade, my parents always cheered me up and reminded me that it was “just a test.” (Now that I’m a graduating senior, they aren’t as nice when I say I think I might fail an exam!)

I have also had the luxury of home being less than two hours away. This has been nice because it makes it easy for me to go home for a weekend if I really need a break. Sometimes, depending on my class schedule, I could go home for a night during the week too. I know that most people don’t have this luxury, but there is always something to do at Baylor. There is no reason to sit in a dorm or apartment and be sad when you can go to the Student Life Center (SLC), play a game of basketball or climb the rock wall.

Along with the activities, everyone is friendly at Baylor. Unless it is before an 8 a.m. class, you will almost always get a smile whenever you walk around campus. This is comforting, and it reminds me that I am part of a community that cares for every individual member.

If your parents are looking for good weekends to come down and visit, I would recommend Homecoming and a weekend during Sing. There is always plenty to do during Baylor’s Homecoming, so you don’t have to make any plans for your parents. Sing is also a fun excuse for parents to come down in the spring semester and experience a great Baylor tradition. It is also a few weeks before Spring Break, so there are other benefits too (Just kidding Mom and Dad).

The most important thing to remember is that there is always someone to talk to here. Whether it be a roommate, a residence hall leader or a professor, people that attend and work at Baylor are always willing to lend a helping hand when you are feeling down!

The Magic of Spring Break

Posted on March 24, 2014 by alicroom

By Laura Teague

During Spring Break, I got to go to Disney World with my mom, aunt, uncle and two family friends for six days! My mom and I realized during the first day that I hadn’t been to Disney World in 14 or 15 years (Wow, that makes me feel old). But the magic of it all was not lost. Seeing all the characters, riding the rides and spending time with my family made for a perfect week.

My one fear of the week was the major roller coasters. Heights and drops are not my thing…I was more in this trip for the magic and good food. My family finally convinced me to ride Expedition Everest, and after a 15-minute line and lots of screaming, I ended up loving it. The rest of the week was great, and most of the rides really were so fun (minus Tower of Terror. No thank you.)

Walking around the park, I was amazing to see how much Baylor gear people were wearing! A few of my friends from Baylor were also there, so getting to meet up with them was one of the highlights of the week! It’s amazing how much fun you can have when tests and homework don’t exist for a week. I spent the morning with three of my friends from my sorority in Animal Kingdom and then met up with my roommate that afternoon at Epcot.

My spring break was a blast; I loved getting to experience something from my childhood again with my family and friends. Disney is such a unique place that is fun if you’re 5, 25 or 85. I found this quote from Walt Disney after I left the park, and I think it sums up this trip perfectly:

“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.”

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