By Ashley Woo
During last night’s football game against Oklahoma, I was reminded of the one aspect that drew me to prefer Baylor over any other university – and that was the aspect of family. In a silly kind of way, the fact that every single person (OU fans excluded) in the stadium rose to Baylor’s call for a blackout reminded me of my first thought when I stepped onto Baylor campus, “I am not just a number or a file in the admissions office. I’m part of something that is much greater than me.” We yell together, cheer together, heckle the Oklahoma players together and celebrate victories together.
The Baylor family doesn’t just stop at football. When I came for my first campus visit, so many random people offered to show me around and tell me the good places to eat in Waco. I’ve heard many people say, “You will never meet a stranger at Baylor.” Because Baylor is a mid-sized, private school, you really cannot walk to class without seeing someone that you know. Even with strangers, there is a sense of camaraderie and Baylor pride. One of my favorite stories to tell my friends is the time I lost my wallet my freshman year. After eating lunch with a couple of my friends at Student Union Building (SUB), I was in a hurry to get to class, so I did not realize until later that I had left my wallet. Not only did a senior guy contact me that he had my wallet, but he also drove over to my dorm to return it to me.
Another one of my favorite things about my Baylor family is that Baylor celebrities are ordinary people, who happen to do incredible things. They are supportive, down to earth and straight up genuine. Last week, my sorority hosted a spaghetti dinner benefitting our philanthropy. It was awesome to see that Bryce Petty (Baylor quarterback) and Eddie Lackey (Baylor linebacker) came to support our cause.
One person who has become famous for his support and love for the Baylor family is president Judge Kenneth Starr. It not uncommon to see him at various events on campus or running the Baylor Line with the freshman class. His commitment to selflessly serving Baylor is seen so evidently through his involvement with the student body.
Finally, my Baylor family is not complete without the friendships that I have made during my time at Baylor. Committing to go to a school where I only knew a few people was one of the biggest tests of faith in my life. However, looking back now as a senior, I have found that God has blessed me with women that have truly become my best friends and most importantly, my family.