School Pride

Okay, I admit it.  I went to BYU once before, but I never felt a major school pride kind of thing.  I went there in my youth, I almost paid attention to my classes.  I paid attention to boys very well, thank you very much.  I'm back at school again and this time around it's different.  Because I'm a more serious student?  Because I'm older and more grateful for the opportunity? I don't know for sure. I still pay attention to boys (well one handsome bald one anyway) but there is definitely a difference when the tuition all comes out of you own pocket and when school is something you are choosing to do despite personal sacrifice of time and energy.  I guess I just mean to say that it's different when it's something you really want.

Gary and I went out to eat last week (Gary says it was to congratulate me on finisihing the school year, I think it might actually have been to welcome me back to land of the living. I think he's hoping I'll clean something now. Starting with our closet.  Correction, my part of the closet.)  Anyway, we went out to eat on the evening of graduation, and the restaurant was crowded with BYU grads and their proud parents. The graduates were so young by the way, but that's a story for another day.  Anyway, as we sat and ate it started to get dark outside.  As it did they lit the 'Y' on the mountain and we had a perfect view from our table.  Can't explain it.  Never really felt it before, but I was suddenly quite struck by how proud I am to be a BYU student.  Am I late coming to this party?  The Beach Boys sang about being true to your school quite some time ago, so I think I must be.

Those of you who do not like BYU (c'mon, I know you are out there) will have to indulge me for just a minute. Sorry, but this a school pride post after all.  BYU is quite a place. I am hardly one of these who thinks it is the only legitimate place in the world to seek education, but I am so grateful for my experience there so far.  Where else can you study English with full acknowledgment that great writers have always written about man's relationship with God and with the ability to fully explore religious literary themes?  Where else can you write your final political science essay comparing and contrasting Marxism with Mormonism?  Where else can you take Nutrition and have the word of wisdom as part of the curriculum? Where else can you go to school during Jimmermania and experience the total bewilderment of reporters who have flocked to campus because they can't believe there is actually a college in the country that takes it's honor code seriously? And don't even get me started on the students.  I can't say enough about how kind they've been to me, how hard most of them work, and how fun and good they are.  Going up to campus makes me feel better about the future.  School pride.  I finally found it.  I even bought a BYU shirt the other day. A key chain too. Not something I'd ever done before for myself. I guess I'd better face it. I'm a zoobie.  Go cougs.