When I decided to go to Baylor, people were confused. Waco? Why would you ever want to move to Waco? I love Baylor so much and have enjoyed every moment since stepping onto campus for the first time. Yet, I still find myself defending the city I've lived in for the past four years! So, here are a few reasons why Waco doesn't suck. 

Community.

When you think “community,” you often think of a church, sorority or a friend group. Rarely do people think of a city. Yes, Waco has various types of people and some areas are in severe poverty, but I have never seen such a diverse group of people come together to serve the greater good.   

Church Under the Bridge, for example, is a place where people serve lunch to the homeless, worship Jesus, and lead a service reminding individuals going through a tough time how much they’re loved.     

Steppin’ Out is an event where every student at Baylor comes together to give back to the community, Greek or non-Greek. Whether it’s painting houses, picking up trash next to the Brazos River or organizing a shelter’s donations, the students are happy to do it.  

Philanthropy isn’t just another word to fraternities and sororities at Baylor. Clubs don’t just write a check and hope it goes somewhere. They read to kids after school, volunteer at local playgrounds, and make emergency kits after the West explosion.

The four years a person spends in college have a lot to do with the type of person they end up becoming. I can say with confidence that I would not have become the person I am today without the type of support, kindness, and community the people of Waco have to offer.

Character.  

Whether it’s “cowboy coffee” or “crazy wings,” Wacoans know where to go. Local hot spots and hole-in-the-walls are Waco’s specialty. Sure, visitors might be confused on where to go, but that’s the beauty of living here for four years and having time to explore.   

Where else can you find the hipster coffee shop, Common Grounds, where you can get a “pig swig” and see a Ben Rector concert, get a BYOB Italian dinner at Baris where you're served the best “pasta with pink sauce” you’ve ever tasted for only $6, go tortilla tossing on a Friday night, hammock with your bae at Lover’s Leap, sip on a one-of-a-kind cocktail at Muddle, enjoy a who-knows-how-many-calories milkshake from Health Camp, go cliff jumping at Lake Whitney, get fitted for your first mountain bike at Bear Mountain, eat melt-in-your-mouth gingerbread pancakes at Café Cappuccino, and avoid breaking the bank with a $20 gel manicure at B&J Nails all in one day?   

These places have character. They’ve developed regulars and reputations and have employees that know your name, know your order and know/ care about what's going on in your life.   

College town.   

A perk of living in a college town is that everyone here is a Baylor fan. For the opening game at McLane stadium (which is STUNNING by the way), the city of Waco practically shut down to come support the Bears! When it’s game day, you’ll find the employees at restaurants reppin’ the green and gold and fans sailgating on the Brazos River, hosting watch parties or cheering the Bears on from the stands.  Baylor pride is something everyone in the Waco area has and it's the reason why Baylor Nation is something to be proud of.   

We might not have sorority row and we might not have a 6th Street or an Uptown, but we have an awesome group of people surrounding us, an amazing school with a beautiful campus, AND we still know how to have fun.

“Paint party at Yellow Dog tonight,” “Let’s go to Brick House,” “Halloween at The Arcade,” “Welcome Week at White House,” are common phrases in the Baylor language. Just about every house from 7th-11th street has a name. Some include “The Alamo,” “The Lodge,” “Kite Kastle,” “The Barn,” “Hooter House,” “Toolshed,” “The Brothel,” “Wingstop,” “Rock Bottom,” “The Mission,” and “Mantation.”

Everyone knows the names and everyone goes to events at all of them! Just because you’re in a sorority at Baylor, doesn’t mean you only associate yourself with that group. I don’t know if it’s because we don’t have Greek houses, or if it’s because we have a deferred recruitment, but it’s really nice to be friends with other clubs and see past the competition of intramurals and Sing.   

Which brings me to Baylor traditions. Baylor’s Homecoming Parade is the largest (and first) collegiate parade in the United States and All-University Sing is the largest off-broadway production in the United States. So basically Baylor and Wacoans LIVE for Homecoming and Sing. Sing involves months of painting backdrops, choreography, perfecting harmonies and practicing dance moves. We would never say it rudely but when other schools say, “oh we have something like that,” we are all LOL-ing on the inside.

View an example of a Sing act here!

I love the way Baylor and Waco come together to promote tradition and creativity. I mean, when else could you get a group of frat boys to sing and dance on stage? And actually do WELL.

So basically what I’m trying to say is that Waco has community, character, and is a college town similar to many other popular universities. It’s a city where every time I go to HEB, get my nails done, or walk across campus, I’m going to see multiple people I know. It’s a place where I feel like I belong and where I’ve built my life. It’s a place that has encouraged me in my faith and morals, helped me serve others, led me to potential careers, and formed me into the person I am today.     

So to all the people out there who believe in the stereotype and turn up their noses at “Wacko Waco,” as Taylor Swift once said, “And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. I shake it off, I shake it off.”    

#sicemWaco