Having the opportunity to go to school at Oral Roberts University is a privilege. College students travel from around the world to simply spend four years pursuing the Whole Person Education. Then there are the kids that move 10 minutes away from home to attend ORU, which leads to us all being asked the same questions.
WARNING: please be cautious when approaching someone from Tulsa with these questions.
1. “Why aren’t you a commuter?”
Some families choose to save money and forgo the dorm experience. But not all of us! We like the feeling of living on our own and learning to live in a community with other people. Plus, we like to separate our lives and our schedules a bit from our family.
2. “Were you too scared to leave home?”
No, we are not afraid to branch out and leave the comfort of Tulsa. Chances are most of us wanted to get as far out of Tulsa as we could simply for a change of scenery. But that’s not always God’s plan; sometimes He calls us to stay put somewhere, no matter how frustrating that can be at times.3. “How often do you see your family?”
For each person it differs, some go home weekly for meals here and there, some wait until the big breaks merely to gain the true separation.
4. “Why do you pick saga over home cooked meals?”
Obviously we like the community of eating with our friends even if the food is sometimes questionable. We learn to cherish the home cooked meals as much as everyone else.
5. “Where did you go to high school?”
No, we did not all go to Victory. Chances are if you are being asked this, it’s either your professor who knows Tulsa, someone from a different town in Oklahoma or someone striving the extra mile to carry on a conversation. They may or may not know anything about the school, surprisingly.
6. “Where do you do your laundry?”
Some people do it on campus; others take it home to save money. Either way, it’s still just as much of a hassle as it is for any college student.
7. “Do you plan on living here your whole life?”
Most of us don’t dream of a future here in Tulsa, Oklahoma but we are okay with one step of time. At some point we will explore the world. But it's up to God where we finally land.
8. “Where is the best place in Tulsa to _____________?”
Yes, we can make a suggestion, but that does not mean you will like it. Please take it with a grain of salt.
9. “How do I get to _____________?”
We are not a GPS. We do not know every nook and cranny in the city of Tulsa. We will probably will never be able to figure out downtown without Google Maps, but it’s okay.
10. "Is Tulsa weather always like this?"
YES. We have learned to constantly carry around an umbrella, snow jacket and flip flops with us at all times.
While those of us from here may be programmed with autopilot responses to these questions, we also know how to make the most out of Tulsa. Next time you're up for an adventure in this city, count on us to be one step ahead of you.
