What lies in the heart of Texas is not just the quaint town of San Marcos. What lies beneath the trees and parallel to a river, is a college campus, filled with students who bring this town to life. This is a city filled with more than 38,000 students who take pride in calling Texas State University their college. What makes us so proud you say? Here’s why.

1. Let’s face it, the library Alkek resembles a walrus. If you haven’t seen it, you will now. You’re welcome.

2. Here at Texas State, leg day is every day. The hills around here do not play games and I think we all know that by now.

3. Freshmen 15 – pfffft! That does not exist here (see above). Jumbo calf muscles do though.

4. I’m pretty sure we’re one of the only universities with a castle on campus. Aka, Old Main.

5. When registration rolls around, no one sleeps because if you want even a slight chance of getting into the classes you want you have to get used to waking up at the crack of dawn.

6. You frolic past Chick-fil-A and your stomach starts growling in seconds at the smell of delicious chicken.

7. You’ve noticed those random people fully knocked out in the grass/trees/benches between classes. “Excuse me…are you alive?”

8. Who floats down a river on a Wednesday? We do.

9. You have made maroon and gold your new favorite colors. Maroon looks better with gold anyway. C’mon ladies, gold is so in right now!

10. Your classes get delayed but not cancelled for “icy conditions.” Honestly, we all skipped classes anyway.

11. The smell of cigarette smoke catches you by surprise.

12. You climb Mt. Everest on a daily basis to go to class, oh wait. That’s just the Alkek Library stairs.

13. You’ve noticed the squirrels on campus. How could you not? Those odd creatures are domesticated and never afraid to approach a fellow bobcat.

14. Oh, you are taking a math course? There’s a lab for that. Oh, you’re taking history course? There’s most likely a lab you will have to take with that too.

15. You’ve been to Alkek, brought a tent, and then studied in it during finals week. Yeah, that happened.

16. You get tired of exercising your calf muscles for a change and call a Bobcat Bobbie to transport you a block up campus. I feel your pain. We’ve all been there.

17. Your conversation is put on hold due to a train passing through town and blowing its horn an absurd amount of times. One blow of the horn was enough, thanks though.

18. Everything is LBJ: A statue, student center, you name it. A president walked on the same campus as us, and we’re rightfully proud of it.

19. You’ve had an incredible night at the square hopping from one bar to the next. From what you can remember, at least.

20. Having trouble deciding what to wear to class? Don’t fret. A long t-shirt and Nike shorts will do.

21. For those times when you are in need of a little retail therapy, you blow the few pennies you own by shopping at the outlets. I mean come on, they’re so close. Who can possibly resist that temptation (not me)?

22. There is plenty of people that make it to the tailgate, and then the actual game starts and….wait, where did everyone go?

23. Whether it was rock climbing, running the track, or taking a yoga class you have blown off steam at the Rec Center, and it was glorious!

24. Any ladies out there looking for a husband, pronto? Head straight to McCoy to choose from an abundance of well-dressed, driven, future business men.

25. Thirsty Thursday leads to detox Friday.

26. You’ve felt imprisoned when sitting in your Friday class while the rest of the student population is enjoying their weekend early.

27. You walk through the Quad and come out looking like a copy machine attacked you. Flyers, coupons, and handouts galore!

28. You’ve tossed the Frisbee with Frisbee Dan or at least spotted his speedo while driving past Sewell Park.

29. You have experienced a time when free food was handed out in the Quad and students were flocking like a group of hungry birds.

30. You’ve cried while driving aimlessly around every parking lot on campus to find a space for the day which made you 15 minutes late to class.

31. Yeah, we party, and we party hard. But we also pass our classes and graduate. Take that stereotypers!

32. When you hear someone scream “Texas!”, you automatically scream “State!” back.

33. You have shopped around the Quad on days when local vendors set up shop and sell you delicious and memorable things. That kettle corn is to die for.

34. You feel like you belong. There’s a place for everyone. There’s even a place for you Harry Potter die-hards. It’s called the Quidditch team.

35. There is an Einsteins, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-a on campus. Need I say more?

36. You’ve felt personally victimized by your 8 a.m. class.

37. It may not be official, but ‘All I Do Is Win’ is practically our theme song. You better throw those hands up when that part comes on.

38. You have walked through campus and reconsidered your own self-worth. Why is everyone so good looking here?

39. We have a Sun God guy. Who else can say they have a Sun God?

40. You’ve spotted Boko at a sport’s game. You can’t miss that giant furry guy.

41. Midterm week is the only week when you can walk around campus like a zombie due to the endless all-nighters you’ve pulled, and no one will question you. We’ve been there. We feel your pain.

42. You’ve heard the myth about rubbing the quad horse statue in its no-no square in hopes that it would provide you with good luck on your finals.

43. You know the hand signs for our school and the perfect time to throw them in the air with pride.

44. You’ve discovered the hammocks on campus. Those things are dangerous. If you enjoy them too much you will probably sleep right through your next class.

45. You’ve soaked up sun amidst the bees, river floaters, and man candy on Bikini Hill.

46. You’ve crammed on to a Bobcat Tram. If it’s a special day someone will give you their seat. Marry them!

47. You use any excuse to get drunky pants. “I passed my biology test. This calls for a Chimy’s margarita!”

48. You’ve found local treasures in town that have become your favorite places to eat. If you haven’t tried the manske roll from Gil’s broiler, do it now.

49. You spend Saturday exploring Austin, and Sunday exploring San Antonio. We’re sandwiched between two awesome cities and a never-ending amount of things to do.

50. You've got endless pride for your school. At the end of the day these are the things that make us special, and we're proud to call this place our home away from home.