Last week, I took a quick trip back to the west side of Washington. As I was out shopping and running a few errands, I made small talk with one of the store employees on my way out. The topic of school was brought up, and I explained that I would be graduating from Washington State University in a couple of weeks. This elicited an expression of curiosity, and then he asked, “If you could describe Pullman in one word or one experience, what would it be? What is the epitome of Pullman?"
I just stood there with a blank stare, at a complete loss for words. There are so many things that make Pullman great. I couldn’t pinpoint one single event or experience that made me fall in love with this little college town, and in that moment I realized just how hard it is going to be to say goodbye.
It’s safe to say that Pullman, Washington is unlike anywhere else in the world. Cougar pride runs deep, and our love for this community is unmatched. We bleed crimson; we proudly carry our flag around the world, and it is an entirely natural reaction to yell “Go Cougs” at any passerby wearing Cougar gear (or at any Husky wearing the unfortunate combination of purple and gold).
There are so many little things that make WSU unique. I am going to miss waking up on Cougar Football Saturdays in the fall and celebrating each game day like it’s the Super Bowl. I am going to miss my sorority and the Greek community here who gave me a support system and a family to come home to every day after class. I am going to miss those days in the spring when it’s arguably too sunny to be in class, so the obvious decision is to play hooky and grab a beer at The Coug instead. I am even going to miss that five-hour drive from the west side because each hour that passes by is one more hour closer to being reunited with my fellow Cougs in the happiest place on earth.
People always ask what we do all the way out here in the middle of nowhere. It’s simple; we aren’t in the middle of nowhere. For these four years, Pullman is the center of everything.
To say Washington State University is a fun place to attend school would be the understatement of the century. Unfortunately, our college years have to end at some point, and we have to leave this place and move on.
Although goodbyes are hard, we’ll always have Pullman. When we come back for Homecoming games, Alumni events, and maybe even some day years down the road with our kids on a campus visit, Pullman will be here welcoming us back with open arms. Pullman will always be home. It’s the place where you made your lifelong friends, where you challenged yourself academically, and where you probably drank a little too much resulting in an award-winning story you will be able to tell for years to come.
So what is the epitome of Pullman? Former WSU Football coach Jim Walden said it best:
“I can't define it, I can't tell someone who isn't a cougar what it's like. There's something that happens at Washington State; you quietly and subtly become infected. Washington State is a passion. Being a cougar is a passion."
