I am often asked the question, "what is there to do in Nacogdoches, Texas?" And the answer is close to nothing. Most college students pass their time at the local bars or pre-gaming for a night out at one of the two night clubs that the tiny town has to offer. For someone who attended two MAYBE three parties throughout their entire high school career, people are usually confused as to why I decided that SFA was the perfect school for me. Although Stephen F. Austin is often seen as a party school, and the majority of our free time is spent playing beer pong at a frat house or hosting turtle races at Yard, I have found my role and meaning within my friend group... The "mom friend."

The mom friend could be described best as the person who acts as a motherly figure to a group of friends. One who is responsible, nurturing, and protective, especially if said friends are less capable of taking care of themselves at that time. (I think you get the point). Being the mom friend is similar to the role of an actual mom; All work and little appreciation. Whether it's getting everyone from one location to the next safely, or holding a friends hair back while they deal with the liquor they "thought" they could handle, or even setting out a bottle of Advil and a cup of water out next to the bed for when the hangover sets in the next morning. These are some of the many duties a mom friend must handle throughout a legit "lit" weekend. Although people often feel bad for the mom friend, it does have its perks. I don't have to wake up with killer headaches or sprint to the bathroom to have my head in the toilet all day. I remember all that happened and all that was said the night before and there are videos to prove it. Despite having to watch over my rambunctious friends, I still manage to have fun. One thing about weekends here at SFA, I am constantly reminded of how great of a mother I'll be someday.

Although I do attend a "party school" and there isn't much to do but that, I wouldn't change it or my mom friend ways for anything. I am a mom friend for life.