Though we have big love for our school and a whole lot of school pride, there is no denying that attending Texas State can be a bit of a struggle sometimes.
1. The Alkek stairs.
This struggle is the most obvious and probably the first that comes to most people's minds. It's especially a struggle when you're walking and talking with someone and trying to not sound out of breath by the time you get to the top.
2. The stairs behind Old Main.
Some people may not be very familiar with these stairs if you've never had to go to Old Main before. The stairs start down by Hines and take you all the way up to the back entrance of Old Main. They seem to get steeper and steeper every time.
3. Stairs in general.
You pretty much can't go anywhere on campus without encountering some stairs. Every day is leg day at Texas State! Here's some complimentary sweat to enjoy for the first 15 minutes of every class.
4. The Quad.
Walking through the Quad in between classes makes me feel like I'm in the Hunger Games. It's every man for himself to make sure you don't get run over (by people like me) if you're walking too slow, and consider it a personal win if you make it out without being bombarded by other students working the booths or handing out flyers.
5. Parking.
I'm very fortunate to have found an apartment only a 10 minute walk away from campus. I can't imagine battling the daily frustration of trying to find parking on campus. The only time I've seen available spaces has been early in the morning around 6 or 7, and I'm not about to get to campus three or four hours early before my first class.
6. The Chick-fil-a line.
Enough said.
7. Driving past Bikini Hill.
Running errands in between classes is usually pretty depressing because I always end up driving past Sewell Park, seeing everyone out enjoying the beautiful (or scorching) weather and cold water. It's a struggle every time to resist the urge to do the same. Must. Go. To. Class.
8. Treff's.
Located conveniently across Sessom, only about a block away from campus, Treff's Tavern is one of my favorite bars. There's nothing really special about it, and the patio is way too small for how crowded it can get, but I suppose that's what's endearing about it. The real struggle with Treff's, however, is when they randomly declare it "You Call It Week," and you have to decide between staying in and studying or taking advantage of cheap drinks. Cheap drinks usually win.
9. Trains.
This one is a given. I'm pretty sure everyone has gotten stuck at a train at one point or another, and I'm willing to bet that it's been at the most inconvenient time.
10. Crowded buses.
The crowded bus situation is always the worst at the beginning of the semester when everyone is actually going to class. It eventually gets better until around finals, but there's nothing worse than getting to the bus only to see it full and watch the doors shut in your face before it drives away.
11. The risk of getting trampled by livestock.
We all either remember or heard about the bull that was loose on campus earlier this year during the summer. He was spotted by the FCS building, but didn't stay too long and caused no harm. Nevertheless, these are the risks we take by attending Texas State.
All ten of these struggles might be a pain for all of us at one point or another, but we endure each and every one of them because we are proud to call ourselves Bobcats and wouldn't want our school or our town any other way. Eat 'Em Up!
