During my senior year of high school I couldn't wait to get away from home. I wanted to move past high school and begin my own life. I wanted to experience something new in a different part of the country and meet people from all different regions. Syracuse University has definitely given me that experience.
Growing up in a household with a mother who bleeds orange, it was inevitable that either my sister or I would end up in the Northeast. I knew a lot about the school before becoming a student here so, there was not a major culture shock to me (except the weather, but I think that shocks any human being). I was ready to begin a chapter of my life in a region of this country that I have never experienced firsthand before.
In a few short months I will be embarking on my junior year of college and will be one step closer to graduation. With that in mind, the "what do you want to do after graduation" talk has come up multiple times among friends and family. While I may be only hours away from the great Big Apple, that is one of the last places I want to be. I know I may sound almost insane for saying that and don't get me wrong, the city does have wonderful opportunities, but I would rather be in the best state there is: Texas. I know that is my own personal opinion and that several of my college friends would disagree with me, but let me tell you my philosophy.
I remember lounging on a pool float on a typical 100 degree day in Texas with my dad and telling him that one of the greatest things I miss when I am away at school is the beautiful Texas sky during the summer. If you have never seen it, it literally looks like something painted out of an exquisite art gallery. I could lay around all day and look at the sky while trying to match an animal to the variety of shapes of clouds.
New York may have some great pizza and I am very lucky to experience that (yes, I promise there is something out there that is better than Domino's), but nothing and I mean NOTHING will ever trump Tex-Mex. Go ahead and ask anyone who has ever eaten it and they will agree with you. One of the hardest things of being at school is the fact that I could eat something labeled "spicy" at a "Mexican" restaurant in the Northeast and it will be super bland. I never thought I was a "spicy food" lover until spending two years of my life in the state of New York, but now it seems to be one of my top cravings.
Being from Texas, I obviously consider myself a friendly person who likes to make small talk with people, especially with my southern charm. In the Northeast, they are not so friendly. Men will not hold the door open for women or even ask a stranger "how are you doing today?" which is weird to me. Now, this isn't to say that ALL people in the Northeast are "rude," because I have met some really awesome people that I will consider my friends for the rest of my life. It is just hard to get used to a different social setting than the one you are normally used to.
I know that everyone thinks that their own personal state or hometown is the best and I completely respect that. Going to school across the country has forced me to experience different kinds of food, fashion, and overall culture, and I feel that it has made me a more well-rounded person. On the flip side, moving away makes you appreciate where you come from more and makes you honored to tell people where you are originally from. That being said, I will find a way to make Texas my home for as long as I can and will always hold it in my heart, near or far.
