After living in Oklahoma for 18 years, it came as a surprise to some people that I would decide to leave and head out of state for college. Although I am living out of state, I will never forget where I came from. During the course of my first semester at in college, I have grown to love and appreciate Oklahoma so much more by being away from it. I truly miss it more and more everyday, but I am thriving here because of these five things I learned from growing up in the GREAT state of Oklahoma!
Five Reasons You Should Be Proud to be from Oklahoma
1. Loving your family
No one will ever understand how important family is until you experience the love of family from Oklahoma. From the second you are born, you understand that family extends beyond blood. Everyone has each other’s back at all times. People love and respect one another. Oklahoma has gone through many things over the years and all these disasters have done brought our state closer together, to help and support one another in a time of need. We are Oklahoma proud and Oklahoma Strong.
2. Loyalty
In Oklahoma, you either wear Crimson and Crème OR Orange and Black--NEVER EVER a combination of the two. And you would never be caught dead with a spec of burnt orange in your closet or in your house. It is what you are raised on. You are loyal to your team, no matter how they perform. Your team is your team, and you support them through and through, and continue to be loyal to them until the day you die!
3. Pride
Growing up, every kid knows the state song and knows what our flag looks like. Even though many people look down on Oklahoma and have their preconceived ideas of what Oklahoma is really like, it only causes you to have more pride in the place that you were born and raised.
4. Respect
Believe it or not, southern hospitality is a real thing. In my lifetime, I have hardly never seen a man not open the door for someone or people not saying yes ma’am and no ma’am. You don’t know any different, because anything less than respect for all people would get your butt worn out by momma and daddy.
5. Enjoying the simple things in life
Oklahoma isn’t the most amazing place with a million things to do all the time. This isn’t the fast-paced stressed-out city life that people somehow want these days. Living here teaches you to be patient and go with the flow. It shows you how to make your own fun and not constantly be searching for material pleasures in life. Oklahoma is a place where you can just be you and not have to be doing something 24/7. It is a beautiful place where you can be and know that you are home. The second I cross that Texas border going North on I-35, I know that I am home. There’s something about this place that you will never be able to describe to anyone else.
Be proud of where you’re from. Oklahoma is never going to be the top travel destination in the world, but Oklahoma offers more lessons and pleasures out of life than someone could ever learn to appreciate!
