O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A
Posted by Abby Taylor at 11/19/2007 12:45 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
November 19, 2007
Another week down! As we get closer and closer to Christmas break, I am afraid senior-itis is beginning to sink in. I seem to be putting off assignments until the last minute and counting down the days until my next break, which isn’t long at all (only half a week until Thanksgiving). The truth is, I really have no room to complain about needing a break considering I just came back from one.
If you didn’t know, last Friday was Oklahoma’s Centennial Statehood Day. Classes at OSU were cancelled so we could properly celebrate the holiday. For me, this didn’t mean going to concerts or celebrations, although I’ve heard those events were amazing from several people. Instead, I spent the day with my family and thought about what it is that truly makes Oklahoma a unique and interesting state.
Another week down! As we get closer and closer to Christmas break, I am afraid senior-itis is beginning to sink in. I seem to be putting off assignments until the last minute and counting down the days until my next break, which isn’t long at all (only half a week until Thanksgiving). The truth is, I really have no room to complain about needing a break considering I just came back from one.
If you didn’t know, last Friday was Oklahoma’s Centennial Statehood Day. Classes at OSU were cancelled so we could properly celebrate the holiday. For me, this didn’t mean going to concerts or celebrations, although I’ve heard those events were amazing from several people. Instead, I spent the day with my family and thought about what it is that truly makes Oklahoma a unique and interesting state.
Oklahoma does have a rich history, and I am still amazed at how the land run transformed the face of our state, but that is not the Oklahoma I know. That’s not the Oklahoma I was born into and have resided in my whole life. So what is special about the Oklahoma I know?
I thought about that a lot last weekend and I decided it’s the character of Oklahomans that makes this state so unique. I realize there are good people in every state (every country, for that matter), but I believe Oklahoma has more per capita than other places. Part of the reason I believe this is because that’s almost always the first thing a non-Oklahoman says about our state.
I was talking to a new acquaintance (now a good friend) about this very thing earlier in the semester. Her name is Jenny Lim and she’s from Korea. I asked why she chose to come to OSU. She said her adviser suggested it, and even though she hadn’t heard much about it, she was willing to give it a try. Once she got here, she said she was shocked at how friendly and spirited the students were. Now, that’s her favorite thing about OSU. I have to agree with her.
Oklahoma is not only blessed with friendly people, but also people with a heart for service. There are so many small communities that depend heavily on their citizens to survive. For example, my town is too small to pay full-time firefighters, so citizens, like my father, volunteer; giving their time and risking their lives to make the town better. This kind of philanthropy is so admirable, and I am so thankful for the community-minded people who have made Oklahoma what it is today. After all, what is a state without its citizens?
Sadly, at the end of next week, Oklahoma will have at least two fewer citizens. My sister, Stacy, and her husband are getting transferred to Texas. Professionally, it’s a good opportunity, but we will miss them. Who knows, maybe some day they’ll find their way back to Oklahoma, but until then, they can share a little bit of their Oklahoma spirit with the Texas panhandle.
As for me, I have grown quite fond of Oklahoma, and I have no plans to leave once I graduate. I hope to stay here and follow in the philanthropic footsteps of those who came before me, trying to improve Oklahoma making it an even greater place to live.
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Jenny and I hanging out by the garden after class. |
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My hometown celebrated the centennial earlier this year with the Pat Hennessey Celebration. As part of the festivities, there was a re-enactment of Pat Hennessey’s death. So many people worked hard to make this happen, and they did a great job. |
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This is Stacy with our very cute cousin Colin who came to visit for the weekend. He lives in Houston so pretty soon, they’ll both be Texans. |
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The Hennessey Eagles won again this Saturday, beating Bridge Creek and moving on to the quarterfinals in Oklahoma 2A high school football!! |
Ahhh, my baby made your page. That's so exciting! It was so good to see you this past weekend. Miss you already.
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