Spring Break
City Scare
Small-town Aggies in the big-time Station
By: Kaitlyn Drinkwater
Issue date: 6/11/09 Section: Opinion
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This time of year the campus is brimming with the fresh faces of new and prospective students. Let me be one of many to say, "Howdy Ags!" For the many Aggies who come from rural towns, Bryan-College Station seems like the big city and can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, too many freshmen never adjust and miss out on seeing all that the "big city" has to offer. Don't let the population sign fool you; Aggieland is a small town in city clothes.
It's easy to get lost on a campus of almost 50,000, and many students do. Don't make the mistake of fading into the crowd. A&M has over 800 registered student organizations; find one you like and start making friends. One of the best things about a student body this size is the myriad of interests and opportunities at your fingertips. Whether your hobby is practicing exotic birdcalls or making Star Trek ASCII fan art, someone else on campus will share your passion.
The downside of sharing a campus with so many students is their cars. I learned to drive on one-lane oilsand roads, so one of the first things I noticed about College Station was the traffic. There really isn't any upside to the traffic itself ¬- you just have to learn to deal with it. I like to think of it as the yellow brick road, which leads to enlightenment and post-midnight tacos. There are not one, but two movie theatres within 10 minutes of campus, along with a mall, more restaurants than you can shake a stick at and two Wal-Marts. Some of you are shaking yours heads wondering what "Deliverance" backwoods I stumbled out of, but others of you know exactly what I mean. Trust me, being able to run to HEB for something without having to make a 30-minute trip into town is going to revolutionize your life.
When the traffic threatens to overrun you, remember the buses. Riding the bus is something else that seems new and intimidating at first, but have no fear. The buses are your friends. All the schedules are online and they're generally on time, so use them to your advantage.
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