There are many things unique about going to Southwest Baptist University, both good and bad, but they come together to make SBU your home-away-from-home.

1. Miss Kay knows your name.

How she memorizes every single name of everyone who has ever eaten at Mellers is a mystery to me, but she is by far one of the sweetest people on campus. I'm pretty sure we all secretly wish she was our grandma.

2. Speaking of Mellers...you have gotten sick at least one time from the food served.

From spending the first week back from break in the bathroom to becoming lactose intolerant, nothing says Mellers like getting sick at least once. Going to college and prison totally requires the same food.

3. Constantly getting asked what a bearcat even is from people back home.

Well they just so happen to be very hideous creatures that are like 0% ferocious, but we'll never tell you that, so we'll just keep shrugging our shoulders and praying that you don't Google it.

4. Having a plethora of Chacos.

Nothing screams Christian university like literally everyone wearing Chacos. I mean, who wouldn't want to wear sandals that look like something Jesus would wear and can help you climb mountains? It's a win-win.

5. Missions are a big deal.

"Missions" is in the mission statement, the Great Commission is on the new fountain, there is a whole Global Connections center in the Union, there are commissioning services at Chapel, there are opportunities to literally go all over the world on every break...and it's one of the best and biggest parts of SBU. It's also like a second Christmas when coming off of break with all your friends coming back from their mission trips with gifts from where they went.

6. There are no sororities or fraternities, but there is homecoming week.

A week full of competitions with dorm against dorm and only having alliances with your brother/sister dorm is as close as an SBU student will probably ever get to experiencing sororities and fraternities (I mean, Beasley is basically a sorority anyway). Homecoming week brings out the competitive spirit in all of us.

7. Bed races are a thing.

Yes, we do have signs that clearly mark the bed race route that are left on campus all year round, even though the bed races only take place one day during homecoming week. Throw on the littlest person in your dorm, grab four of the fastest athletes, and take off racing on questionable beds with wheels that could fall apart at any moment. But it's tradition and fun, so don't question our life choices, outsiders.

8. You had to endure Welcome Week.

From starting out marching in with bagpipes screeching in your ears, to mission projects, to eating at professors' houses, to awkwardly trying to make friends, we all had to go through it. You survive it and move on with your college career. Take heart bearkittens, it gets better!

9. It's not uncommon for your professors to pray for you.

One of my favorite parts about SBU is that it's not uncommon for professors to pray for you to start out the class or before a test. While some professors pray that you remember only what you studied and other professors take prayer requests just for what is happening in your life, it all really does mean a lot and make a difference.

10. Breakfast at the Sports Cafe.

Maybe I'm the only one whose main motivation to get out of bed in the morning is to go hit up the Sports Cafe and get my sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit or danish, but those things are amazing. And they come with the meal plan! It's a very beautiful thing.

11. You wouldn't choose to go anywhere else.

Even with all of its flaws and with all of the hard work that comes with getting your degree at SBU, you still can't imagine going to any other college.