The way that seeking a higher education has been perceived has evolved greatly in the last 20 years or so. It has changed from being seen as a luxury to a necessity. Once something just for the elites, has become something for all (I used the term “all” loosely, as many still can’t afford to attend college) to enjoy and benefit from. And with that, the idea of the university itself has also changed.

To some, it might just be a school, but for others, their universities are their homes, and often their pride. School spirit is a huge part of higher education, especially in the more well-known universities. This spirit can mean working towards making your university rise above the rest, or it can mean demeaning other universities to make your own seem more special, which I am sure we’re all guilty of. I find that this is also more prevalent in more well-known schools, as they certainly have a lot to be proud of. But I feel that smaller, lesser-known universities have just as much to offer as the larger ones. These small universities might not have as many traditions or as much school spirit, but they do have a charming uniqueness to them that can go unparalleled to many other schools. I write this as a girl who attends one of those smaller schools and loves her university all the same. I love Texas State University, and here’s why:

Texas State is in the middle of San Marcos, Texas, a river town that mostly consists of millennials. The location itself is fantastic, as it is in the heart of the Texas Hill Country and close to many great Texas cities. Austin, New Braunfels and San Antonio are all only a 30-minute to an hour drive away, which is great because all of those cities offer great opportunities for fun and work alike. Besides the proximity to those cities, San Marcos is also beautiful. The San Marcos River, which is a pretty shade of blue and 72 degrees year-round, runs through campus. The river provides a great place for students to relax after a long day of class, as it is just a short bus ride or walk away. Should I even get started on the gorgeous sunsets I’ve seen? The point is, Texas State is nestled into one of the greatest spots in Texas, a place where natural beauty and state pride is abundant. And you would think that this would make the price of tuition and campus housing high, but compared to many other universities the price is relatively low. So we get the beauty, with half the price. These reasons were why I chose to attend Texas State.

Why I chose to stay, though, is more complex. I moved from a small town that had half of the population of Texas State and completely restarted my life. I was excited to experience college and all that it had to offer, but I will admit that I had some trouble adjusting. I was away from everything I had known for 19 years, and mostly all alone (except for my awesome roommate) for the first time in my life. I even considered transferring to a university closer to home, as I was afraid that I would always feel as scared and alone as I did that first month. But Texas State quickly became my home. I have never met more friendly and open-minded individuals than the people I have met at my university.

Everyone here seems so nice and understanding, even though many of us come from different backgrounds and have many different views. No one seems snooty or pride (which I will admit I have encountered visiting other universities…) or even arrogant, even though we have reason to be. Our campus is beautiful, the people are wonderful, and the staff is fantastic. I have felt a great level of acceptance in every class that I step foot in, as my professors have worked with me to ensure that I am doing as well as I can. I feel as if Texas State has successfully combined all groups of people and still managed to provide a safe and friendly atmosphere, and I truly feel that we are all working together to achieve the same goal.

That being said, there is a negative stigma surrounding Texas State. Many people have labeled it as the “party school” of Texas and have mocked our high acceptance rate. Although I have been to parties here and have been around people that make it a habit to party every weekend, I have never felt that my school parties any more than any other school. I think that our issue is that the people who do a party just don’t hide it because Texas State doesn’t have the boastful prestige that other schools do. We don’t necessarily have to hide it because we don’t have to live up to some household name. We are Bobcats, which means that we are human and make mistakes, and we don’t let those mistakes hinder us. As for the high acceptance rate, I applaud it. Something that many don’t understand is that everyone who wants to work for it should have the opportunity to seek a higher education. Even those who didn’t graduate high school at the top of their class should be able to enhance their knowledge. At the end of the day, a degree is a degree, and should be celebrated no matter what level of college you attend.

See, I don’t feel as if Texas State is lacking in tradition or personality. I feel as if it offers a clean canvas, ready to be painted on and made beautiful. I feel like many other students who attend more well-known schools already have a sense of who they are and want to become. Which is great, and certainly must be a lot easier than figuring out who you are each day. But for people like me, those who are still undecided, Texas State offers a way to find out just what kind of person we were meant to be. We are still making traditions. We are still building our reputation. Texas State is still deciding on who it was meant to be. And that is why I love my university.