 "Photo: Courtesy of Nathan Riojas")
In the typewritten days of the newspaper industry, "-30-" denoted the end of a story. A -30- column gives graduating seniors an opportunity to reflect and speak their minds.
The University of Texas is synonymous with a tradition of excellence. It lured all of us here.
But tradition isn't what you'll remember. Your experience at Texas is shaped by the people you meet. What I cherish most: the friends I made over the past five years, roommates and professors alike.
And to think, I almost never gave Austin a chance. To be honest, Longhorns are generally hated (based on Texas athletics and perceived hippie political views) where I come from. My hometown of Shallowater, Texas, is 10 minutes away from Lubbock and the heart of Red Raider country in the Texas Panhandle.
"We just don't grow Longhorns in these parts," one community member told me five years ago when he found out I would be attending Texas.
But that's what made my experience here so much fun. I came to an environment completely different from everything I had ever known. As much as I love West Texas and all the people there, it was good to come to Austin and meet people who had a million different outlooks on life.
The most exciting part - I didn't really know anybody when I came to the 40 Acres. Keep in mind, the entire population of Shallowater could live in Jester dormitory approximately three times, and (when I enrolled in 2003) the last Shallowater graduate to attend Texas was four years older than me and on his way out.
Some of the people I met in my first few days in Moore-Hill will be lifelong friends. JJ is one of the first people I ran into, and one of a handful of guys I consider as a brother (my only sibling is a younger sister). It's a worn out cliché, but J is one of those people that would do anything for you, and I owe him countless favors. He tries to act like he's bad, but he's one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I know. He'd share anything he had and was always there to give me a ride when The Bean broke down (like a thousand times).
My roommate Pringle is also like a brother. He was always the brain (and the voice of reason a lot of times) in our house and made sure we never got into too much trouble. I admire him for the way he was able to balance out school and "extracurriculars." I don't know anyone else with a 4.0 that had as much fun as he did. Pringle was also there for his share of my car problems too.
Not to mention, I laughed with these two guys more than anybody else - more good times than I have to mention. Thank you guys for everything.
I wish I had time to mention everyone, but you know I have to give a quick shout to everyone I played intramural sports with. I get pretty geeked up for all that stuff, so thanks for playing along. We'll be laughing at some of those stories for a long time, and you know I'm gonna wear our championship shirts until the letters falls off.
I also have to mention a few professors. Dr. Poindexter, thanks for showing me that the world is A LOT more complicated than what I learned in Shallowater. Mel, I wish I could have taken your Sports J class two more times. Hopefully, I'll make you proud. And Lou, thanks for helping me get up to speed with all the latest technology. P.S. I'm sending you my cell phone bill for all the Twitter texts.
And not to be forgotten, Mom, Dad and Natalie. I really appreciate y'all helping me get through this. I love you guys...and all the extended family too. We're kind of tight like that.
To everyone else that still has couple of years here: Enjoy all the people around you, because it goes by quick. Like my friend Cook once said, "You can always retake a class, but you can't relive a party." Nathan Riojas covered NASCAR, women's basketball, and baseball for the Texan. He can be found most days wearing a Braves cap.
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