People should try to have as much pride as Texans do
University Daily, Texas Tech

I had an experience in class the other day that made me realize I don't truly belong here in this state. My professor made the whole class relive our worst fears from elementary school by standing and introducing ourselves. As the professor progressed around the room, I began to realize that everyone was from Texas.

And then the professor came to me. I stand up and then I have to admit I am from New Mexico. I point out that I am the only one not from Texas, and some people actually got a look of pity on their faces. I sat down almost feeling ashamed of the fact that I am from some state other than Texas. My professor then explains to me that it is OK and that no one will hold it against me.

I not only receive this discrimination in class but also among my friends. They are embarrassed to ride in my car because it has New Mexico license plates. Anytime we see another New Mexico car around town, they point out that there are some of my people. They usually refer to them as New Mexicans.

I have a friend who goes so far as refusing to call me when I am in my hometown. He claims his phone refuses to dial the area code. He sees it as just an open plain between Arizona and Texas.

So I wonder when we out-of-town folks can call ourselves Texans. Is there a waiting list people need to get on or someplace to sign up, like the DMV? Or maybe you just have to achieve that vast amount of pride that only a true Texan has.

Maybe I will go around calling myself a New Mexican. I don't think it will work. I don't have that much pride in my state to actually claim it.
I have never met people like Texans, who know so much about their state and are so proud to just live where they are. I don't know everything about New Mexico; I still don’t know all the cities. I have never traveled the state of Texas and gone to all the major cities. People look at me like I am crazy when I tell them I have never been to Austin or Houston. Then I explain that I am not from here, and I get yet another pitying look.

All of my friends are from Texas for the most part, and I know one of the things they see as a major plus in Texas is the higher alcohol content. When any of my friends visit someone in another state, they make a stop at the strip to load up on beer.

That brings me to another point. Whatever the occasion, there seems to be a call for alcohol, whether someone won a football game or someone lost a football game. I've decided Texans make up any reason to drink, and some don’t need a reason at all.

My friend told me that during Christmas vacation, she and her family got drunk on Christmas day. This seemed normal to her. I really can’t see myself sitting down with the family and getting a beer out of the fridge and remembering all the other Christmases before.

Being a non-Texan and going to Texas Tech has given me a new outlook on life. I see what it is like to be proud of just being born and raised in a place. I have yet to meet anyone who is ashamed to be a Texan. I hope one day I will be able to call myself a Texan with as much pride as everyone else does.

Kellie Tolbert is a columnist for the University Daily at Texas Tech University. This column was distributed by U-Wire.

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