Baylor University! My Alma Mater! My beloved University where I received my bachelors degree and my Masters Degree. Baylor, where my father attended and graduated from. Baylor, where my loved and respected Uncle W.J. Wimpee was the Chaplain and a professor of religion for many decades and where he and his children all graduated from. Baylor, where most all of my cousins attended and graduated from. Baylor, where many of my Aunts and Uncles graduated from. I have a rich and positive Baylor heritage. I met my amazing and handsome husband, Bill Skaar at Baylor, our freshman year! His mother was a Baylor grad and 2 of his 3 siblings graduated from Baylor. Our daughter, Melissa Skaar Theilig, has a Master's of Taxation from the Baylor Business School. Her husband, Jonathan Theilig, has a Business Management Degree from Baylor and his mother, Dianne Pavic Theilig, is a Baylor graduate as well! I could go on and on. I LOVE Baylor and treasure my memories and associations from this wonderful University. I cannot sufficiently put into words how fondly I think of this institution and the city of Waco. My parents were married in my Uncle W.J.'s living room in Waco and spent their wedding night in a downtown Waco Hotel that is now a restored venue for wedding receptions and parties.
I was raised going to Waco annually with my family to spend Thanksgiving at my Uncle W.J.'s home. We reunited with cousins, aunts, uncles, and others in W.J, and Aunt Lillian's lovely home on Braemar Street in Waco most every Thanksgiving. My mother always made me a new dress and bought me new shoes for this trip! We always included a visit to the campus where my Uncle was on faculty. He was well loved and respected and his classes would always fill up immediately and not everyone could get into his classes that wanted to. They'd have to wait and try again the next semester.
I took him for New Testament and got an A in his class! My dad, his younger brother even took his class as a student!
The BSU- Baptist Student Union organization (Now the BSM) was a huge part of my time at Baylor. As a freshman I did not do Rush, instead I applied to be on the Freshman Leadership Counsel at the BSU and was selected along with Bill Skaar and others. That was such a blessing to me at that time in my early adulthood. I think I grew more spiritually during that intense year of Discipleship training at the BSU than most any other time in my life, up to that point. I learned how to have a quality quiet and prayer time, I learned how to do topical Bible studies and Character studies. I learned how to set goals in these areas: Physical, Mental, Spiritual, and Social and how to keep a work/life balance. I am so thankful for my time at the BSU.
My Sophomore year I felt the time was right and I was ready to go through Panhellenic Rush where Sororities recruit new members. I enjoyed the process and pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma. (My daughter also pledged KKG and was sing chairman (woman) twice and Vice President!) There I enjoyed many new friendships and learned even more about philanthropy, service to others, social activities, and community service. They also stressed academic achievement and leadership. Now when it came to athletic participation, I just paid my fine and chose to skip the co-ed athletic stuff that was required, after sincerely but humorously attempting it, and failing miserably. That was not a strong area for me and still isn't. I love to work out, dance, bike, run, walk, play tennis and do Zumba but other sports, I prefer to watch, not play. I think others thank me for this choice!
Baylor has a spirit about it that cannot be described. Baylor has to be experienced to understand fully. When I was at Baylor, I was surrounded by positive, encouraging, Christian, people. I was constantly meeting, getting to know, and interacting with Baylor students, professors, etc. who were all similar to my background and beliefs. Most people there are very driven, self motivated, confident, enthusiastic, optimistic, smart, well read, kind, giving, courageous, motivating, hard working, friendly and have high moral standards. It was marvelous being submerged in a culture of like minded people who were pursuing similar goals and encouraging me as well. It was refreshing to be totally surrounded by people with a strong sense of right and wrong and who knew how to love and be loved, and who have come to grips with their own mortality (they know for sure where they will spend eternity).
I tend to be a "Polly Anna" type of person (overly hopeful and optimistic) and therefore I am disappointed sometimes, but I don't regret being hopeful and having some expectations. I can accept when they aren't quite met sometimes and I am not afraid to hope again after disappointments. I learned that at Baylor. I am not afraid.
I used to wear "rose colored glasses" and saw the world in an idealistic way. Then as I left Baylor and went out into the real world to marry, get my first job, and be a pastor's wife in the Houston area, I lost my "rose colored glasses" and can't find them again. However, I think that is actually a healthy and mature reality. I haven't lost hope, optimism, or my positive perspective. I have just gained maturity and insight and learned to be more realistic. Again, I credit my time at Baylor or in the "Baylor Bubble" for the wisdom I gained and the confidence not fear that I learned, as I stepped out of the wonderful bubble, that happy Xanadu place, that protected me and was almost perfect in my eyes, place, I was ready to take on the real world as an adult.
My mother always said, if there is only one thing I could give my kids or grand kids, and if I could afford to, I would give them a Baylor education. The quality of education and the additional wisdom this institution and unique environment can give, is worth every penny.
Many use the descriptive words, "Baylor Bubble" to refer to the unique aroma and perceived aura when you are part of Baylor. It is true. There is a huge element of insulating protection when you are here and you are focused on absorbing and assimilating all you are learning and experiencing at Baylor University. Even if you don't have a family heritage or tradition and were or are the first to be a Baylor Bear, you know what I am referring to. I believe it is a place that is blessed by God and that there is a super natural element available to those who seek it. To those who are walking daily in prayer and study of God's Word, who then come to Baylor and seek further enlightenment, knowledge, and experience, who seek growth and expansion of one's mind and experiences, you find that at Baylor. To me this, is what the "Baylor Bubble'' was and is.
We had an outstanding and historical year in Athletics this past year at Baylor! It was absolutely wonderful to see the accomplishments of RGIII and Britney Griner and so many others!
It is so exciting to be going to this stadium today for our first attendance this Fall to a Baylor home game! It's also exciting to see the plans progress for our new stadium near the campus!
Bruiser is our awesome Mascot and embodies the spirit and pride of our students and alumni so well!
My class of 81, was responsible for the installation of the green lights that light up Pat Neff tower after every Baylor win in sports! Thank you Jack Chambers, our Sophomore class president who came up with this idea!
And yes, I have to brag a little, we are SO proud of Robert Griffin the third who was the Heisman Trophy winner this year! We are proud of him as he helps the Washington Redskins now as their new quarterback and as he had the best opening ever for a rookie quarterback! God speed and Sic em, RGIII, as you continue to represent your Alma Mater well! Thank you for choosing to attend Baylor and may the blessings you received, the wisdom, knowledge, and experiences you had during your time in the "Baylor Bubble" serve you well as you go forward pursuing your dreams and bringing glory to God! Blessings to you!
Where did you attend college or what University do you love and why?
Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of his might."
