Did I miss anything?

In answer to the above question, I'm going to have to say no. Now, I know I'm partial. But I'm still going with no.

The full question is really "Did I miss out on anything by going to Baylor rather than going to another college - say William & Mary?"

You see, today the Hubby is teaching a MCAT course up here in Williamsburg on the campus of William & Mary. And rather staying at home snoozing away my afternoon and evening, I elected to ride with him up here and do some looking around the campus and even wander off campus into Colonial Williamsburg. (AKA Butter World for those loyal readers.) The two butt up right next to each other and really carry out the same feel throughout both.

So as I wandered around campus - which let me say isn't nearly as spread out as I thought when walking it (How about posting a campus map, people?!?) - I looked at all the older buildings and the brick sidewalks and thought to myself how neat the place looked. And really - all the red brick buildings reminded me a little of Baylor and all its red brick buildings. Granted, Baylor did come a few hundred years later, but it still red bricked like W&M.

As I made my way around, I saw many familiar sights of a college campus. A muddy pick-up game of football on the campus mall, overcrowded parking lots with the finest of cars that mommy and daddy's money could buy and the packed library with students all cramming for the big test tomorrow. There were fliers posted to nearly every open space, the buildings smelled the same musty smells and bike were chained to many a handrails and lamp posts.

Sure there are differences. For instance the trees here are turning a gorgeous collection of reds and yellows and oranges. I'm sure most the trees back in Waco are far from falling - and they don't turn any color except brown. And Baylor's neighbors are mainly run down housing, all forms of apartments and, on the far edges, warehouses. Here in Williamsburg there's a vibrant little historical area surrounding the campus. I'm sure W&M's student population is a different composition than Baylor's and most likely leans far more liberal than and Baptist background Baylor touts.

There's the pros and cons. But really, it all just boils down to the fact they're both colleges. You'll find a mixture of all kinds of people and beliefs. It's at every college across the nation that young people come to hopefully gain knowledge and wisdom while attending class, making the social rounds and find out what it is that makes them as individuals tick. What is it that they believe in and why? It's here they learn to think for themselves and create an identity unique only to themselves. They set their views of the world, their opinions and a self-certainty that most likely was lacking before. You meet with people you would never hung out with before and you hear ideas from someone else that doesn't match what you were taught. You're forced to become certain of what you believe in and maybe learn to accept new beliefs.

I miss college on so many levels. I miss my friends I made, the challenges of those upper level courses (not all, but some) and the time I had to myself. I miss going to coffee shops and sorority functions and staying up late driving to Waffle House with friends. I miss my little apartment on the edge of campus and the ease at walking where ever I needed to get to. I had the option of cooking or going to the cafeteria. I miss football games! I miss basketball games! Oh, and going to the ballpark and sitting with friends overlooking the Brazos on a sunny spring afternoon.

So no, I don't think I missed much by my choice in college. I think I probably would have had a similar experience no matter where I went. But the best thing I'm glad I didn't miss out on was that the Hubby went to Baylor too. That made the decision to go to Baylor one of the best I've made so far.