11/18/1999

I remember the day I found out that the bonfire had fallen. I was a sophomore in high school. I remember talking about it at lunch. My friend, Annette, drove to College Station that night to be with her older sister and their friends, because someone they knew was injured. She said that the memorial service was overflowing...standing room only. At that point, I thought I was going to Baylor University. I wasn't really interested in Texas A&M. But I knew a little bit about the traditions. I had never been to a Bonfire, but what I remember most about the incident was the spirit....the spirit of Aggieland as we aggies call it. The spirit of Aggieland was at its strongest November 18, 1999. The Bonfire falling was a terrible thing. However, from that, I (along with many others) were able to see what it really meant to be an Aggie. They came together. They helped eahother. They were strong. And everyone across the nation saw it. I heard (although I can't prove it) but I heard that application rates went up that year. People just wanted to be a part of that spirit that everyone saw after the Bonfire fell.


That was my first experience with Texas A&M. From the outside, I found the spirit of Aggieland really special. And after 2 degrees, I am proud to say that it's everything I saw then and much more.


Thanks and gigem.

ps. The Texas Monthly has a really awesome article on the Bonfire. If you get that magazine, you should read it.

What's in a name?

Snead. When I started dating Brad it seems like such a normal name. People knew how to say it and would attempt it. Oropeza. Now, that is complicated. People always ask "how do I say it?" "Oropeeeeeza" "Is that Spanish?" "I know I'm going to butcher it" "Lauren OOOOO uhhhh."

Well today I come with 2 funny stories about my names...these are true stories of how Snead and Oropeza were used in my classroom. Of course I laughed at them 1) because its funny and 2) because if you can't laugh when high schoolers make fun of you, then you shouldn't be a teacher.

Story #1:

Student1: Bless you.
Me: I didn't sneeze
Student: Yes you did....Sneeead....you know, like sneeze.

Story #2:

Student #1 to Student #2: What do you like better? Oropeza or Snead?
Student #2: Oropeza. I like it. It's like an unusual bug....ohhh look (pointing to the floor) It's an oropeza!

It's just funny. Laugh, because its good for you and because high schoolers are weird.