Elli Yeager

Who knew that succulents could be a team bonding activity? Yesterday, in preparation for nationals next week, the equestrian team did a team bonding activity that actually ended up being fun and helpful. 

It’s oddly satisfying and calming to look at succulents and pick which ones most appeal to us, and then make our vision a reality by picking a certain color and shaped bowl, and choosing from a variety of different colors of sand. And like choosing toppings for a frozen yogurt creation, we topped off our work of art with different kinds of stones, just to add a little sparkle. 

I had so much fun, I made three different combinations. Maybe it was one to match each mood I felt with the pressure of nationals looming. For my first succulent, I did a mix of green sand colors and pulled lines through on the sides to create a pattern. The pattern was soothing for my taught nerves. For the second succulent, I did a blue theme, but instead of making layers I mixed all the colors together and then put white stones on top. This one was a little fun and I think it reflected my excitement for the upcoming competition. My third plant art was a cactus, and I used soil and put it in a blue bowl with black rocks on top. I think this one might subconsciously reflect my determination to win the blue. lol.

With so many different creative options, we could all be proud of what we had made and were supportive of each other by showing off our plants and being creative instead of competitive. 

Amsterdam, Paris, Laguardia. Newark, JFK, LAX.  Burbank, Dallas Fort Worth, Dallas Love Field and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Charlotte and Orlando. Miami and Fort Lauderdale. SFO, Detroit, Philadelphia, BWI, Tampa, and Nashville. Dulles and Reagan. De Gaulle to Rio Galeao to Stockholm to Frankfurt.  All airports are basically the same. Airports all have the same news and snack stores, chain restaurants, and Starbucks (or Dunkin Donuts). 

They all have a distinct smell and feel. Weary travelers on their way home, rushing to get to the baggage claim first. Excited travelers on the start of their journey, stopping at the bar for a celebratory drink. Or the business travelers, with their perfect carry on luggage, with their sportcoat hung nicely over the top. The haggard mothers, trying to coral tired, overstimulated children and avoid the glares of their fellow travelers whose only thoughts are “please don’t let them sit by me.”

They all have the constant buzz of noise in the background. The droning of announcements for departing flights and delayed flights and the occasional name of a passenger who stopped in the bar just a little too long or hit crazy traffic on the commute to the airport. The millions of pieces of conversations. 

I take my airpods and my computer. Download my books and my music. Wear an extra sweatshirt for when I get cold, and buy a water for when I get thirsty. A seasoned traveler comes prepared. Every airport around the world is the same, and I have seen quite a few of them!

 

Living in an apartment requires much more adulting than living in the dorms. I have to carry my groceries from the car, up the stairs, and usually a few items bounce out along the way (probably because I am trying to make it in one trip). 

I have to think about my noise level since I’m on the 5th floor and have families and working professionals surrounding me. I make the long trek down 5 floors to get to the lobby every morning with Coco, so we can take a run and she can take a pee. 

I cook dinner in the evenings, with a real stove and burners, and pay the utility bills. When something breaks, I have to fix it or figure out how to find someone who can. When my packages get lost, I have to track them down. When the fire alarm goes off (which it does over and over and over again), I can only pretend I don’t hear it and wonder if this time it might actually be real. 

Awkward elevator rides are also new. In the dorms, everyone knew everyone, or at least we all knew of each other and could strike up a conversation. But in the apartment elevator, I must behave properly and address strangers with a polite nod or a kind hello. 

But then I look over the view of the city and the sun sets in the background and the rain gently hits the window panes, and I am thankful for my sanctuary. 

Jackson, with your friendly smile and open demeanor 

We play word hunt 

And you answer all my last minute texts about assignments.

I am in awe that you can provide clarity, 

For readings that kept me in the dark.

And thankful you coordinate rescheduling after team events, 

Without making me feel like a bad student. 

So helpful sending me the notes I miss, and 

The giver of the best test reviews 

(I have you to thank for that last A).

I will miss your snide remarks, 

About who is sitting where and talking with whom

And your words of encouragement, 

That keeps me studying late into the night. 

I always find that the best conversations are the random ones with strangers. Just a few weeks ago, I was flying back to school from spring break.  I struck up a conversation with the lady in the seat next to me. As we sipped our drinks and began to chit-chat, the flight attendants brought us out our bowls of nuts. 

When we were done, she looked at me and said, “ I didn’t see you as a cashew girl.” Not having any idea what she was talking about, I raised my eyebrow in response. 

“I find it so interesting to see what everyone is going to pick, is it going to be the almonds or the cashews. Every person picks one or the other,” she replied. She was an almond girl, and I ate the cashews. In my head, the cashews have more salt, so they are therefore the best. 

Our almond vs. cashew debate turned into a philosophical conversation about politics and social issues, including her strong opinion that “how people don’t  raise children, especially boys, correctly.”  She left me with a strong piece of advice that I think will stick with me for a lifetime: raise your children to be gentlemen and ladies and they will always do just fine in this world.  

I will say it again. When it rains, class should be canceled.  A storm is not just a storm in Texas. Last night, my window, which is double latched, flew open in the middle of the night, with the pure force of the wind that was whipping around my building.  The rain in Texas, comes the wind- up to 70 mph on some days – and it is downright dangerous to open car doors, carry books, or even walk in the wind.

And then there is the flooding. Sometimes I’m lucky to even make it to school. The streets are closed making it impossible to get to class on time, and trees fall left and right, blocking off entire roads and sending navigation systems into a spin. 

Coming from California, I find it mildly disconcerting to go to class with tornado sirens in the background and lightning flashing overhead every 2 seconds. Even if I manage to get my car door open without hitting the car next to me, mother nature still wins. She pelts hail the size of golf balls from the sky, at just the time when I have to run outside, without the protection of a walkway, in order to make it to class on time. And do you know how many people I have seen or how close I have been to slipping and landing in one of the giant puddles of water? 

Therefore, on behalf of myself and the rest of the student body, in order to protect our health and mental well-being, I propose that class be canceled when it rains. 

New students and first-timers to Dallas are constantly asking for my personal recommendations for restaurants and services around campus. Without further introduction I present to you: 

Elli’s Favorite Spots- A Coveted List

Best sushi: Namo, Uchi, Musume, Nobu, Little Katana, Oishii

Best lunch spots: ChopShop, Sweetgreen, anything from Trader Joes

Best Dinner: Bistro 31, Fachini, Honor Bar, Mi Cocina, RH Rooftop, Carbone, Il Bracco, Ocean Prime

Great Nail Salons: Castle Nail Salon only !!!!!! Jimmy rocks 

Where to Get Groceries: Whole foods and Trader Joes 

Chill Bars: Monkey Bar, Goodbye Horses, Barley House, Standard Pour, Green Elephant, Katy Trail Ice House

Hidden Study Spots: Fondren (top floor) overlooking Dallas 

Late night snacks: Zalats, Whataburger, Hawaiian Bros Old Town, 

Pick Me Up Coffee Shops: Foxtrot, Fairgrounds, Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts 

Fun Sports Events: Make sure to catch a few games of the Stars and Mavericks  

College athletics are cut-throat competitive in any sport, and social media does not help keep teams on a “friendly competition” spirit. When it was announced that SMU was the number 1 seed for equestrian, there were tons of Karens on Facebook having temper tantrums since SMU was not in a conference and was still allowed to be ranked number one. It is true that all other teams competed in conferences whether SEC, Big 12, or ECAC (the old conference for SMU). Instead of congratulations for our 10-1 season and a “well done” for being the only team that did not have two or more losses, our accomplishment was met with disparagement and criticism. 

The mission statement of the NCAA states in part, The highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship. The pursuit of excellence in both academics and athletics,” but social media gave critics the platform to question all our hard work and to create conflict and tension when good sportsmanship calls for a genuine congratulations. 

Sadly, I think social media has taken away sportsmanship at almost every level, not just NCAA sports. Social media allows people to hide behind a computer instead of having conversations or expressing concerns in a professional manner. We cannot as a team control what other people say, but we can ignore negativity and believe that our team is number one because we have earned the spot through our hard work and dedication. And then we go and prove it at nationals.