Posing at the Texas border, my brother, Riley, and my sister-in-law, Sarah, hold up a “T” and a “X” for “Texas.” We helped them move to Houston, Texas over the summer, and it’s safe to say that after copious amounts of Torchy’s queso and free access to H-E-B, they’ve been completely converted. Photo by Rachelle Wilkinson

With graduation just around the corner, college is coming up and it’s time to start making plans—for housing, a major, transportation…and how to decorate my college dorm room. I am a very indecisive person, so deciding how to decorate hasn’t come easily, but there’s one thing I know without a doubt: Texas must be represented.

I’d like to say that I was born and raised in Texas, but the truth is I was born in Arizona and moved here two months later. I came here as fast I could, though, and I’ve never looked back since. Why would I? Texas is the best, and here are some reasons why. 

First of all, Texas has an awesome shape. Many other states have simple rectangles or blobs with crooked edges, but no other state looks as cool as Texas. The shape is so distinctive that it looks great on anything: necklaces, t-shirts, posters, signs, you name it. Also, it’s huge, which just proves that everything is bigger (and better) in Texas. 

Now picture a little first grader learning about their state in class one day: they’ve just been assigned to color their state flag so their teacher can hang them up on the wall and pretend they’re art, and the kids can pretend they’re artists. Schools in other states will have rows of papers with lines and shapes and colors jumbled together that just might be the state flag. In Texas, though, those rows will all clearly show the flag with blue, red and white rectangles with a star on the left. The Texas flag is simple and sweet, easily drawn by a first grader. State flags shouldn’t be super complicated because how in the world is a person supposed to draw it, much less an elementary schooler trying to develop some state pride? The Texas flag both looks cool and is easily drawn which is perfect for a state flag. 

I’m going to miss a lot about Texas when I go to college, but the thing I’m going to miss the most is the food. Chuy’s creamy jalapeno, Torchy’s queso, Rudy’s brisket, HEB’s tortillas…the list goes on of unbeatable foods in Texas. When my family and I went to Malta, we struck up a conversation with our uber driver on our way to one of the beautiful locations to visit there. We told him we were from Texas, and he said, “No way! I love to watch shows about Texas Barbeque! Is it as good as it looks?” Of course we answered yes, and we described to him just how good it is. Take it from a Maltese uber driver who knows just by looking, that Texas food is absolutely delicious.

One word: Buc-ee’s. If you live in Texas, you know what I mean, but if you don’t, Buc-ee’s is the best gas station ever created. They have about a million gas pumps, just as many bathroom stalls and better food than you’ll find at any other gas station. Their random merch is also super good. Speaking from several Christmas stockings of experience, I’d highly recommend the chapstick and nail clippers. Trust me. And it doesn’t get better than a picture with a grinning beaver statue to mix up the boredom of a long car ride. 

Finally, Texas just has a great vibe. From “come and take it” cannon bumper stickers to t-shirts with a baseball hat wearing beaver, there’s an energy and a pride to being a Texan that you take with you long after you cross the border. I know I’m proud to be a Texan, which is something my roommates will learn soon enough once I’ve finished decorating my dorm room. Other states may be blessed with cooler weather or less humidity, but from the wise words of a country music group, “God Blessed Texas,” and that is simply unbeatable.