An Honest Letter to The SFA Students from Someone That Was in Their Position

Dear Students of Stephen F. Austin State University,

What you're going to read in this letter is true. This is not satire. This is coming straight from an SFA alumnus, someone that was in your place not too terribly long ago. Yes, some things have changed since I was there, but most of the things still ring true today.

We Want You Here

I'm sure you've heard people complain about having you here. Whether the complaints are brought about because of the excess traffic that's around during the semesters, or the waiting lines at the local restaurants, or even the shortages of items at the grocery stores because "students have just bought EVERYTHING in there"...when it comes down to it, we want you in Deep East Texas. This isn't just a Nacogdoches thing. This is a regional thing. We truly want you guys and girls here.

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Without the influx of students, all of the region suffers. The local businesses that build their budgets around the population build those budgets based on you coming back to the area and spending time and money at the local stores and restaurants. There are lots of businesses that I daresay wouldn't survive without college students.

Remember: There ARE Things to Do Here

Take it from someone who knows...There are things to do here. The next time you get bored and start to tell yourself that there's "nothing" to do in Nacogdoches, or Lufkin, or any of the surrounding areas, just take a pause. No, there's not as many things to do here as in places like the DFW, or Houston, but that doesn't mean there's nothing.

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There are theaters, there are bowling alleys, there are local shopping stores. And - probably the biggest option - there are outdoor options. You have access to gardens, hiking trails, multiple lakes, parks, etc. There ARE options, you just have to be willing to find them and get to them.

Be Proud to be Here

Yes, SFA falls into the "Small-Town School" category. It's small. But it's good. I might be biased, but I'm a fan of SFA. I was a fan of it well before I was a student there. It's a good thing. People tend to look down on it because of size, but I think - No, I KNOW - that I benefitted from being a Lumberjack, and I benefit from having SFA in the area that I still call home today.

The next time that someone puts down SFA, don't take it to heart. Just let it slide off and look at the good that SFA has done in the past, continues to do today, and will keep on doing tomorrow. SFA is a good thing. Period.

Sincerely,

Mark Cunningham

P.S. Axe 'Em, Jacks!