Texas A&M
We had an amazing week! Every group we presented with added their own touch, made their unique contribution, and made us feel so inspired and privileged to be on the road. Garza brought us to our first high school on tour! Ya’ll were so great! Then we hit ACC: Northridge, which proved that Austin was as cool as peeps around Texas had said. It was our largest screening to date, attracting many interested and curious students. It was great to hang out with them. The following day we had a crazy adventure bringing Cynthia, a former MidSouth Nomad, to Baylor University in Waco. The community of Baylor was so full of love and kindness that we hardly wanted to part ways. So many people stayed behind to meet about becoming Nomads, joining the chapter that is starting; we left so encouraged. After a day off chillin with some awesome ladies, ya’ll know who you are, we finally hit up UT Austin. This was definitely a screening I was highly anticipating! I know I gave Sam a hard time but he was so wonderful to spend the day with and get to know. Sam you are LEGIT! UT Austin definitely pulled off a successful screening which made me wonder if our week could get any better! Each screening really uplifted us, encouraged our hearts, and proved that Texas can bring it!
Yesterday we left Austin, anxious to get to College Station and see if A&M would continue our high streak. I had great expectations because Jade had put in so much work to make the screening successful and I was excited just to celebrate with her and honor her hard work. We got to College Station early but had to catch up on work so we weren’t able to meet up much earlier than the actual screening time. But we finally got to Zachry and began to set up and get arranged. I stood outside the auditorium with Stephen and we greated people as they entered. So many people were filing in that Stephen and I had lost count!
We were set to get started! I was introduced and got up on stage to get A&M pumped for what we were about to expose them too. They were so attentive and eager participants that it bringing energy and passion was easy! I felt so alive up on that stage sharing about why North Korea means so much to me and why I am here to inspire them all. Hiding rolled. Everyone was engaged. Man! We counted 120 attendees! Could things get any better? Adrian went up to discuss the Reliance after Stephen had briefly introduced it. Then we answered questions, wrapped up the screening shouting out 1Love and inviting peeps to join the Reliance.
Our merchandise table was OVERWHELMED! Swarming with passionate individuals ready to pledge and engage in the solution! We could hardly contain ourselves! So many people were pledging, talking to us about how to get involved, whispering of a chapter, interested in Nomading it in the Spring, and pumped about our Action Kits! A&M ROCKED IT!!!!!! By the end of a crazy night as we sat down to dinner to unwind with the 1Love crew we couldn’t help put to have smiles pasted to our faces! Our time at A&M is what makes being a Nomad so bloody wonderful and amazing! Stephen, Adrian and I are all very passionate and care so much about North Korea, but to see these complete strangers get as pumped and active for this issue was truly humbling!
We all go to hang out after the screening and dinner at Jade’s apartment and just continue to share our lives and experiences and hilarious stories! Even though we had just met them hours earlier it was as if we had been old friends. Everyone made us feel so welcomed, so included, and so cared for that we could have stayed up all night. But alas! We had to sleep! Although our morning was filled with delicious pancakes and fruit from Jordan and Michael’s house. LEGIT! A&M definitely pulled out all the stops to make us Nomads understand why this is the Heartland. So full of love, generosity, and genuine deep care!
A&M I love you! Each person definitely blew our minds with the amount of love and care that they showed not only to North Korea and to LiNK but in us too. There will always be a special place in my heart for you! AGGIES FOR LIFE!!!!!
—Kyla
