Before coming to UT, I was never really aware of the Longhorn's significance to our university. Coming from a place like Temple High School, I did not really feel any sense of pride or connection to our mascot, the Wildcat. Irregardless of how many football games we had won (lost, mostly), how intensive our academic programs were, or anything else that was related to the school, the symbol of a Wildcat was only a mere cartoon character to me and nothing else. I was essentially being “branded” with an identity that I was neither aware nor passionate about.

But while I am in my dorm room typing this entry up, I realized that the connection I lacked in high school is present here. What is it about this university that is connecting me to the Longhorn? One major difference that I spotted since the first day of school was this environment's ability to instill a drive or strength to lead individuals. Programs such as Plan II (Liberal Arts included), Business, and even engineering are teaching its students the value of leadership and inspiring them to take their own personal initiatives.

Much like Sancho, who was taken “to the front when there was high water to cross,”(Dobie, Anthology 824) we harbor the same capacity to succeed when a difficult situation or problem arises. It is the same leadership that has drawn me closer to the Longhorn. Though some may not consider the “wandering longhorn” a form of leadership, it is. Leadership does not have to involve control over a group of people. In the most simplest state, leadership involves the individual's ability to recognize what he or she wants and advance towards it.

A couple weeks ago, there was news broadcasting Bevo XIII's death. I didn't feel any remorse or sadness when I heard about it. The Longhorn was still alive. It has become a “totem” for this university as well as a staple for motivation to advance:

“A totemic animal may be neither killed nor harmed by those who consider themselves to be its descendants...”

(Benet, Anthology 901)