If you are a new student at UTRGV, there are many things you will learn during your first semester. Some are explained during orientation, but others you have to learn by yourself. These are the unwritten rules of UTRGV.
You learn them by being late to class, waiting too long for food, looking for parking and trying to survive the Rio Grande Valley heat.
One of the first things you learn is that parking is survival. If you have an 8 or 9 a.m. class, arriving early is important. Finding a parking spot can take longer than you expect.
If you arrive late, you may have to park far away and walk to your building. At that point, you are not only late, but you also have to rush to class.
Leaving campus around 5 p.m. can be another challenge. Roads like Sugar Road, Schunior Street and University Drive can become very busy.
What should be a short drive home can take much longer because of traffic. Sometimes, getting out of campus feels like another part of your school day.
For student-athletes, getting around campus is even more important. When you have classes, practice and other responsibilities, walking everywhere is not always easy. This is when you realize that having a scooter can be very useful. You quickly learn that getting across campus in a few minutes is better than walking when you are already tired.
The Bronc Trail also has its busy moments. During class changes, there can be a lot of students walking at the same time. If you have another class starting soon, you need to plan ahead because a short walk can take longer when everyone is going in the same direction.
Food has its own set of rules too. If you go to Chick-fil-A in the Student Union between noon and 2 p.m., be prepared to wait. The line can easily take around 20 minutes just to get your food. If you only have a short break between classes, you might want to choose something else.
The library is also different depending on the time. During the day, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., it can be difficult to find a quiet place to study. Many students are there between classes, talking with friends or waiting for their next class. If you really need to focus, studying later can be a better option.
Finally, there is the Valley heat. Your phone may tell you that your next class is only a seven-minute walk away, but those seven minutes can feel much longer when the sun is strong. You start thinking about where you can find shade before you even leave your building.
These are the things nobody tells you before starting at UTRGV. You learn them by experiencing them. After a while, you know when to avoid Chick-fil-A, when to look for parking, when the Bronc Trail is crowded and when it is better to study at the library.
That is what makes these unwritten rules part of the UTRGV experience. They are small things, but they become part of everyday student life.
