Reject the Turkey Foot. Be Yourself.

What is a Hokie anyway?

In my mind, a Hokie is a stupid, outdated expression or way of doing something. It's a redneck term term meant to describe something trite and completely without merit.

"Hey, look at that guy's hokie hat... it's so 80's"...
"What a hokie outfit... where'd she get it? The Dollar Tree?"

Yet, today, for what must have been for the twenty-sixth thousandth and fifth time, a luxury SUV passed me on the interstate with one of those damned Virginia Tech turkey feet magnets affixed to the rear hatchback with 'Proud Parent of a Hokie" and " HOKIE ALUM" Window Decals prominently displayed. This was after seeing the 'VT' license plate approaching in my rear-view mirror.

Proud to be a turkey. Or a Hokie. I didn't even know a turkey was a hokie, or vice-versa. To be quite honest, I really don't give a shit either way.

My issue isn't with Hokies, although where I live affords me the unfortunate luxury of abhoring the gold and burgundy turkey foot that represents a university known for academics. Turkey feet are everywhere.

As you might guess, my issue go much deeper. Let's delve into the psyche of the post-graduate mindset, shall we?

I wonder, what posesses these people to continue to support an institution of higher education after graduation? Why the rabid rallies? The men and women that continue to rally for an institution that basically did nothing more than act as entity that was paid to do a job seems to be blind to the fact that the men and women that helped them aren't the ones on the starting defensive line.

Myself, when I left school, I came away with memories and a degree or two. That's all I need. I don't understand needing having to tie oneself to an institution after being released. If that were the case, I'd have kept my orange jumpsuit after my last jail stay. Go Orange.
But really. I understand everyone needing a sense of community at one point or another. But what I can see in those who can't let go of college and high school is a lack of sense of self.

Sure everyone needs community. Nobody needs turkey feet. Everybody needs self.