Growing up in Norman, my friends and I would ride our bikes around campus with no regard to the significance or beauty it harbored. As it came time to choose a college, my parents tried to pressure me away from OU. My brothers had both moved far away, and my parents wanted me to have new experiences outside of my hometown. I begrudgingly agreed, and tucked away my acceptance to OU. Several months later, I broke out in tears at the sight of an OU billboard along I-35, and had to explain to my parents that I really wanted to go to OU. OU always symbolized something much more than a degree for me, its tradition filled legacy called to me and attracted me like no other schools had.

The Bizzell Library perfectly encompasses this beautiful paradox of tradition and hard work. As a historical marvel, it was completed in 1928 and has maintained its original beauty throughout the years. Architecturally, it is said to be Cherokee Gothic style building, which holds its own significance to Oklahomans. As a student, you dread the library, but as a Sooner, you revel in it. The “Biz” has been a place of dread, studying, and research for me as a student at OU. However, its legacy has imprinted something different on my memory; it has become a symbol of tradition, and of hope. It symbolizes history, yet also symbolizes the endless possibilities that the future holds for us students. The OU library undoubtedly influences me in a positive way; it inspires me to do my best and strive for success. To strive to be a Sooner. The Bizzell Memorial Library’s legacy and aesthetic will stay with me long after my time at OU is over.