When my husband and I first moved to Southlake in 2007, we were amused by a “D Magazine” cover. It was titled “Why You Should Hate Southlake.” It was a tongue-in-cheek cover story that showcased our town as the envy of the Metroplex, an academic powerhouse with a pretty good football program as well. The cover featured three students, including the starting quarterback of the recent state champions. More than 13 years later, the title perhaps will resurface again, but this time in less favorable fashion. Some describe us as a homogeneous, elitist community through which racial tension runs rampant. This has not been my experience. This is not the Southlake that I know.
Growing up, I always felt like the perpetual new kid in school. My family moved often because of my dad’s job. As the daughter of immigrant Asian Indian parents, I felt that I never fit in or looked like my peers. Our first stop in Texas was Lubbock, where I somehow developed a Texas accent. When my family moved to the DFW area, no one knew what to do with the Indian girl with the West Texas drawl.
Once in Dallas, we were surrounded by diverse cultures. For the Indian community, I was never “Indian enough.” I didn’t speak Hindi, and I had no clue about the latest Bollywood hit. I managed to find a group of friends, but I always felt like an outsider. A decade or so later, my husband and I moved to Southlake from an affluent ethnically diverse suburb in the Houston area, where our neighbors were not very friendly and never went out of their way to make us feel welcome.
When we arrived in Southlake, we, of course, expected a similar situation. To say that we were pleasantly surprised would be a gross understatement. In our first week in our new home, our neighbors brought over freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. When our youngest son was born seven weeks premature that year, our neighbors rallied around us and showed the true definition of compassion, providing meals, as well as support. Our children have blended into #DragonNation well, with friends of all races, cultures and religions. Finally, we have been blessed to become involved in a great church in this wonderful community.
The double stroller is now gone, and we now have a third driver in the family. As an author stated, “The days are long, and the years are short.” The young man who was the starting quarterback of the 2007 Dragons, and on the cover of “D Magazine,” has now come home to coach his alma mater. So much has changed, but the heart of Southlake remains the same. It is a community of people with hearts of gold, each one imperfect as an individual. Together, however, we embrace each others’ differences with tolerance and understanding. We all bleed green together, and not just on Friday night. Southlake is my home where I can finally say that I belong.
Renée Thomas is a pharmacist turned homemaker and mom of two Dragons. She volunteers at Gateway Church as a small group leader and teacher. Renée and her husband John have called Southlake home since 2007.
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