Our people: Proud Texan

Courtesy photo Chrisman and her brother Bradley Seimens took riding lessons when they were younger.

Brittany Chrisman is the president of the Associated Students of Eastern New Mexico University. A native Texan, Chrisman enjoys spending time with her horse, Fancy. Chrisman said her favorite part about her job as president is that she gets to plan and run fun-filled events and activities for the students of Eastern. “I get paid to be creative and make people smile!” she said.

What is your theme song? My theme song is called “She’s Like Texas” by the Josh Abbott Band. I am from south Texas and I love my state. That song is beautiful because it compares the great state to a woman – I like to think that it suits me.

When I get in my car, the first thing I listen to is... Anything by Michael Buble.

My friends and family call me... BB. My little sister couldn’t say Brittany so she called me BB instead and it has stuck ever since.

In an alternative life, I would have been an... Astronaut. I think that would be an incredible profession and lifestyle. I couldn’t imagine seeing the earth from outer space – how beautiful!

After a long, hard day, I love to... Go ride my horse. She is my stress relief, my inspiration and my ultimate hobby. I enjoy spending time in the saddle more than anything else.

One of my favorite childhood toys is... My stuffed donkey named Lonnie. I couldn’t function without him as a child. He is pink and blue and definitely well-loved. His ears have been sewn on several times and I have had to re-glue his eyes but he is a precious little thing and I still keep him on a shelf in the bedroom.

One movie I could watch over and over again is... ”Grease” – I love John Travolta. I think that is definitely the greatest musical of all time and one of the best movies ever made. I can quote every line and sing every song…

My favorite bad-for-me food is... Candy Corn. I love autumn because of all the Candy Corn – every grocery store smells like it when you walk in the door.

What did you think about on Sept. 11? On September 11, I was in sixth grade. I was at school, but the teachers wouldn’t tell us what was going on. They were all crying and to be quite honest, we were very afraid and completely unaware. I didn’t find out what had happened until I rode the bus home from school that afternoon and the high school students told us. I was afraid and devastated that this could happen in a place where I felt so safe.

Tell us about your pet. I have a beautiful quarter horse named Fancy. She is gray and beautiful and perfect. I consider her one of my best friends.

What’s your favorite TV show, past and present? My favorite TV show is Glee. It is real-life and entertaining and truly genius. It teaches so many great lessons about life and acceptance and growing up. I love Glee.

Do you have a favorite joke? Question: What do you call a dinosaur who wears glasses? Answer: do-you-think-he-saurus?

When you were a kid, what did you think you’d be doing as an adult? I thought that I was going to be a professional barrel racer and that I would have many horses and would spend my time traveling around the world competing in rodeos.

Tell us about your first date. My first date with my husband was when we were 16 years old. He took me to Chili’s and to Hastings bookstore. While we were at the restaurant he spilled his chicken fried steak in his lap, the stick on his corn-on-the-cob broke, causing the corn fall into his lap, and he drove the wrong way up an exit ramp. The poor guy was so nervous, but so cute and I guess all of the mishaps added to the romance because we are still together and happier than ever more than four years later.