Nov
22
Hello everyone!
So we are winding down the Fall semester here at the University of Oklahoma! It is amazing how fast time goes when you are in college! One second you’re in your first classes and the next you are studying for finals! But they always say that time goes by fast when you are having fun!
I promised in my last blog that I would post a bit about my freshman experience. Since I can remember, I wanted to go to OU. It was the only school I applied to, which must mean it is amazing! I wanted a university that opened up many opportunities both academically and in my community. I am kind of a community service nut, so that aspect of it was very important to me! My freshman year I was privileged enough to be accepted into the President’s Leadership Class. It is the most renowned leadership organization for freshmen! Approximately 100 incoming freshmen are accepted through their involvement in high school. So seniors, KEEP WORKING HARD!!! This is an amazing opportunity. Not only did it allow me to meet so many amazing people who had the same passions as I did, but I was also able to participate in so many great things such as a retreat down by Lake Texoma and Big Event! We also got to have dinner at President Boren’s house (or Papa B as we know him) and also dinner with the governor.
Nov
19
While Fall is by far my favorite time of the year, it also happens to be one the busiest times! I am fortunate enough to be highly involved in every organization that I am passionate about, but this means that sometimes I get overwhelmed.
First, some advice for college is getting used to using a planner. I have to have my planner with me at all times; if I don’t then I have no idea what needs to be done for that day and what commitments I have. So BUY A PLANNER NOW so you get used to keeping up with one.
Now, like I said I love this time of year, but I am now experiencing the feeling of the end of the semester. When you come to college you will understand this feeling, trust me. This feeling makes me want to shut down and not do anything but watch the Harry Potter marathon on ABC Family, but I can’t do that. Today, there is a football game, but I am skipping the last football game to catch up on life 🙁 . This past Friday I got to attend some very cool workshops facilitated by JC Penny Leadership Program–this is a program through Price College of Business. Basically, it acts as the liaison between classes and the corporate world. At any rate, I got to go to a workshop on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Franklin Covey, a Wall Street 101 presentation, and a Time Warner Media Presentation. While these did take up my entire day, they were interesting and helped me to grow as a leader. So my Friday was a workshop day; therefore, I get to spend my Saturday working on homework, Boomer Blogs, and preparing for some big interviews on Sunday.
Nov
18
Every year the Black Student Association hosts a back to school picnic/showcase called “On One Accord.” Here are just a few shots from this past year’s event!
That was also the location where this involvement video for the upcoming Stompdown Step Show presentation was filmed!
Nov
17
This is a rare occurrence. I’m sitting in the library, and it’s only 9 a.m. What is the world coming to? I’ve never studied this early before unless you count cramming in reading before class or something like that. I’m just rarely up this early unless I have somewhere to be, because I’m usually up until one or two in the morning studying. And believe you me, 7:00 a.m. comes reeeaaaaallly quickly when you’ve only been asleep since two.
I used to consider myself not a morning person. I mean, I’ve never been the cranky type or whatnot, but I don’t really like the morning because it means departing from my deliciously comfortable bed. And yet, sitting here at 9 a.m., I love it. Absolutely love it.
It’s so peaceful. No one is talking and everyone is working hard. And because I’ve just come out of a good night’s sleep, my head is clear and I’m feeling remarkably productive. I can’t believe it has taken me this long to figure out, but I think I may be completely changing my study habits from now on.
I’m going to try pulling a Ben Franklin. Early to bed, early to rise. I just hope the wealthy and wise show up sooner rather than later.
Nov
16
Feel free to judge me, but I am already in the Christmas spirit. It’s 10:30 and I am living the dream while listening to Josh Groban’s Christmas CD. Does that make me a grandma? Maybe. Am I ashamed? Not a bit. I realize that there are 50 days until the actual day but I’m a fan of starting my celebration at the conclusion of October. Since I am a vegetarian, Thanksgiving doesn’t really hold all the splendor that it might for most people, so I tend to skip right over it to the happiest day of the year — CHRISTMAS. I truly think the world would be a much happier place if we would all live life as though every day is Christmas, like Buddy the Elf.
Now that I’ve got my Christmas spirit out there, I can go on to tell you about the exciting opportunity I had this week to host Senator Joseph Lieberman during his time on campus! Senator Lieberman was passing through Norman while attending a couple events in Oklahoma City and I had the chance to serve as his host with my friend Stuart while he spoke to OU students. As a member of Crimson Club, we have the wonderful honor of spending time with guests of the President and showing them all that OU has to offer. I got to spend time with Sen. Lieberman and his wife before he addressed students and faculty about the need for a U.S. presence in Afghanistan, a strong stance on Iranian nuclear proliferation and a unified effort to combat Chinese economic control, emphasizing the vital importance of bipartisanship. His speech and my conversations with Sen. Lieberman were enlightening and opened my eyes to a lot of issues I often forget about in the craziness of college life.
Through opportunities like this one and by attending the lectures that we have frequently on campus, I have had the chance to interact and hear from a number of our country and the world’s leaders about issues have an impact on the national and global scale. As a college student, it is often easy to get sucked into academics and campus life and forget about the big world out there that we are all part of. I have learned during my time at OU how important it is to be informed in politics, economics, and world issues, even if that isn’t the focus of my major. There are opportunities every week here on campus to broaden your intellectual horizons and learn about the world and what the future holds. Next year when I graduate, I know I won’t just leave OU with a diploma but with a broadened view of the globe and as a more dedicated and informed member of society.
Nov
15
Hello Prospective Sooners! I am an alumni blogger, and in my first entry here I would like to share some of my experiences as a student in the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Art and Art History.
I hail from Plano, Texas and I graduated from OU in 2007 with a degree in Art History. After graduation, I moved to New York City to attend NYU for graduate school, and in 2009 I earned a Master’s in Museum Studies. Currently, I work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and I can honestly say that I credit much of the success I’ve had in my life so far to my experiences at OU. The four years I spent in Norman encompassed so many fulfilling and meaningful moments, and OU will always hold a special place in my heart–ask anyone who’s ever encountered me–I never stop talking about the University of Oklahoma!
During my tenure at OU I was able to forge some incredible relationships with my professors, and I think that is one of the keys to making the most of the college experience. One of the greatest things about OU is how accessible professors are to students–there was nary a time when one of my professors was not able to make some time to discuss what we were learning about in class, or even just to chat. I might be biased, but I think the School of Art is a gem, and the enthusiasm the professors impart on the subject matter they teach is palpable in every class session.
Nov
14
Being here at OU has changed my outlook on volunteerism and changed my definition of community. As a freshman, I received the President’s Community Scholars scholarship and it has changed my college experience dramatically! When I first came to OU, I thought that you had to be an upperclassman in order to get involved. However, that is definitely not the case at the University of Oklahoma. President David Boren has pressed the importance of creating leaders at OU and allowing the school and its projects to be led by students. So many organizations and events are run by my fellow classmates, and I have also had the opportunity to be in leadership positions.
The Big Event, for example, is a day of community service throughout the Norman/Oklahoma City area. We had around 5,000 students volunteer to work on projects for churches, schools and whoever wanted our help. The Big Event is run and organized by current students at OU, which is a HUGE undertaking but an even more amazing feat as well. My freshman year, I was in charge of a group of students that volunteered in Oklahoma City at an assisted living center. I felt like I was making a difference and that I was helping to lead OU. Nothing felt better!
It is not like being lost in a sea of faces; everyone can make a difference. The best decision I’ve ever made was to join the Sooner Family. I have never felt like I was not a part of the University. As students at OU, we extend the spirit of the Sooner Nation to the Norman community and the state of Oklahoma as a whole. We are all Sooners and that is a bond that cannot be rivaled. Boomer Sooner and come to OU, all are welcomed!
Nov
13
This past weekend I had the opportunity to witness and capture a beautiful wedding at OU’s Burr Park gazebo. Just when I thought I couldn’t gain more pride for my university, I was shown yet another side of the campus that Mrs. Boren has worked so diligently to beautify. Oh… And did I mention Mrs. Boren showed up?! Check out the photos!
Nov
12
I am horrified about not posting in so long. Sooo sorry. My sophomore year has been just a tad busy, to say the least. I just got done with a 15 page research paper last week and had to immediately get to studying for some Microbiology exams that are coming up next week. Eek, which reminds me. I have a Physics Exam this Thursday.
Ah, gotta love college. But it’s all good. Everything will be fine. Things always seem to get a little hectic during the October-November days.
Nov
11
As I write this, I sit on a cool stone seat, near a burbling fountain hidden in the heart of campus. It is a secluded place, set away from the hustle and bustle of campus life. The gentle autumn winds swirl the faint fragrance of nearby rose bushes to my nose. As I look around I see the castles of campus surrounding me. Students walk to and from classes. Some stop and talk to one another, while others hurry along their way. Much is going on, but nobody notices me watching and observing.
These hidden nooks and corners are all over campus. You could come to OU, graduate, and never once notice them, but they are here. They remind me of the hidden meadows and enchanted forests of the fairy tales that my father would read to me as a young child; something straight out of Tolkien, or Lewis, or Mallory. In a way they bring back my childhood. Perhaps this is why I love them. Or maybe I just like to get away from everything from time to time. They leave you alone with your thoughts.
Whatever these hidden places are, they are here, and add to the majesty of the University. As Washington Irving once said, “He is the true enchanter, whose spell operates, not upon the senses, but upon the imagination and the heart.” The spell that enchants the University of Oklahoma is a strong one. I could not imagine a better place to be, to learn, or to grow.
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