Apr
9
Seeing a large portion of the student body and faculty all come together in service is something so inspiring and moving, and that’s exactly what happens every year during The Big Event here at The University of Oklahoma. Student organizations work throughout the Norman, Moore, and Oklahoma City communities at different job sites and make huge differences for everyone involved. I served on Operations Staff for The Big Event and I was in charge of going to a select number of sites across the community and evaluating what their needs were for “The Big Day”. Seeing the people in charge of the sites being so gracious and thankful for our help was beyond humbling and makes you think of the impact you can make in your community. On the actual day of The Big Event, all of the students participating meet up on the North Oval and take part in the opening ceremonies, with appearances from President Boren and Clarke Stroud, two of campus’ biggest celebs. After words of encouragement from them and a small speech from the Big Event chair, this year senior Ben Laptad, all of the students head out to their respective job sites with the hope to make the best change they can in the community. From my behind the scenes perspective on Ops Staff, it was so awesome to see all of the volunteers go off in the morning and come back at the end of the day with smiles on their faces and full hearts from making such an impact in their communities. I actually got to visit and volunteer at a job site during the day, which isn’t always the case for someone on Ops Staff, and it was so humbling to have the owner of the day care I was working at come outside and gasp at the progress we had made in just 2 short hours. Moments like that are what make The Big Event so special to this campus and it is a huge part of what makes The University of Oklahoma “live on” and become a true home to all of its students and staff.
Tyler Block
Sophomore, Human Relations
Hometown: Shawnee, Oklahoma
Apr
7
One of the hardest things about starting at a new place is finding yourself and where you belong. I know, I know, the gag reflex has just hit you, but just make it through. I mean what did you expect? The title of this blog is “Let It Go”. And as such it will be filled with fantastic, albeit, extremely cheesy Frozen metaphors and references. So let’s get started.
When I first got to OU, I was extremely overwhelmed. I was the first person in my family to go to college in the United States, and I honestly had no idea what to expect. When you first step on campus, you are instantly bombarded with things that you should do and be involved in. And as a student that was pretty involved throughout her high school career, the pressure was on. I was going to be super involved in anything related to pre-medicine on campus, make fantastic grades, and meet the best friends that I would ever have. No big deal, right? Well obviously, pushing myself into everything that seemed even mildly interesting and tackling those difficult freshman pre-med classes made me quite miserable. But I was the good girl that I always had to be. Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know, and always walk around with a smile on your face. That was my M.O. (You were waiting for when frozen would finally make an appearance, weren’t you?).
Anyway, with this self-destructive lifestyle on full throttle, I eventually discovered the best lesson of all. Let it go! Seriously. Let your past go. Let your high expectations, your parents and siblings pressures, and everything that is on your back go. Your college experience is completely yours to do what you will with it. It can be a vulnerable thing sometimes, but start with a blank slate! One of the hardest parts about college is truly finding yourself. Who are you? What do you like to do? Don’t be afraid to try new things, new organizations, and a class that you never thought you would be interested in. Slowly start filling up that plate and then you’ll allow yourself to grow into the person that you were meant to be instead of an idealized version of yourself created by a high schooler. You’ll also find friends and relationships in the most unlikely places. There are over 450 organizations and over 150 majors at this University. So don’t be afraid to create yOUr own experience.
With that being said, I’ll leave you with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift”. That is why they call it a present. Sometimes the pressures of a big test or a relationship can seem overwhelming and the worst possible thing in your life. But it’ll pass. In case I haven’t said it enough, let it go! So make sure to take the time to enjoy the little things about college life, because you won’t get them back!
Krishna Manohar
Microbiology/Psychology
Tulsa, OK
Apr
1
As much as I love Norman, sometimes a girl misses her mom. Luckily, OU hosts an annual parents’ weekend every year. In the fall, Campus Activities Council celebrated “Dad’s Day” with a football game, meet-and-greets around campus corner, and several performances of the University Sing competition. While Dad’s Day happens every fall, Mom’s Day is held in the spring. In the days leading up to the weekend, members of CAC advertised by asking the question in various places around campus: “Have you called your mom yet?”
My mom arrived on Friday in time to watch the campus awards ceremony that happens on Friday afternoon. By 4 PM, proud moms swarmed the campus with their pride and joys. After my brother and I treated our own mother to a dinner at a local popular restaurant, the Mont, there were an abundance of fun activities all over OU to enjoy. Just like during Dad’s Weekend, Mom’s Weekend is during the same weekend as CAC’s Scandals competition. Scandals is a singing and dancing competition made up of mini “musicals” put on by sororities and fraternities, with small performances in between each group’s show. It’s a really fun show to watch, and moms eat it up. This year’s theme was “And So It Was Said,” so every performance was based on a specific quote chosen by the acts.
On Saturday, there were multiple other events that students could take their mothers to, such as a delicious brunch, and, the coolest part of the day, the Mom’s Day Tea at President Boren’s house, the Boyd House. President Boren’s wife, Molly Shi, hosts a tea for students and their mothers. The weather in the courtyard of the Boyd House was perfect, and meeting the Borens was a great way to top off Mom’s Weekend!
As a senior, this is my last Mom’s Weekend at OU. I was so thrilled to have one last opportunity to enjoy my favorite place on earth (OU), with one of my favorite people on earth (Foxy Roxie, my mom). As usual, CAC hosted another successful event; I couldn’t have asked for a better final Mom’s Weekend at OU!
Rebekah Martin
Alva, OK
Class of 2014
Political Science Major
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