Wow. It is crazy to think that I am already back in Norman for my senior year. While my first threes years were full of unique experiences, I never would have imagined all of these recent events occurring. Although it has been a struggle to get through the pandemic, as I am sure everyone can agree with, I am looking forward to completing my senior year and pursuing my future. To start off, I am psychology major on the pre medicine track. Ever since I took psychology in high school I found studying the mind and the way people act so interesting. However, I always had the goal of becoming a physician which explains the pre-med track. Although I am an OU student, I still consider myself a proud Texan. I come from a relatively small town in East Texas where high school football is king and perhaps the most famous thing is that Matthew Mccounaughey graduated from my high school (he even came to our high school graduation this year to give a speech!).
Now some other facts about me. I am a huuuuuuggeeeeee tennis fan. I have been playing tennis since I was 7 years old, and played through out high school. Not only do I play, but I actively follow the professional tennis tour, especially my favorite player Rafael Nadal. Additionally, I enjoy going to OU tennis matches. While I enjoy tennis, I am huge sports fan and love OU football (hoping this is our year to win the natty). Sports have always been a huge part of my life, and definitely something I am passionate about.
Some more personal facts about me: I love big dogs (specifically my German Shepherd), I love Game of Thrones ( although the last season was kind of disappointing, I have to say it), I love Torchy's Tacos, and I love traveling (see my Barcelona post for some more info on that!). As you can see I have a bunch of different interests, but this is not the whole story. I hope everyone has a good semester and we will all make it through this pandemic eventually! Come back for some more insight into Neal!
Personal Image: My dog and my cat photo bombing
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Hi again, Neal! It is so fun to see you back in the blogosphere here! And yeah, sports, education, medicine: EVERYTHING looks different now with the pandemic... but I'm guessing that pre-med majors are feeling an even greater sense of purpose now than before. And there are so many pre-medicine and other health-related majors in the class. So, nothing about this year is going to be what people expected a year ago, but here we are, and there will be so much to talk about and learn about in all your medical and science classes. And stories to tell in this class too! Like the God of Medicine, Dhanvantari, who was created in the great Churning of the Ocean :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Neal!
ReplyDeleteI am also a senior on the pre-med track, so I wish you the best of luck during applications and interviews right now! Studying for the MCAT during the pandemic was an ... experience.. so I hope that it went well for you. I also absolutely love traveling, and Barcelona is one of the most incredible places I have visited! Do you plan on doing any international medical work once you become a doctor? There are really great options to so - if you're interested, check out Global Brigades or Doctors Without Borders!
Hi Neal!
ReplyDeleteThat is so fun that Matthew McConaughey went to your high school! My mom is a big fan of his. It would be so interesting to know that someone famous went to your high school, unfortunately I can't say the same. Although, I am from the same place as Bill Hader, who I am a big fan of. That's about the coolest thing I can say. Also I would love to travel to Barcelona as well! One of my good friends was an exchange student from Spain at my high school. She's from Madrid and is at university there now, but I've seen lots of pictures from other cities in Spain, and it looks beautiful.
Hi Neal,
ReplyDeleteI love that you consider yourself a Texan even as an OU student. I have grown up in Iowa almost my whole life, and it's crazy for me to think that I live anywhere but in Iowa! It's also so cool that Matthew McConaughey went to your high school! I don't think anyone famous went to my high school, although I do know that Priyanka Chopra attended a neighboring high school for a little bit, oh and Ashton Kutcher hails from Iowa, if that counts! Your dog and cat are so cute - they look like best buds in your picture! Hope you are staying safe while enjoying your senior year at OU!
Hi Neal,
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy to me too that I am back in Norman for my senior year, I can't believe we are both about to graduate. It has gone by so fast, but hey, we're almost done and moving onto our careers. That's so awesome you are majoring in pre-med right now, I'm sure it is a grind, but you got it. I am also from Texas, but from North Texas, not East Texas like you. Still both Texans at heart, but go Sooners!! Hope you have the best senior year ever and you are staying safe during this pandemic.
Hey Neal! Psychology is something I am also interested in. If I were to take anything in that field, it would definitely be psychology! The study of the human mind is indeed something that always intrigues me. While I cannot personally relate to being super passionate about sports (except recreational basketball), I do love the thought of the exercise every sport brings to the table. That photo of your cat and dog is freaking adorable, they look like good buds.
ReplyDeleteHi Neal!
ReplyDeleteI'm not as huge of a tennis fan as you, but I definitely watch some games every now and again when famous players like Nadal is on the court. Also, I have to agree that the final season of Game of Thrones was absolutely horrible. You should give The Boys a go if you haven't watched it yet. It's become one of my favorite shows.
Hey, Neal!
ReplyDeleteI think that it's super cool that Matthew McConaughey is an alumnus of your high school! That's really neat! I've been looking at various grad schools, and when UT came up on my list, his name popped up since he recently accepted a teaching position there in the fine arts department. Pretty neat stuff! I also find it really neat that you're a psych/pre-med major because I had entertained that thought for a really long time because both of those subject appeal to me a lot. Suffice it to say I'm not that now, but it still interests me greatly.
Cheers,
Chris
Neal, one thing that stuck out to me in your intro was how you mentioned you were disappointed with the last season of GoT. I wholeheartedly agree with you as I am one of the biggest GoT fans out there lol it was sad to see how they rushed the ending.
ReplyDeleteNeal, I can't believe we are seniors and have to attend classes in a way that I wouldn't even be able to wrap my mind around if you had told me about it my freshman year. I'm also from Texas (Dallas), and I take pride in being a Texan, but I think I'd be 100x prouder if I graduated from the same school as Matthew McConaughey. You could say I have a slight obsession; he's one of my favorite actors, educators, and activists. Tacos are my favorite food and I'm guilty to say that I'm a weekly regular at Torchy's (my favorite taco is the democrat).
ReplyDeleteHey Neal,
ReplyDeleteIt’s nice to meet you! I can personally say that the last season of game of thrones was very weak. I was not a big fan of the direction they went with that but it is definitely in my top shows. It’s is really interesting that you’re a tennis fan I cant say I have met a lot of people who follow tennis, so that’s very cool. I’m also a big fan of torchy’s tacos, I always get the trailer park taco and make it trashy.
Hi Neal,
ReplyDeleteI also never would have imagined our senior year would be shaped by a pandemic. Psychology seems so interesting to me and I hope it does you well. I am not much of a sports person, but your dog looks like an absolute unit and I love it. Nice cat too. I hope your future endeavors are alright alright alright. For those that don't know, that is a McConaughey reference.
Hey Neal!
ReplyDeleteIt is so unfortunate our senior year is so going to be so much more different amid the pandemic. That is so crazy you went to the same high school as Matthew Mccounaughey! Tennis is really fun to watch and play! Barcelona sounds like a great place to visit! I'm a huge fan of european soccer, so I know I would definitely plan a visit if I could. Also, tacos are pretty fantastic.
Hi Neal,
ReplyDeleteI'm so interested in your hometown because it makes me nostalgic for my own hometown which sounds similar. I also love tennis although I'm not that good at playing it and I do agree that it is fun to watch a good tennis match because the ball going back and forth can be so satisfying to watch! Did you say that you've been to Barcelona? That's really cool!
Have a great day!
Neal,
ReplyDeleteYou are really right about our senior year being changed because of the coronavirus. I would like to know why you decided to go to the University of Oklahoma rather than just go to a university in Texas. I see that you are on the pre-med route. I hope that you are able to get into your first choice program. I know a lot of my friends are struggling to get shadowing and volunteering hours in right now because of the coronavirus. Best of luck to your future endeavors.
Hello Neal,
ReplyDeleteI am also a senior at OU this year!! It's crazy how fast time flies and how much we have gone through over these past 4 years. I wish you luck in the future as you progress into medical school and residency and all that. I'm following a similar route, wanting to become a PA so I can relate to the stress and difficulty of being well prepared for applications!
Hi Neal! I am also on my final year here at OU as a Senior and on the pre-med track. My minor is psychology so I share the same interest in the brain and why we act the way we act. If you haven't taken the MCAT yet then good luck! I love sports so much (especially football) and I hope that our team gets better and better with each game even though we had a very rocky start. Good luck with your medical school applications. I am wishing you the very best. Also, fun fact: my uncle has had 5 german shepherds in his lifetime and always names them Heidi!
ReplyDelete