I spent this summer taking two courses: Human Physiology and Primate Evolution. They were both really enjoyable but took up my entire summer. All I had time for was those courses and my dog, Yumi. She's a 1-year-old toy poodle, and I spend way too much time spoiling her.
(Personal image of my dog Yumi, July 2019)
Recently I have been going through a Harry Potter phase that has no end in sight. In May, I went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida which only served to intensify my love for it. I had read the series as a child but did not realize the magnificence of it until I re-read the books in January this year. They have reignited my love for stories and fictional worlds, and they are pretty much all I think about these days. Also, I have just started reading a series called The Raven Cycle, and I have a feeling I'm going to adore it just as much.
My future is unclear in spite of my junior/senior status (I took a gap semester last fall and am now confused about my status). Most of my friends already have their careers planned out while I only recently settled on a major due to my indecisive personality. Nursing is my current plan until I can find something that suits me better. I will be happy if that is what I end up doing, though, because taking care of others is something my heart finds immense joy in doing. My dream job would be creating a cartoon/animated show, but I have not yet found any doors/opportunities for that route. All I know is that cartoons have always brought me happiness, and I would love to be able to spread that same kind of happiness to others.
Good luck to everyone and here's to a great semester!
Oh, your Yumi is so adorable, Brooke! What fun you must be having. Maybe she can be a character in a story that you write this semester: dogs show up in all kinds of places in mythology, and of course you can make room for dogs in stories where there were no dogs before. That is the power of storytelling! And storytelling is such a great skill for nurses to have (especially if you become a nurse who helps make animated shows or cartoons!). Plus, folklore is usually considered a field of anthropology, so I bet there were will be some great intersections between this class and your past anthro classes. And I am so curious about this Raven cycle: is that the Native American raven from the Pacific Northwest? That raven shows up in the readings for class this semester during the Native American weeks; you'll learn more about how all that works next week, and I hope you will enjoy the class. It sounds like it will be a great fit with your interests!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughts! The Raven Cycle focuses on Welsh kings, so I don't believe the raven aspect of it is related to the Native American raven. But I'm only on book two so it could end up mentioning that. I'm excited to read about the raven in the readings, though. Sounds interesting!
DeleteWELSH! That sounds great! I have a couple of Welsh units in the UnTextbook; such beautiful folklore and mythology traditions. I need to go look for that series at Audible; my monthly book quota renews tomorrow. Perfect timing! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, I just read the blurb at Audible: that looks like a fantastic series! I know what I will be listening to later this month. Yay!
DeleteI'm glad you added it to your list! I adore the characters and have mainly been reading for them, but I know a lot of people also love the plot. I hope you enjoy them!
DeleteHi Brooke!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I am an indecisive student. Sometimes, I worry that I will be always indecisive even in the far future. Questions such as "is this really the career path you want to do?" roam around in my mind. I guess this is just a part of life! I started reading the Harry Potter series in high school, but never got around finishing it. I know I'm late! Hopefully, I'll get to finish the series soon! Wishing you the best!
Hi Brooke,
ReplyDeleteI totally feel you on the writing thing! I hadn’t done creative writing for a long time until I took Laura’s other class last semester, and it was so fun to get back to it!
Nursing is a great plan! I hope you find something that really floats your boat, but nursing is so important (and you’ll never lack for a job, which matters too...).
Cartoons are awesome, right with you there. Have you ever done any drawing/storyboarding/whatever in your spare time?
Best,
A.M.
Hey! Thanks for your comment. I draw a little in my spare time, but I'm more interested in the writing part of cartoons. But I know the drawing part is so important so I'm trying to get back into that as a hobby!
DeleteHi Brooke!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post and learning more about you. I can totally relate to being indecisive and not knowing what you will be doing after you graduate. I am in the same boat and am graduating this spring. I love the picture of your dog Yumi. I too have a one-year old dog that I spoil way too much.
Hey there Brooke! I completely understand how overwhelming classes can be, as I am a pre-med student. Summer classes can be tough, and I took a couple this summer as well. The important thing is to just keep on going and get a degree. Life has a funny way of placing you exactly where you should be, and so you will find something that will suit you in the future I'm sure! Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteHey Brooke!
ReplyDeleteI also am enrolled in 20 hours.. I can't believe it! I am a senior and still trying to catch up! I agree that it was so nice to be able to start this class and get ahead because I am very good at time management and this class allows me to get ahead in my class and not get too stressed out. Your dog is absolutely adorable, doesn't sound like too bad of a summer getting to spend it with Yumi the whole time!!
Hi Brooke, it's nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to the whole "indecisive personality thing" - sometimes I play eenie meenie minie moe just to figure out what to order at a restaurant! It drives my husband crazy, but there's just so many great options in life, it makes it hard to pick which ones to go with! Also, your dog is adorable. Best of luck with the semester, and with that many hours, make sure to take time for sleep and your personal mental and physical health. :)
Hey Brooke!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's a bad thing at all that you don't know exactly what you want to do after college - sometimes the most exciting opportunities come along unexpected. Anthropology sounds like a fascinating choice of major! I took an anthropology class in high school and loved it; there is so much to learn about the study of people and cultures. It's wonderful that you've rediscovered a love of words and stories through Harry Potter - that's what Laura's Epics of India class did for me last semester! I love being able to spend time focusing on reading and writing, and a lot of the time it felt less like a class and more like a reprieve from other more "traditional" schoolwork.
Hi Brooke!
ReplyDeleteI have to start by saying that Yumi is absolutely adorable. And I hear exactly where you are coming from about not knowing what to do. I took a whole gap year off to figure out what it is I wanted to do, and I could've taken a whole decade! I have a love for cartoons as well. It seems childish to be in love with cartoons at 21, but oh well! Good luck with your 20 hours. I hope you make it out of it alive.
Hi Brooke! I love poodles, and Yumi is so cute! I totally get where you are coming from with the work load situation. It just seems to get harder and harder at the semesters go by. If working with cartoons and creating is your dream then I think you should go for it! I understand the hesitation though, because careers in non-traditional fields can be hard to start because you don't know where to start! Best of luck trying to figure out what you would like to do!
ReplyDeleteHi Brooke! I can’t lie, the first thing my eyes went to in this post is your adorable dog! Hopefully you are enjoying your studies with your recent major change. I have loved Harry Potter since I was a kid, so I think that it is so awesome that you are getting back into the franchise. I visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter a couple of years ago, and it was so cool! I’m glad that you got to go. Good luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Brooke! I am so glad that your love for Harry Potter has reignited! I am a total Potterhead (read the whole series twice, watched all of the movies a few times, and went to both Orlando and LA Harry Potter worlds). I love when I see other people really get into Harry Potter as well. And I also know how it feels to be indecisive about your major! I have switched my major, as well as my pre-whatever major as well. I'm so glad you have found a major now that you like! I'm looking forward to reading more of your stories!
ReplyDeleteHi Brooke, nice to meet you! First of all, your dog is ADORABLE. I love the toy poodle breed. I think it is really awesome that you took some time off last semester and now are back still continuing your education! I know I have had the hardest time with my major because I was pre-nursing but the classes did not go the way I was hoping. I am now a communications major and I would have never thought I would love it as much as I do. Once you take more classes I am sure you will find your niche! Good luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Brooke! Yumi is such a sleepy sweetheart in that photo, thank you for sharing it with us! I love Harry Potter too and all sorts of fictional universes. I also enjoyed reading Percy Jackson.
ReplyDeleteAnimorphs is also a good book series. It's sci-fi, so I don't know if you would go for it, but I enjoyed it despite enjoying fantasy more.
Good luck with determining your future goals!
Hey Brooke,
ReplyDeleteI just read your introduction and can empathize with your situation! Choosing what you want to do with your life in college is too difficult, plus being indecisive already certainly doesn’t help. I’m currently a biochemistry major, but I switched to this after I hated some of my main chemistry courses. Harry Potter is my life. I love everything about the series/movies and have also been to the Wizarding World!
Andrew
Hi Brooke,
ReplyDeleteI think that's an amazing career path to create cartoons. My favorite cartoon series at the moment is Steven Universe and I would highly recommend if you haven't seen it yet. I also love your dog, she's so adorable and so small! I hope you're able to find some clarity for your career plans, if you haven't don't worry! Everything has a way of working itself out and I believe everything will be fine!
Hi Brooke,
ReplyDeleteI totally feel you the indecisiveness part. I am a libra and being indecisiveness is my specialty. I am so happy you got to got to Harry Potter World in Florida! OMG like although I am not a potter head I love love love the butter beer there. When I was there last Winter I had like 8 cups of butter beer the whole day I was there no joke. PS I think your dog is super cute and I hope you have a wonderful semester honing your writing!
Hi Brooke,
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous that you are a Community Health major! I think that you will love it. I took Intro to Public Health last semester and it was by far, my favorite class I have taken at OU thus far. It was very eye-opening and inspiring. If you have the chance to take that class, I highly recommend it! Good luck with the rest of your semester!
Hey Brooke!
ReplyDeleteIt was great reading a little bit about you. I am also indecisive, so I feel your struggles. Picking a major is hard, and it's a big decision, so there is no shame in making sure you pick the right one. I love your dog yumi. My friend has a doodle like yours, and it is so sweet so I can only imagine she is the same way! Good luck with your major and the rest of the semester.
Hi Brooke!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your introduction. I think that Community Health is an awesome and inspiring major. You're gonna do great things with it! Also, I love Harry Potter, too, and I think that you did an incredible job incorporating that love into your storybook. Your dog is super cute, and I love the name Yumi! Enjoy your break!