This semester is my first full semester at the University of Oklahoma (my first first was this summer, but that's not quite the same.) I am a transfer student, majoring in Anthropology and pondering a minor in Sociology. My associate degree at Oklahoma City Community College was in History (after I decided Political Science was definitely not for me.).
As I finished all of my general education with my Associates (minus language and upper division humanities and electives), my course load for the next couple of years will be entirely major classes. Nothing to keep your interest piqued in your studies than intense learnings unbroken by distracting things like gen ed requirements.
In my off time, I am a fiction writer. I also play a lot of video games (RP games mostly, like the Dragon Age series, the Witcher series, the Elder Scrolls series, but also others like The Diablo series!) because I am deeply intrigued by world building and unique lore combined with visual elements (it's like movies and books combined, only you get to interact with this medium!).
My goal is to eventually combine my personal interests with my academic knowledge and write lore and build worlds that inspire and intrigue other people. Whether this is through novel writing or game design is of yet unknown, but I plan on working towards my strengths. My other strength is spreadsheets and that's not nearly as interesting.
I have three pets currently. I have a tuxedo cat named Chairman Arpeggio Pancake, but I usually just call him 'Cake. He is about two years old. I have a peach faced lovebird named Couscous vonStabbybeak and he is nine years old (the grumpiest old man who isn't an old man yet. Lovebirds can live for around 20 years!). I also have a betta fish named Loki. I've had him longer than my cat and he refuses to die. He's four years old.
Over the years I have lived in Oklahoma I have had many pets! Some left with roommates, others just passed on. Here are some of their names. Spot the theme.
Habanero (cat), Scootaloo (cockatiel), Elvis Pepsi (finch), Murderbird (finch), Thor (betta), Tui and La (goldfish), Soul Chicken (pigeon)...
This is my happy spoon. I use it to represent myself online. I took this picture a year before I actually owned the darn thing, but the spoon is important to me. It has what many others seek- contentment.
A photo of the happiest green spoon.
I am always so glad for Anthopology students in this class, Whitney! Long ago, this class used to be crosslisted in Anthro but then they did their own version of 3043 with a more anthropological focus (mine is more literary)... but for you, I'm guessing the literary focus will not be unwelcome, and if you want to pursue an anthropology-oriented project for this class, that would be super! Or something just totally creative and world-building: it's all good! So, as Gen. Ed. requirements go, I hope this will be a useful one. It is a fun challenge for me designing this class for the incredibly wide range of student interests in a Gen. Ed. class at OU with so many colleges, so many majors. As you can guess, I really love it, and I hope you will enjoy the class too. Based on your comments here, I am thinking this class could really click for you, and I am so excited to see what kind of project you will want to do!
ReplyDeleteAnd SPREADSHEETS rule my world. I am a big believer in the power of spreadsheets to help people who are creative (even too creative, ha ha) to stay organized...
:-)
Hi, Whitney!
ReplyDeleteAs a girl who did a semester at Colorado State University before coming back to Oklahoma to finish out undergrad, I completely understand your feelings about the humidity! My mom (who is perpetually frizzy-haired since moving here, God love her) was born and raised in Denver, and she claims you never quite get used to it.
Focusing on those major classes is so exciting! I am finished with everything but upper division electives, so I am perusing all sorts of topics I find interesting. It's fantastic!
I would love to read some more of your fiction work. I also like writing in my spare time, but I generally have my nose stuck too far in someone else's book to get very far.
I enjoyed reading your blog!!
Madison
Oklahoma weather can definitely be a killer if you're not used to it. I've lived here for most of my life and I'm still not quite used to the weather. Isn't it nice to be able to focus on the things that you actually enjoy? I remember when I finally finished all my Gen Eds and I was so excited. I only have a couple of classes left and because of that I can pretty much take whatever I want. It's really cool that you write fiction on the side, I've always wanted to write but have never been able to actually commit to any one story for long enough. Nice to meet you and good luck in the course.
ReplyDeleteHi Whitney!
ReplyDeleteHumidity is my arch-nemesis too. I was born in Houston and then moved here so I haven't been able to get away from it!! I'm going to make an educated guess that your favorite color is green? Because of the color of your layout and your happy spoon haha. I also write some fiction on the side and am really excited about this class because we basically will be doing some creative writing every week. Good luck this semester!!
Hi Whitney!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to OU! I completely agree with your feelings about humidity. It is pretty cool that you are into so many things. I absolutely love history! Is there a specific time period that captures your interest? Also, have you written any works that have been published? You should listen to the podcast Lore. I feel that you'd really enjoy it based on the topics that you talk about. It's a really well done podcast. Side note: My boyfriend plays Elder Scrolls (I know nothing about it though). I hope your semester goes really well!
Hi Whitney,
ReplyDeleteLike you, I’m a transfer student. I’ve been at OU for about two years now and was really surprised by how much I enjoy being at a larger university. I also had to try a different major until I figured out what was definitely not for me. It’s really cool that you’re a fiction writer. I am too. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend taking the Fiction Writing class here at OU. It was such a great experience as a writer. Plus, it definitely motivated me to start writing more and more often. I think world building is extremely interesting. I only recent got a game console and have started playing the Elder Scrolls series. It is such a fun game! I've definitely thought about downloading the extra content more than a few times.
Hiiii Whitney. Dope spoon. It looks happy. I also enjoy video games. But I only play FIFA haha. If you like historical warrior type things there is this game called 'For Honor' in which you can be a knight, samurai, or viking and fight online. Like Call of Duty with swords a shields. I am genuinely excited for it. But it comes out in 2016 :\ but it will be worth the wait! This class seems perfect for your interest of fiction writing and lore.
ReplyDeleteHi Whitney!
ReplyDeleteWell, I can’t relate on actually playing video games but I do have game consoles! But I only use them for Netflix and Hulu and sometimes my boyfriend will play sports games on them. I have been at the University of Oklahoma all 4 years, but my roommate just finished her associates and transferred here! So my guess is she could probably relate to you in your class situation! Good luck this year!
Hi Whitney very nice to meet you. Haha let me start by saying that I love the happy spoon pic. Im glad that you found something that you like for your major. YESSSS those games are the best I am playing dragon age three right now. The first two were wonderful and are some of my favorite games of all time. If you are looking for a new game to try you might like the mass effect games. they are a blast to play and the story is pretty crazy.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading your stories nice meeting you
It's funny to me that I got grouped with you this week because I have had two friends of mine this week make me come over and watch them play The Witcher. Honestly though it looks like a pretty cool game, with a ridiculous amount of gameplay. Hopefully it keeps you busy and entertained for a while. I liked to hear that you do fiction writing in your free time. It reminds me of my little sister who is always reading and writing whenever she has the choice. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHi Whitney! For someone who has lived here my entire life, I would say you get used to the humidity but you really don't. I've always hated and will be thanking God for the day I get to move somewhere that it doesn't exist. The only interest I really have in video games is games that can be played on my Super Nintendo or my Nintendo 64 so a lot of Super Mario. I'm not crazy about writing but I LOVE reading. I always get excited when I find out someone is a writer because I love to just get into their work. I can't wait to read your work!!
ReplyDeleteHi Whitney! I hate humidity as well, and I am SO ready for fall. You are a very well-spoken individual, which is evident in your writings. It only makes sense that you're a writer, because the little that I have seen of your work is really good! And yay for RP games! It's hard to find other females who are into video games. Anyways, the green spoon is super cute! But why are you hesitant to post a photo of yourself online? Anyways, great to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHey Whitney! I hope you've been enjoying OU so far! It's really awesome that you write fiction in you're off time. I truly hope to write a fiction novel someday. My dream job would definitely be to become an author. I love to write in my free time and hopefully I'll get to finish writing a book in the future! I like how you've had a good range of different kinds of birds, fishes, and cats. Also, love the names! Well, I hope everything goes great for you while you're here. Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteHello Whitney! Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that this class come easy to you, being a fiction writer in your spare time! No wonder you chose this course. The fact that you play video games might also give you some creative ideas for characters and settings in your storytelling. I can tell that maybe your favorite color is green, considering the background of your page and your cute green smiley spoon. I really enjoyed reading all the names of your pets. Did you make all of them up? They are so creative!!! My favorite is Elvis Pepsi. Hehe.
Hi Whitney!
ReplyDeleteEvery week I am amazed that there are still people I have not read their introductions. This is my favorite part of the class. Oklahoma is an OK place to be I lived there my whole life until I was 21 and up and moved to Virginia. I bet you enjoy this class a lot since you like to write fictional stories. I am sure your imagination is perfect for all the interesting things we are to do in this class. I hope you enjoyed your first full semester at OU it is a wonderful school!