Introduction
Starting my senior year of undergrad in the midst of a global pandemic was not the idea that I had when I was coming into college as a freshman. While I started out as a psychology major I changed to neuroscience at the end of my sophomore year. I spent the summer studying for the MCAT and applying to medical schools. While it was a hard summer the pandemic allowed a greater opportunity to study with no distraction, it was also given really interesting shadowing opportunities that allowed me to see how the pandemic affected doctors who were directly involved in the response to the pandemic as well as doctors who had to change their typical patient interactions because of it. I didn't always want to go into the medical field while growing up but ever since high school when I think about what I would enjoy doing thinking about having four more years of school and three to seven years of residency with a possible fellowship after that just excites me. When I am not working on schoolwork or volunteering I enjoy playing volleyball. I started playing as a freshman and met the majority of my closest friends at OU by playing. When I am home I love watching all types of shows my favorite of which being Game of Thrones but I enjoy watching anything from the Office to Rick and Morty to the Bachelor with my girlfriend. I like going to basketball and football games with friends as well as playing any number of sports with my friends. My favorite food is a New York Strip Steak but I also love cesar salads and I love to eat fruit and most vegetables. One of my favorite things to do in my free time is to play video games I started playing video games with my dad and even know that I am in college now I still find time to play video games with him.
Hey Pierce!! You're definitely right, because of COVID nothing has gone to plan the way I imagined my senior year to be. I also studied for the MCAT this summer and currently am applying to medical schools, that would be so funny if we ended up going to the same place! Game of Thrones was an amazing series, I wish it was still coming out with more episodes. Best of luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteGames of Thrones was such a big storytelling boost for this class when it was still running on TV, Pierce: maybe you will want to bring some of the spirit of Game of Thrones into your storytelling this semester. And someone even did a Rick-and-Morty Storybook for the Indian Epics class, which was really cool; I had never watched that show before, but I got so curious about it from reading that project, and now I am a fan. And as for medicine, there are so many pre-medical (pre-med, pre-PA, etc.) students in these classes, and I am sure that everybody is feeling an even stronger sense of purpose about that now in the midst of the pandemic. I hope the storytelling skills you get to learn and practice in this class can be useful for that too; being able to talk to patients with the right stories can be powerful!
ReplyDeleteHi Pierce! I love that you are a psychology major. Ever since I came to college and maybe even a little before in high school, psychology has interested me. There is so much to do with the field now that you do not even have to go into psychiatry. I, for example, am doing occupational therapy with my psychology undergraduate degree. Also, I completely agree about the pandemic. While this has shut down a lot of opportunities, it has also created a lot of new ones. Never did I think we would be in a pandemic, but I am thankful for the new things I get to learn through it!
ReplyDeleteHey Pierce, it’s nice to meet you! I completely understand that starting your senior year during a global pandemic was not what you expected. I’m in the same boat as you! That is really cool that you are studying neuroscience. I hope that medical school goes great for you in the future. That’s cool that you like to go to football and basketball games. Watching sports is probably my favorite pastime activity as well!
ReplyDeleteHi Pierce, you aren't kidding, the pandemic has allowed for a lot of study time that I might not have had before. I was already working from home 3 days a week but now its all the time and has been great for my schoolwork. I have so much respect for people who choose to study in medicine, it is not something that interests me but it is such a difficult and necessary field. I didn't know there were ranges for residencies but that makes sense for so many different areas of study. Good luck and it was nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteHi Pierce! You are so right, the pandemic situation has made for such a wild start of the year. I don't know about you, but I am not looking forward to the continuing pandemic as we move into flu season. I think it is awesome that you still find time to game with your dad. those are awesome memories and experiences. I see you mention watching The Office. I have to confess - I love the memes, but I've never actually made time to watch the show!
ReplyDelete-Eli
Hello! One of your stories came back up for me so I'm here on your intro post again. I did a lot of gaming over Thanksgiving break. AC Valhalla was a pretty recent release that I am pretty far into. Unfortunately I'm stuck now until there is either a patch for a certain glitch or I get tired of waiting and lose about 4 hours of game play. It could be worse - I'm glad I have a semi-recent manual save to go back to!
Delete-Eli
Hello Pierce! What a great way of perceiving a bad situation. Your outlook on this pandemic and using it to accomplish your goals encourages me to do the same. It seems that you have a goal and that nothing will stop you from reaching it, and that is such an admirable trait. I too loved watching Game of Thrones and Rick and Morty, what great shows! I wish the best for you and your future aspirations. I look forward to reading more from you!
ReplyDeleteHi, Pierce!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on making it to your senior year of undergrad! You still have a long way to go, but you've made it this far. So, yay for you. It's really cool that you've managed to stay positive about this situation for your last year in undergrad. I can only imagine the new lights that have been shed on your field and how that may affect your actions going forward. Thanks for being one of the people willing to do all that extra work to help take care of the rest of us!
Hi Pierce!
ReplyDeleteThat is so exciting that you get to graduate soon! I think that you have a very inspiring outlook on the pandemic and quarantine. I know many people did not do much in that time, including myself and to hear how you used that time is awesome and I wish the best for you! What kind of video games to y'all like to play? I just recently got into them a little bit as I had free time like you mentioned earlier in the year.
Hi Pierce :)
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome you went from psych to neuroscience! The world definitely needs passionate people like you in the field, and I know that as long as you hold onto that passion you'll do wonderfully. I think it's also admirable that you spent your time in lockdown furthering your studies. It's really nice to hear that you still take time to play video games with your dad. I know he appreciates it so much. Do you guys play more Fall Guy/Among Us type games or more Diablo/Titanfall?
Hi Pierce! Wow! What an awesome introduction post. You are extremely intelligent and hard working. I always enjoy reading people's introduction posts so I can learn more about my classmates and about other people in general. Your outlook on quarantine and the pandemic is very inspiring and uplifting. Way to keep your head up and a great attitude. Great post.
ReplyDeleteHey Pierce!
ReplyDeleteI basically had the same summer as you; it wasn't fun but, you're right, the pandemic did allow for fewer distractions. I hope all you applications went well! It sounds like you've got a super diverse range of interests, especially regarding your tv show preferences. I haven't seen Rick and Morty yet, but I love The Office and Game of Thrones, too! Good luck with everything.
Hi Pierce,
ReplyDeleteHappy senior year! I know it sucks that you aren't ending quite the way you expected, but I hope that you still make tons of good memories!
I am also applying to medical school--most likely--and actually just started studying for the MCAT last week. Do you have any tips?
I wish you the best of luck this semester and look forward to reading all about dragons in mythology.
-Libby
ReplyDeleteHello!
I think it's fascinating how switched psychology to neuroscience. Was that switch easy? Were there any similarities between the one that attracted you to the other? That's awesome that you like volleyball. I think it's super fun, and I wished I have an opportunity to play it more often. The caesar salad is probably my favorite salad.
Hi Pierce!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making it to senior year. That is so great that you are almost done with your undergrad. Also good luck on the MCAT, I now that must be such a hard to study and accomplish so I wish you the best of luck. I also love the tv shows Game of Thrones and the Office those are definitely two of my absolute favorite shows.
Hi Pierce!
ReplyDeleteIt 's a pleasure to read your introduction. I see that you changed your major from psychology to neuroscience. What made you want to switch? Was it an easy change? I hope you are enjoying that more than psychology. I also like that you practice volleyball. It's a good thing to be active. And congratulation on making to your senior year.
Hi Pierce! Even though doing senior year during a pandemic is not what you would have wanted, I'm glad it gave you the opportunity to study more for the MCAT. I was in a similar situation with law school, and during quarantine is when I was able to study for and take the LSAT. It's always good to look for a silver lining! Are you watching this season of the Bachelorette with your girlfriend? My roommates and I are watching it and it's pretty crazy. I think Clare was awful, but hopefully it will get better now that Tayshia is the lead. Congrats on being a senior and good luck with medical school!
ReplyDeleteHey Pierce,
ReplyDeleteAs a senior myself, I agree with you that COVID was completely against my plans. I also found it to be a blessing, though, because it has allowed me to spend more time with my loved ones and just really enjoy life. I am graduating in May, finally after five long years in college so I understand your anticipation to graduate. I wish you nothing but the best in your post-grad endeavors!
Hey Pierce,
ReplyDeleteI agree that I definitely wasn't expecting to be going through a pandemic in my senior year also. It sucks because I really wanted to volunteer during the summer but because of the pandemic I couldn't.
Also, I love watching The Office and The Bachelor/Bachelorette too. I also love Parks and Recreation which is similar to The Office.
hi pierce,
ReplyDeletei think we can all agree that this year is full of the unexpected! im sorry that it had to be your senior year though. im a sophomore now and i never got a full normal year of college which is really depressing for me, but i can either choose to be sad about it or make the most of what i do have. your career path is definitely one that will be ever-changing, and especially now! i wish you the best of luck with that and the rest of college!