So far, my experience at OU has been an exciting rollercoaster ride. In the beginning, I was nervous about my transition to OU. I'm a kid from Memphis, Tennessee, and I transferred from a small college in Birmingham, Alabama. Coming to Norman was a lot of change in a short amount of time, but through the support of my professors, my new classmates, and those I worked with on campus, I was surrounded by a strong support system. From what I've experienced, OU and Oklahoma are special places full of passionate people, opportunities, community, and unconditional love.
I am the little brother of a very particular older sister. From clothes to food, she likes things a very specific way. Growing up, I tagged along with her on college visits and saw how she was so diligent in her search. I, on the other hand, was admittedly the complete opposite. When I began my college search, I could see all sides.
To help me, my parents asked questions to narrow down my search like "Big school or small school? Private or public? In-state or out-of-state?" These questions were excellent, but for someone who had no idea what college truly was like, I remained indifferent. During my original college search as a high school senior, I toured way too many schools. None of them were the University of Oklahoma. I thought learning more about these schools would provide clarity, but it only ended up muddying the waters. Time did not stop for me to decide, and National Decision Day came before I was completely sure about my decision.
I ended up choosing a small private school. Once there, I tried hard to love it. Anything that interested me, I did. But in reality, my first school was never a match. Because of that, I set out on the transfer process. While my first school was not my home, it did provide me with clarity on what I was looking for. On a whim, my mom searched colleges with the happiest students. The University of Oklahoma popped up. Looking into it, I found it had my desired degree program, a balance of rigorous academics and social life, and a supportive community. Coming from Tennessee, I had never stepped foot in the state before coming to tour OU. But once I stepped foot on campus, I knew this was where I was supposed to be.
For all transfer students, they should look into the Provost's Transfer Student Advisory Board. This program opened my eyes to the support system transfer students have on campus. Once a month, transfer students can meet with the Provost and other faculty to share their transfer experience. Our comments are not ignored, instead they are implemented on campus. I've seen this in how a Transfer Peer Mentor group has been founded to improving Camp Crimson for transfer students. That care extends beyond this organization, too, to the rest of campus.
My professional internship will be how I spend my summer! I am interning with FedEx's Marketing and Communications Program! I will be working on the Video & Email Marketing team in Memphis, Tennessee. I am so excited to utilize my skills in animation with a Fortune 50 company!
