Why did you decide to get a degree at OU-Tulsa?
I wanted to challenge myself in a new environment and the Social Work program at OU-Tulsa was exactly what I was looking for. I have been able to grow and learn new things that have helped me discover not only what I am capable of, but also who I am as a person.
What are some of your favorite moments as a Tulsa Sooner?
Many of my favorite moments have happened during my practicum at OU Physicians. More than once after learning skills in class on Monday, I have gone into clinic the next day and had an opportunity to apply those exact skills. Seeing the connection between my studies and my practicum is always uplifting. I have also loved the class discussions we have as we study new and interesting facets of the human person. Sometimes fun and sometimes serious, they always help me develop my ideas.
Tell us about some of your favorite classes at OU-Tulsa.
The classes I have most enjoyed are the ones that taught me more about human behavior in combination with other factors along with research methods. My professors pride themselves on respecting and acknowledging the knowledge and opinions of their students and have challenged me to think outside my comfort zone. I have also never been a student that particularly enjoyed math, but in studying research methods, I have been able to appreciate and find interest in how quantitative studies are able to help real-world policy develop to help others.
What would you tell someone thinking about going to OU-Tulsa?
There is a smaller community of people at OU-Tulsa than some larger colleges, but that can be a good thing. People are invested in you as a student and person. There is always someone there to reach out to when you struggle and when others have difficulty, you find yourself returning the favor. The programs are flexible and structured in such a way that you are able to grow in knowledge while putting that knowledge into practice. If you want a college that focus on you as an individual, OU-Tulsa is the place for you.
As both a student in the classroom and in the clinic, I have been able to see multiple facets of the OU community and how it reaches out to so many people in Tulsa. OU-Tulsa is more than just a school - it is a vibrant combination of students, teachers, doctors, researchers, and social workers, all of whom come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. I will always be grateful for the opportunities OU-Tulsa has given me and the amazing people I met through my journey here.
