Sophomore year of college, I got an email about a new course that was being offered. The course was a University College course and focused on severe weather communication following the 2013 May tornados. The course mentioned focusing on the Spanish speaking community of Oklahoma City. Having grown up on the southside of Oklahoma City, taking this course seemed the right fit.
I walked into class the first day not really knowing what to expect, little did I know I'd end up taking the course five semesters (because I wanted to, not because I failed). I was able to conduct fieldwork in the community and interviews with stakeholders. I even had the opportunity to travel to Raleigh, North Carolina for the annual American Meteorological Society conference to present my group's findings.
This course not only let me delve into fieldwork, but also helped me develop a renewed love for research. Specifically research that can influence policy. Beyond the knowledge I gained, this course fostered friendships that continue today. This was definitely the most rigorous, dynamic course I ever took at OU and I wouldn't change that. I took the course so many times that I ended up double majoring in political science.
