Thursday, August 21, 2014

Week 1: Introduction

Hello everyone!

My name is Shelbi Sutterfield. I am a senior majoring in Health and Exercise Science. I will be graduating in December. However, I still do not know the answer to everyone's favorite question, "What are you going to do after you graduate?' I do have a few things in mind though. I know I want to go to grad school, most likely here, to study Exercise Physiology. And as of right now, I am considering pursuing a career in cardiac rehab; but much like any other college student, I like to change my mind a lot!!

I am from Glenpool, Oklahoma, which is a small town outside of Tulsa. I graduated with a class of 150 people, so it was a bit of a culture change when I moved to Norman! Nevertheless I have adjusted quite well, and have been thoroughly enjoying my college experience.

Probably the main reason I have enjoyed college so much is because I have gotten to meet so many new people. I consider myself to be a social person, so making new friends is always something I look forward to. And one of the greatest thing about this university is there are so many different types of people here; I have really been able to branch out and broaden my horizons. As cheesy as that sounds, it is so true! I have friends who have a lot of the same interests as me, but I have also found that I can be friends with people who have completely different interests than me. Some of the things I like to do include: playing sports, working out, going out dancing, going to church, or pretty much anything with a group of friends. However, through some of the new friends I have made, I have learned to have a greater appreciation for things like playing video games and reading.

Personal photo of  me and my best friends at church from summer 2014. Note: Those are IBC root beer bottles in our hands :)


Although I love being independent and living on my own, I do have a dog back home, who I miss more than my family! Anytime I call back home my dad has to give me a report on how Jake is doing. Jake is 10 years old, but he still acts like a puppy. There is no better feeling than coming home for the holidays or a rare weekend visit, and having a furry friend who is excited to see you.

Personal photo of myself and Jake, taken March 2014. 


Anyways, I think that's enough about me...Hope everyone had a great summer and has a great semester!!


26 comments:

  1. Hi Shelbi! Congratulations on your soon to occur graduation! I have to agree with you and say that one of the best parts of college has been meeting all sorts of different people. I feel like that's a big part of finding out who you are - what types of people you connect with, what your interests actually are (I had to do some discovery of that my freshman year after I quit competitive cheer which I had been doing for 11 years prior), and what you want to do with your life.

    Your dog is adorable :) I really like small dogs so I think Jake and I would get along just fine.

    I totally get what you mean about having a greater respect for things like playing video games and reading - it's so rare to get some time to yourself to do things like that! I try to fit in reading when I can, but with the way my summer has been and the way my semester is shaping up, it doesn't look like I'll get much time to read - I've been working on a Tale of Two Cities since mid-June! Hopefully you'll be more fruitful in your endeavors to relax!

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  2. Shelbi, I love that you included a picture of you and your dog just like I did in my post! I totally understand your love for dogs and the feeling of coming home to a dog who is ecstatic to see you - it's the best!

    I can also agree that college has been a great platform for branching out to meet other people and learn more about different kinds of people, as well as yourself. The past four years have really been an experience that I personally have enjoyed and feel like has really made me who I am.

    I can also see you have a passion for health and exercise considering it is your major, and since you said that you like sports and working out. I also love sports and working out! I played softball and volleyball all growing up, and this summer I started getting into CrossFit to work out. I'm really competitive so I think that's what really drove me to love sports and working out. But I think it's really neat that you want to pursue a career in that area, and I wish you luck in getting into grad school!!

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  3. Furry friends are GREAT, Shelbi - I totally agree! And Jake is a cutie! I have a friend who has a dog that looks very similar, and she refers to him as her "little Ewok" ha ha, which is so true. My memories of college are very much what you describe here - friends from all over, people you can learn so much from just by hanging out and talking. Online classes are kind of weird since we don't meet in person... but paradoxically, there is more time and opportunity to interact with other people in an online class than in a classroom, where there is never enough time for everybody to talk and connect. So I hope you will enjoy this class, and maybe it will allow to meet friends in a new way!

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  4. Shelbi, I loved seeing your passion for Health and Exercise Science through this post. I was especially interested in your possible career path--I don't know much about cardiac rehab, but it sounds fascinating!
    I also definitely agree with you that college is a great place to meet people with so many different backgrounds and hobbies. Even in this class, reading everyone's introduction posts, it's really cool to see everyone's interests. I love working out and going to church with friends too, and you also mentioned that you like to go dancing--if you know of a good place, let me know. :) I just have to say, too, that Jake is absolutely adorable! I've actually never had a pet, but I'm definitely a dog person and have always wanted a puppy.
    It was great getting to know a little about you! Good luck with all of your future endeavors!

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  5. Shelbi, you have such a promising career and different path options ahead of you! That's so great you're graduating in December and can start getting your Masters done.. I kind of wish I could graduate a little earlier! You have such good major that will result in such a fulfilling career path.
    In addition, I really like that you said being at OU helped broaden your horizons; I mean, honestly, what else is college for?! All these opportunities definitely help you make long lasting friendships, unforgettable memories, and newfound interests.
    I enjoyed reading your post and good luck at Grad school!

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  6. Congratulations on graduating in December! That's great that you're looking at grad school. I'm sure that will open up a lot of different options for your future career. Your dog is adorable! My favorite part of going home is also being greeted by my dogs. It's always so nice when they are so thrilled to see you!

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  7. Shelby, congratulations on graduating soon! I'm jealous! I understand the difference in class sizes. I graduated with only 90 kids in my class! It is going to be a different experience to graduate from OU. Video games and reading are my favorite hobbies, so I appreciate them too. Jake is super sweet looking. I don't know what I would do without my animal buddies. I hope you figure out your plans for the future, I am sure you will do amazing at whatever you choose.

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    1. Oh my gosh, Shelbi! Sorry, one of my best friends has the same name but uses the y. =p

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  8. Shelbi,

    I really enjoyed reading about you. You seem like such a happy and energetic person. I love that you are from a small town! I'm also from a very small town (Okarche) so I completely sympathize with yon on the whole "culture shock" thing when we got to college.

    I'm so excited for you that you will be graduating soon! It is such a scary but cool time. Good luck with everything and I hope you enjoy your last semester at OU!

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  9. I’m with you in that I’m not completely sure what I want to do with my major after I graduate either, although I don’t have any immediate plans to go to grad school at the moment. With a major likes yours, I’m sure there’s a lot you can do. Two of my friends are also HES majors, one of whom is in grad school already, and both are going Pre-PA. It’s a super competitive route to go though. Cardiac rehab sounds like it could be pretty interesting. In any case, I hope you find a career path that will allow you do something that you’re really passionate about.

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  10. Hey Shelbi! I love the pictures! Your dog looks absolutely precious and your comment about the root beer definitely made me giggle. I am also an HES major. Or more like a Pre-HES major. I just recently changed my major and am waiting to be officially accepted into the program. Exercise Physiology sounds fun! That is definitely a course I am looking forward to. Well congrats on your last semester here at OU! I hope it works out for you! Good luck with all of your future endeavors!

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  11. Hey Shelbi! It's great getting to peak into your life for a bit via your introduction! I too am a Health and Exercise Science Major! The beauty of being in this department is that we have so many options in the health care world that our major helps prepare us for! Good luck in your future pursuits! Oh- and your puppy is absolutely adorable!

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  12. Hi there! I understand the culture shock bit - grew up in Norman then moved to Broken Arrow before 11th grade, going from a school with about 800 kids in all four grades to one where my graduating class alone was 1,065! And don't let lack of future plans get to you - I've changed mine about three times since entering college and right now I'm still very vague in the actual plan beyond "go to grad school". Hope your graduation stuff all goes well, I'll be doing it next semester.

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  13. I am so happy to call you one of my best friends, Shelbi! I still remember meeting you in anatomy class! Still seems like yesterday! I still cannot imagine graduating with a class of only 150 people, since my class consisted of over 700! Your graduation must have been nice and concise. I can definitely testify to your fun, bubbly, and social personality! I can always count on you to brighten my day and you never fail to make me laugh! I know you will succeed in whatever you decide to pursue in life! Can't wait to make more memories our last year of undergrad together!

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  14. Looks like your dog and I share the same name. =D I happen to be from Owasso, so I grew up in the Tulsa area like you. In fact, I just got back from a harvest beer festival this weekend, which was in Downtown Tulsa. I swear, I love that city. Do you have an idea of when you would apply to grad school? I understand that is a difficult question to answer, but I'd love to hear what your thoughts are.

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    1. That's so crazy that you are from Owasso! I actually know another guy that goes to OU whose name is Jake and he is from Owasso as well!
      But as far as grad school, I am planning to apply in the spring so I can start next fall. I am just nervous that once I graduate I'm not going to want to go back to school haha.
      And Harvest Beer Festival?? That sounds like a lot of fun! I have really been missing Tulsa here lately. I haven't stayed more than one or two nights at home since last December....

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  15. Shelbi,

    Your dog is so cute! My sister's dog is 6 years old and still acts like a puppy too and we will probably always treat him like one haha. I'm graduating this year also, but in May. I'm sure you're really excited! I'm getting really sick of people asking me what I plan to do too! I just want to run and hide under the covers because I'm clearly so mature. Nice getting to know you!

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  16. Hello Shelbi,

    Congratulations on graduating this December. I bet you are excited and scared at the same time. I know what you mean by changing your mind all the time. I find myself asking the same question from time to time: "What do I want to do" hopefully everything does great for you in the end. I thought your picture with you and your friends was funny how you put the caption at he end. I almost didn't even realize that you were holding a "Beer" bottle. But hey, I would do the same thing those root beer bottles can be tricky to distinguish nowadays.

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  17. Hi Shelbi! Nice to meet you. Congrats on graduating in December! I am also planning on graduating then. I can't believe its only two months away. I honestly cannot wait, and I bet you can't either! And don't worry about what you're going to do after you graduate, because I have no clue either. How are you supposed to pick just one thing? There's so many things I would love to do. Good luck on getting into graduate school and I hope you have a great rest of your semester!

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  18. Hey Shelbi, congratulations on graduating this semester! I have a few friends who have taken time off after college before moving on to the next step in life and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It is really crazy how close you can be to a dog; they really are man's best friend. My favorite dog is a bull mastiff named Jenkins, he's the best. You have a lot of options, good luck and do what you want to do!

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  19. Hey Shelbi,
    Congratulations on graduating so soon. I still have at least a couple semesters left, so I am a little envious. I thought the note about the IBC root beer under the photo was funny! I did a double take at first thinking "wait, was that a beer that she had in her hand?" Glad to hear you are having a fun time at OU!

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  20. Nice to meet you Shelbi!
    Fun fact, my brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew live in Glenpool! It's a lovely area and I love getting to go up there to visit. Additionally, I am like you in that I have no idea what I truly want to do after I graduate. I honestly hate when people ask me what I am going to do because for the first time in my life I do not have a plan.
    Additionally, I completely understand the puppy love thing! I have a shiba inu and I am obsessed. Your dog looks adorable, so I can see where you would be having the separation anxiety thing. Anyways, it was great getting to learn a little bit about you! Best of luck in your future endeavors!

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  21. Hey there Shelbi! You left a comment on my introduction post about flag football so I thought I would leave one on yours! Yes, I did play intramural flag football! Hahah, I play for the Young Mulette$. What team do you play for?

    You also mentioned that you are a dog lover as well! YOUR DOG IS ADORABLE! Dogs are so much better than cats right?! No offense to any cat lovers that read this comment! haha. I know what you mean about missing your dog more than your family. I just came back from my home today and got to see my dog, Coco. She was so happy and would follow me everywhere because I hadn't seen her for about a month.

    Anyway, I'm glad that I got to read your introduction before the semester ended!

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  22. Hey Shelbi, I'm glad there is someone out there who loves their dog as much I love mine. Jake looks like a good looking dog to me. My dog is a 95 pound golden retriever named Yogi, and he definitely still acts like a puppy haha. Anyways, good luck with whatever you decide to do with your degree! But Cardiac Rehab sounds pretty cool to me!

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  23. Hey Shelbi, I realized I hadn't commented on your introduction yet, I guess I mixed up commenting on your storybook with commenting on here. I understand the culture shock of moving from a small town, I grew up in Bristow which is also near Tulsa and also much smaller than Norman. I've also seen a couple HES majors in this class (myself included) so its neat that we all ended up in here. Best of luck deciding on what you plan on doing and congrats in advance on your upcoming graduation.

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  24. Hi Shelbi! It's nice to meet you!

    It's exciting to hear about women pursuing careers in science, and cardiac rehab sounds really cool! I'm glad that you've enjoyed OU despite the culture shock of coming from a smaller town. I had a very similar situation, and I've definitely come to love all of the variety and opportunities that are available at OU.

    I was just posting on Kristi's blog about how much I miss my dog back home. It surely is nice when they come running up to you, and they're all excited to see you.

    I hope you enjoy the rest of your semester!

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