2015-2106, A Year In Review
Phew! I finally made it - senior year!
When I came into college 4 years ago, my sister told me that college would pass by super quickly. Of course, at the time, I didn't believe her being fresh out of high school. 4 years later though, I wonder where the time went! It seems like only yesterday that I visited UC with my dad as an excited music performance major. Now, in 26 days (not that I'm counting) I'll be graduating. Not gonna lie, I get a little tear in my eye as I see prospective student tour groups around campus.
That being said, I am very excited to graduate and move onto the next adventure. This year has been really great; joining Phi Mu last spring was definitely one of the best things that happened to me in my college career and I really wish that I had joined sooner. As a freshman I never pictured myself as a sorority girl, but here was are 4 years later as I have found out I fit in more with this group of girls than anywhere else on campus. I will be very sad to leave my sisters, and I know our 3D ceremony in a few weeks for graduating members will make me choke up for sure.
This year has been pretty good academically. I got my first 4.0 last semester, and am on track to do that again for my final semester! Finishing out the year strong, even if most of my classes are mediocre. My favorite class this semester is actually my Emergency Medical Responder class that I'm taking at Blue Ash. Going into the class, it was not a topic I was interested in but rather a prerequisite for a school program I am trying to get into. But our professor is absolutely fantastic, and I really have learned a lot in the class.
Moving forward with my life, I am SO incredibly excited to share that I will be in Cincinnati for the summer working at the zoo as the first-ever summer intern for the Cat Ambassador Program! Saying that I'm ecstatic is an understatement. I started volunteering with cat show at the beginning of the semester, and I have really fallen in love with the animals in that department and my coworkers are wonderful. I'm so glad that they chose me as their intern! I have a feeling this summer will be the big step I need in getting a paying job at a zoo - I'll get more close-up experience with cheetahs, servals, ocelots, house cats, an african crested porcupine, a warthog, and a red river hog while also observing the trainers teaching them new behaviors. Since I eventually want to be an animal trainer to do educational shows and outreach just like the Cat Ambassador Program does, this will for sure give me more tools in my arsenal, as well as buffing up my resume! I expect to learn a lot, but it's nice since I already volunteer there I sort of already know the ropes so it won't be completely overwhelming once the summer starts.
Something also exciting that I'm waiting to hear from is from the Exotic Animal Training and Management program at Moorpark College in California. This is the best program in the country for learning not only how to take care of a variety of animals as well as learning the ins and outs of operant conditioning. Hopefully I get in! Unfortunately it's a lottery system, so I just have to sit back and wait - decisions will be made my May 1!
Reflecting on my 4 years at UC, while there have been some downs there have been more ups. It hasn't always been easy, starting as a music major to then adding on a second degree after losing my love for music, but ultimately the experience here has helped me find the career where I'm meant to be. Even though it is a little scary not knowing where I'll be next year, or even in a few months, I know everything will work out in the end.
On to the next adventure!
When I came into college 4 years ago, my sister told me that college would pass by super quickly. Of course, at the time, I didn't believe her being fresh out of high school. 4 years later though, I wonder where the time went! It seems like only yesterday that I visited UC with my dad as an excited music performance major. Now, in 26 days (not that I'm counting) I'll be graduating. Not gonna lie, I get a little tear in my eye as I see prospective student tour groups around campus.
That being said, I am very excited to graduate and move onto the next adventure. This year has been really great; joining Phi Mu last spring was definitely one of the best things that happened to me in my college career and I really wish that I had joined sooner. As a freshman I never pictured myself as a sorority girl, but here was are 4 years later as I have found out I fit in more with this group of girls than anywhere else on campus. I will be very sad to leave my sisters, and I know our 3D ceremony in a few weeks for graduating members will make me choke up for sure.
This year has been pretty good academically. I got my first 4.0 last semester, and am on track to do that again for my final semester! Finishing out the year strong, even if most of my classes are mediocre. My favorite class this semester is actually my Emergency Medical Responder class that I'm taking at Blue Ash. Going into the class, it was not a topic I was interested in but rather a prerequisite for a school program I am trying to get into. But our professor is absolutely fantastic, and I really have learned a lot in the class.
Moving forward with my life, I am SO incredibly excited to share that I will be in Cincinnati for the summer working at the zoo as the first-ever summer intern for the Cat Ambassador Program! Saying that I'm ecstatic is an understatement. I started volunteering with cat show at the beginning of the semester, and I have really fallen in love with the animals in that department and my coworkers are wonderful. I'm so glad that they chose me as their intern! I have a feeling this summer will be the big step I need in getting a paying job at a zoo - I'll get more close-up experience with cheetahs, servals, ocelots, house cats, an african crested porcupine, a warthog, and a red river hog while also observing the trainers teaching them new behaviors. Since I eventually want to be an animal trainer to do educational shows and outreach just like the Cat Ambassador Program does, this will for sure give me more tools in my arsenal, as well as buffing up my resume! I expect to learn a lot, but it's nice since I already volunteer there I sort of already know the ropes so it won't be completely overwhelming once the summer starts.
Something also exciting that I'm waiting to hear from is from the Exotic Animal Training and Management program at Moorpark College in California. This is the best program in the country for learning not only how to take care of a variety of animals as well as learning the ins and outs of operant conditioning. Hopefully I get in! Unfortunately it's a lottery system, so I just have to sit back and wait - decisions will be made my May 1!
Reflecting on my 4 years at UC, while there have been some downs there have been more ups. It hasn't always been easy, starting as a music major to then adding on a second degree after losing my love for music, but ultimately the experience here has helped me find the career where I'm meant to be. Even though it is a little scary not knowing where I'll be next year, or even in a few months, I know everything will work out in the end.
On to the next adventure!