Introduction to Me
Hello, my name is Carlo Williams and I am a senior who is studying History (Pre-Med) during my undergraduate here at OU. Time is flying by fast, I cannot believe that I am writing down that I am a senior. It felt like I was just a freshman. My plans after college are still in the process, I have decided that I am taking a gap year or gap semester depending on where I get into medical school. During my gap year/semester I will most likely be working in a hospital as a scribe getting the necessary experience I need and apply that experience into becoming a better physician. I am thinking about doing dermatology, but who knows it will probably change once I get into medical school. I am not going to lie, the thought of graduating is scary yet at the same time exciting.
In one of my previous blogs I wrote about my favorite place, which is Germany. I was born in Germany and have lived there throughout my elementary school years. I lived on an American base, so English was mainly spoken where I lived and many of the Germans who lived in towns such as Ansbach spoke English, so it was not difficult communicating with people at places such as the mall or the various festivals that were held in surrounding cities. We then moved to places such as Ohio, Texas, and lastly my family ended up in Lawton, Oklahoma, where my father decided to end up retiring. I ended up going to Lawton Christian School in Lawton, Oklahoma. Growing up in a military family was a great experience, I got to travel to various places; however, it does have its downsides. It is difficult making new friends and getting to know people, only to move to the next place.
My high school I attended in Oklahoma. Source: Lawton Christian School
I love Netflix, it is currently my addiction. I am currently watching a show called Reign on Netflix involving Queen Mary of Scots. I like soccer, I used to play when I was younger, and it is a tradition that my family and I get together to watch the Fifa World Cup when it starts. My favorite sport to participate in during high school was Track and Field. I used to run the 200m, 400m, and 800m. I was also part of Frontline which was the advanced choir. I hate singing around people, but I may start singing again to get some practice.
On top of attending OU I also have a small part time job. Currently, I am working at Apple Tree Chocolate on campus corner. It is a great place to work with plenty of chocolate covered apples and things like that. I love food, so I think its the perfect part time job for me. I am excited for this new semester and new year. I believe 2019, has plenty of amazing things to offer.
Me shamelessly advertising Apple Tree Chocolate.
In one of my previous blogs I wrote about my favorite place, which is Germany. I was born in Germany and have lived there throughout my elementary school years. I lived on an American base, so English was mainly spoken where I lived and many of the Germans who lived in towns such as Ansbach spoke English, so it was not difficult communicating with people at places such as the mall or the various festivals that were held in surrounding cities. We then moved to places such as Ohio, Texas, and lastly my family ended up in Lawton, Oklahoma, where my father decided to end up retiring. I ended up going to Lawton Christian School in Lawton, Oklahoma. Growing up in a military family was a great experience, I got to travel to various places; however, it does have its downsides. It is difficult making new friends and getting to know people, only to move to the next place.
I love Netflix, it is currently my addiction. I am currently watching a show called Reign on Netflix involving Queen Mary of Scots. I like soccer, I used to play when I was younger, and it is a tradition that my family and I get together to watch the Fifa World Cup when it starts. My favorite sport to participate in during high school was Track and Field. I used to run the 200m, 400m, and 800m. I was also part of Frontline which was the advanced choir. I hate singing around people, but I may start singing again to get some practice.
The Fifa World Cup in 2006 was hosted in Germany while I lived there in 2006 Source: Wikimedia
On top of attending OU I also have a small part time job. Currently, I am working at Apple Tree Chocolate on campus corner. It is a great place to work with plenty of chocolate covered apples and things like that. I love food, so I think its the perfect part time job for me. I am excited for this new semester and new year. I believe 2019, has plenty of amazing things to offer.
Oh, shameless plugs for Apple Tree Chocolate are very welcome! YUMMMM! Do they have a Twitter account? If so, let me know, and I will retweet delicious things via our class Twitter account (which is @OnlineMythIndia)... and luckily just looking at pictures of yummy food in Twitter doesn't cost calories ha ha. There is a wonderful world of Indian sweets out there too; Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is famously fond of sweets, and he often is depicted carrying a dish of sweet modaks in one of his hands; maybe you will want to learn more about Ganesha and his sweet tooth for this class! 5 foods that Lord Ganesha loves :-)
ReplyDeleteI understand the military family life! I'm up to 13 moves - how many for you? And what branch? You're right that it's hard to move around so much, especially right when you feel like you're finally getting settled and getting to know people. It sucked, but I did appreciate the fact that it taught me how to keep up communications with the people that matter, and the fun and beauty of entering a new place with no preconceptions about who you are and how you fit. It came in handy getting to reinvent parts of myself every once in a while, but that's just my experience :)
ReplyDeleteHi Carlo! I also ended up living in Lawton, OK. My dad was stationed to Ft. Sill and then retired here, so naturally, we got stuck in Lawton. I went to Eisenhower High! I also lived in Germany for two years, but sadly I don't remember any of it because I moved out there when I was a month old and left when I was 2!
ReplyDeleteHey Carlo! Your story sounds so interesting because it's so similar to mine, but the last generation in my family. My grandfather was in the army and stationed in Alaska, my mother was born there, then they moved to lawton because of the army and my mother went to Lawton Christian School as well! My mother moved to Chickasha, where I was born and raised, but it's interesting that you have a lot of similarities with me but the ties are to the last generation.
ReplyDeleteHi Carlo! First of all I LOVE Reign! Surprisingly not a tone of people have seen it but it truly is addicting and in my opinion very well produced and written. The mix of old and new is also something I really enjoyed from the series with the mixture of current songs and midivil timeline. It is so cool you grew up in Germany! To have spent some fundamental years growing up there is a treat not many of us especially at OU have experienced. Look forward to reading more of your work this semester.
ReplyDeleteHi Carlo! It was really cool that you lived in Germany. I think that if I could live in any country other than the USA, I would choose Germany. I have also started learning German, but I am not really that good at all yet. It hasn't been to hard to pick up though so far since a lot of the words kind of sound like English words. I haven't been watching many netflix shows, but Reign sounds interesting and I think I'll give it a shot. your classmate alex
ReplyDeleteHi Carlo! First, thank you for that Netflix recommendation because I'm constantly looking for new things to watch. Secondly, I am a pre-health major and realize the importance of experience before going into a field and think it is great you are doing that. I also think taking some time to experience life before dedicating years to school and your career is important and a gap year is a perfect time to do it. Thirdly, I have always seen that chocolate shop but actually never have been and I'm a senior now, so I'll definitely try to check it out before graduating!
ReplyDeleteHi Carlo,
ReplyDeleteIt must be so exciting and scary to graduate! I do agree that time flies by so quick. It so fascinating that you lived in Germany for such a long time then relocated here. I have always wanted to visit German. I hear it's a beautiful country. Also, Reign is an AMAZING show. My sister and I watched the whole series and I cannot believe it ended how it did. I hope you like the show as well.
Hi Carlo,
ReplyDeleteThat’s great that you want to become a physician. I know what you mean by being a senior. I’m also a senior and it’s crazy because I don’t feel like I have been in college for that long. Netflix is my addiction as well and I have terrible addiction to anything chocolate. It’s really cool that you were born Germany and actually lived there for some time. That’s an amazing experience.
My mom had a similar upbring to yours but her father was based in Panama when she was growing up and settled down in Guthrie, Oklahoma. I hope the gap year gets you ready for some of the hardest year in med school! I know someone who is Pre-Med and also taking a gap year so he can mentally prepare for the work! I’m sure you’ll definitely change you mind about what field once you go through rotations.
ReplyDeleteHello Carlo,
ReplyDeleteTime does fly by, I can't believe I graduated High School 5 years ago. I share you same feelings about graduating college, it's a little scary but also very exciting. Good luck on your post graduate studies, I've heard that medical school is really hard. Out of all the places that you lived what was your favorite one?
I look forward to reading more stories from you throughout the semester.
Best,
Kevin.
Hi Carlo!!
ReplyDeleteTime really doees fly so fast, I'm a senior too and I'm also scared yet excited to graduate. I feel like it has come way too soon. One of my roommates is also pre-med and taking a gap year to work before she goes to medical school so I've heard a lot about it, I hope everything works out the way you want!! I think it is so cool that you lived in Germany for a while, I've been to Germany before and I loved it, I would love to travel around the country more.
Hi Carlo, really enjoyed reading your introduction post. That is a pretty cool fact that you were born in Germany. I have always wanted to travel to Europe but have just not have had the chance to do it yet. Graduating seems scary and I am sure it is but I am jealous of you, I should be graduating next spring so only one more year left me! I wish you luck with medical school and your possible future scribe position!
ReplyDeleteHi Carlo!
ReplyDeleteI bet you are excited to finally be graduating! I actually was pre-med during my freshman year, and dermatology was also the field I wanted to specialize in! Also, I have a line sister that is from Lawton! I know it is not that cool, but I never knew anyone from Lawton. Well, actually, I didn't know about Lawton until I met my line sister (hahah.) Anyway, best of luck on your graduation and gap year/semester!
Hey Carlo,
ReplyDeleteIt's great you're considering taking a gap year, but I hope med school works out for you! Would you recommend Reign to watch then? It's been sitting in my list on Netflix for about a year now haha. I can imagine that working at Apple Tree Chocolate must be a treat (excuse the pun lol) and I hope you get free snacks every once in a while. It was nice to meet you!
Hello there, Carlo!
ReplyDeleteI think it's so cool that you are pre-med! I'm sure it has its challenges, but I'm also sure all of that hard work will pay off in your future. My dad is actually a doctor and specializes in internal medicine, and he loves it! I also think its cool that you may take a gap-year. I'm a music student and I want to head straight into a masters program, but am thinking about taking a year off myself. Probably going to play it by ear!
Hello Carlo!
ReplyDeleteI like that you’re a History major, I’m a social studies education major who’s pretty interested in history. I did not know that there was a pre-med option for History!! Does it prepare you as well as a Biology pre-med option would for med school? It seems like nowadays Netflix is my only hobby too. I mostly watch AHS or basically anything with Gordon Ramsay in it. I hope med school goes well for you!!
Carlos, congratulations on making it to your senior year. Won’t it be so nice to finally don the mortarboard just to be able to take it off and say you are done!
ReplyDeleteConsidering that you were born in Germany, have you ever heard of Schloss Schönborn? Part of my family is of German heritage and once belonged to the community that surrounded the Schönborn vineyards. I have never been there, but I am always curious of what it is like!
I hope you find yourself in exciting places during your gap year and good luck in Med School!
Hi Carlo,
ReplyDeleteIt was so cool to read your introduction. I am also from Lawton, but I went to Eisenhower. It was nice to hear that you are a history major while being Pre-Med. I have always emphasized to others that it is important to do what you love while in college and just do the requirements for pre-med. It is more fun to add to our interests than sit through things we may not like. Good luck while applying!
Hi Carlo,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your upcoming graduation! (I liked the counter on in the corner of your blog.) Taking a gap year sounds like a great idea; I know a lot of people who are hoping to go into medicine face so many years of uninterupted schooling and I’d imagine that taking a break would be good for the mind, body, and soul.
(And Apple Tree Chocolate is fantastic – do you get to sneak a bite here and there as an employee?)
Best,
A.M.
Hi Carlo! I know exactly what you mean by time flying by very quickly. I still can't fully believe I will be graduating with my dream degree this May. Hopefully I be able to attend graduate school as well, which is my main life goal right now after graduating (next to getting a good job)! It's pretty cool that you lived in Germany too for some time. You're experience there is almost a perfect mirroring of a couple of my family members, which I thought was interesting. Germany is my top choice for a country I want to visit in the near future. I've been studying German for years now and I'm really hoping to visit during Christmas so I can experience a Christmas market there (particularly in Köln).
ReplyDeleteHey Carlo,
ReplyDeleteI think it is so cool that you were born in Germany. My grandfather was born there and it is also my favorite place. I have only been to Berlin and Westerstede. I really liked Westerstede because I was able to stay in someones home and learn about real german culture. I also played soccer since I was a kid and love the sport (I always route for the mens team!). Best of luck with med school and finding which field is your passion.
Hey Carlo! How incredible that you were born and lived in Germany! Were you able to pick up any German during your time there, even though you were on base?
ReplyDeleteI have heard that "Reign" is a great show; I might just have to start watching it! Historical fiction is always really cool because it provides us uniquely engaging interpretations of the past. I hope your gap year is restful and I wish you luck on the journey ahead in medical school!