Famous Last Words: Last Week of Class

This week is my last week of undergraduate classes, so it feels only fitting to cap off four years of hard work with a final post. I have deeply enjoyed Myth and Folklore this semester, and wish that I had given more time and attention to it throughout the past fifteen weeks. Regardless of my time management in relation to this class, I have loved learning so much more about mythological traditions, and how those myths express world cultures. I have grown in my creative writing abilities, and have learned the value of meaningful feedback.

Senior Photos - kaitmaddox photography

It feels surreal that I will no longer be taking college courses, but I am so thankful for the classes I went out on. Along with Myth and Folklore, some of my favorite courses this semester have been Genesis: In the Beginning and African American Religious Traditions. In some ways, I think the three classes are connected: that catalogue a few of the most important ways that people make sense of the world around them.

As I complete all of my finals in the coming weeks, I am growing more and more excited to graduate and pursue my career with Teach For America. I am eager to see new places and grow through new experiences, and am especially looking forward to sharing stories with the children in my class! I know that my time in Idaho with TFA will be a tremendous challenge, but I am ready to face that challenge and see how it changes me.

I have plenty to do before I leave Norman for Idaho, in order to give a fitting goodbye to the people and places that have been integral to my four years here. However, before I can do any of that, I want to finish my academic semester well, giving my classes my best effort!

Famous Last Words: Three More Weeks!

This week, I am gearing up for the end of the semester, as graduation is only three weeks away. It's hard to believe that the past four years at the University of Oklahoma have flown by so fast, but I am incredibly excited for what's coming next in my life! I will spend the next several weeks soaking in academics, friendships, and my favorite parts of Norman. Then, in one month, I will be moving to southwest Idaho to pursue a position with Teach For America, and am eager to face important challenges in a new city. My summer will be a complete whirlwind, with the weeks split between Norman, OK, Boise, ID, Houston, TX, and my hometown of Muldrow, OK. Until then, I hope to slow down and fully enjoy the moments immediately ahead of me. 

THREE MORE WEEKS, AHH 

photo by kaitmaddox photography

I plan to finish this semester strong in all of my classes, which will require me to buckle down and test my self-discipline and I complete remaining homework assignments and papers. In the midst of studying and writing, I want to set aside time to make genuine connections and heartfelt memories with my friends. Time to pour into relationships is incredibly important to me before moving so far away for two years, but I will need to carefully balance social desires with academic requirements. Finally, I want to thoughtfully choose a few locations and activities in Norman as part of a farewell tour – it will be my last opportunity to enjoy Norman for awhile. I'll definitely need one last gelato from il Dolce, a vulcan and cream soda from Midway Deli, and a long afternoon snoozing and reading in my hammock at the Duck Pond! Past that, I would love to hear some suggestions about Norman experiences that I should not miss before I go!