Famous Last Words: Senioritis!

Unfortunately, this first week of school has been hard for me because I have been facing a bad case of senioritis... I have watched too much Netflix, taken a few too many naps, and not been as productive as I could have been. However, when I have sat down to do homework, I have been able to focus and I have quickly realized that this is my favorite class this semester because it is such a fun and creative outlet for me. That is a big change of pace from my usual science and health classes. I took several creative writing courses in high school where I wrote poetry, short stories, anthologies, and even plays, so this is enjoyable for me to try again after several years. Even though it was initially hard for me, my favorite assignment was expanding on a myth or folklore with our own story and characters because it was exciting to add my own twist and create the characters as I imagined them to be. Another assignment I enjoyed was the Growth Mindset assignment because the Carol Dweck videos really resonated with me and encouraged me to not be so obsessive and "fixed" in my thinking, rather seeing myself as a work in progress.

I also really liked reading other students' storybooks because each one I read had a different style, tone, personality, and creativity that inspired me and excited me for my own project. I particularly liked the "My Brothers Grimm" story since it was such a unique idea to add a heroine to a set of stories that are so well known and the additions were excellently woven into the plots without changing anything major, simply adding small details that were certainly plausible. I liked the layout of the storybook as well as the images used because they both set the scene and supplemented the story perfectly.

 (Brothers Grimm)

I am starting to get the flow of my classes this semester and with two of them being online, I would really like to solidify a schedule and stick to it. Two of my classes have a tremendous amount of reading and several essays per week, so I want to be sure to stay on top of things and see this class as a fun and refreshing outlet for creativity and pieces I actually enjoy writing. My goal is to be proactive and stay ahead in my classes so that my case of senioritis can't affect me too much!

(Source: Free Stock Photos)

Wikipedia Trail: From Grendel to Georges Cuvier

I started my Wikipedia trail with Grendel because one of my favorite storybooks I read this past week had a villainous character that referenced and was clearly influenced by Grendel. I enjoyed reading Beowulf in high school but couldn't remember many details about Grendel, so I decided to look him up on Wikipedia. Beowulf is depicted as a monster or a giant and feared by all (except for Beowulf) and was loosely based by Cain, the first murderer in the bible. I noticed some of the debate on Grendel's appearance, which led me to the Peter Dickinson's argument that Grendel walked on two feet.

This led me to the term bipedalism, which is a form of locomotion on two feet, which humans and many mammals, primates, and amphibians do. Bipedalism is described as having several types of movement, including standing, walking, running, and jumping. There were several mammals described to have evolved independently into bipedalism as their primary way of moving, which is where one particular mammal listed caught my eye...a sloth.

But this was not just any sloth; in fact, it was an extinct ground sloth, also scientifically known as a  Megatheriidae. These sloths lived up until 11,000 years ago primarily in South America. Their skeletal remains indicate that they were absolutely massive (which made me excited and laugh a lot) with reports of one of the earliest ones being 17 feet tall, 6 meters in length, and 5 tons in weight. I just about lost it when I read that portion because I love sloths and I instantly googled images of these beautiful creatures.

Megatheriidae received their name ("great beast") from Georges Cuvier, so my final stop on the Wikipedia trail was learning more about him. Cuvier was a French naturalist and zoologist and one of the founding fathers of palaeontology. He essentially established the field of comparative anatomy and taxonomy grouped into classes of phyla. He also did not believe in evolution and engaged in public debates about the topic.

 (Skeleton of the MASSIVE extinct ground sloth)

Source: Wikipedia

Tech Tip Cheezburger Meme

(Image Source: Cheezburger)

Growth Mindset

I have never heard of either Carol Dweck or the concept of "growth mindset" before, but they were certainly words that I needed to hear. I tend to have what Carol defines as a "fixed" mindset, because I have always been obsessed with making good grades, excelling above and beyond expectations, and being naturally gifted at whatever task set before me. Regardless of prior knowledge or experience, I often expect myself to be instantly good at things and become incredibly frustrated when I am not. Throughout high school and the beginning of college, I had always been a straight A student, but I had never stepped very far out of my comfort zone of learning. Since I was studying music, something I had done since I was six, concepts and techniques came naturally to me and I was never faced with much failure.

When I transferred to OU, I challenged myself with something completely new and become a science major (even though I somehow managed to get through high school with barely any science classes). It was often difficult at first, but I began to see unsatisfactory test grades as stepping stones to true understanding and stressed out less about my grades and GPA, instead appreciating the concepts I was learning and the growth I was experiencing. Whether or not it was reflected on a test, paper, or even an entire class, I was learning information that would be useful to me in my future career as a Physical Therapist. That's when I really began to enjoy practicing, studying, reading, and truly learning so that I could always challenge myself to take it one step farther and become smarter.

I enjoyed the videos of Carol's talks because they greatly resonated with me and encouraged me to step outside of this "fixed" mindset. My favorite example of hers was the grades of "Not Yet" earned by stuents because not immediately excelling is not the end of the world as we often see it. It is simply postponing to ensure future success. That story reminds me of my brother's Pre-Kindergarten teacher telling my parents that my brother needed "the gift of another year" when she decided to hold him back. It ended up working out wonderfully and the "Not Yet" grade reminds me of this.

Personally, I would love to implement this Growth Mindset into my academic and social endeavors because I truly think it is the healthiest mindset for peace and happiness. One class I'm especially hoping to experience this in is my government class since that is a subject that I have no experience and extremely limited knowledge in, meaning I know it will take time for me to understand and I must be patient with myself. I am inspired by this topic and would like to learn more!

(Growth Mindset Image from Flickr)

Time Strategies

Time management is definitely a difficult thing to master for many people, especially college students, so I have found that planning out my days is incredibly important.  So I chose to read the The Myth of "Too Busy" article because I find myself using the word busy way too often.

Even though it is frustrating to realize, I liked the points that Tim Grahl made when he said that we are not usually busy, we are simply misprioritizing and mismanaging our time. When he described it this way, I realized that the small portions of time I do manage to have available throughout the day could be used for much more productive and relationial activities instead of browsing Facebook, Instagram, and whatever other social media notification I have received. He made an excellent point that once you set your priorities, it only makes sense that other things have to give. It is impossible to get everything done in a day and still have time for oneself and all possible friends and family, so something must change to allow for maximal productivity and enjoyment of life.

Usually, I often overload each day with more activities, events, meetings, study groups, etc. than I can actually physically participate in and attend in a 24 hour day. Hence, this article resonated with me. However, this semester, I have made it a personal goal to say "NO" to things that do not make me happy or further my goals of graduating college, maintaining relationships, and attending Physical Therapy school. Even though it has been difficult to do so, I realized at the beginning of this year that it would be important for me to have time to get everything done this semester (especially since I am taking two online classes and 16 hours total, participate in multiple extracurricular activities, and work a part-time job as a Physical Therapy technician) WITHOUT going crazy.

Thankfully, to manage my days and newly found time, I use the MyAgenda planner and absolutely love it. It has excellent organization for all of the categories and sections of life that need managing. I have used it for four years now and it keeps me on track with all of my meetings, due dates, appointments, studying, and work schedules while also allowing for a social life. I have found that when I plan each part of my day, I know what to do with the time when it comes and can make the most of it. Thus, I will write in my planned hours of work for this class (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday) as if they are in-person obligation so that I will be prepared to be productive and even work ahead when I am able to do so. I also use the app "UpWord" which allows me to make virtual checklists, organize them by importance, and have the satisfaction of checking them off with the swipe of a finger when I am done. I used this app for all of my To Do, homework, and even grocery lists and it is excellently organized to make keeping up with life a stress-free experience.

Even with UpWord and MyAgenda, time management still comes down to determination and hard work and that is something that comes with practice and good work ethic. So I will continue to use these methods for this class and Spring 2017 semester because I have found that they work best with my personality, organizational style, and desire to be proactive. Hopefully, this semester will be less stressful and allow me to enjoy life thanks to the tips in Tim Grahl's article and my trusty planner!

(Personal photo of my fun and life-saving MyAgenda planner)

Reading Options

After reading through the Mythology and Folklore UnTextbook units online, it was very difficult for me to pick three for my reading options because so many of them sounded interesting and unique.

For the Week 2 reading, the title of the Cupid and Psyche Unit really caught my attention. I am always intrigued by a good love story and with Cupid being the god of love, I felt like it was bound to be an exciting read. When I read the overview, I saw the tale described as similar to "Beauty and the Beast", which is one of my favorite movies and stories as well as a musical I have been in. That, and the reference to one of my favorite authors (C.S. Lewis), solidified my interest in the tale. I glanced through the "chapters", read the first few, and I am already hooked on this story. I look forward to watching the story unfold!

(Cupid and Psyche. Illustration by Spencer Stanhope.)

 

The The Monkey King Unit caught my eye because initially, the title sounded fun and silly. However, when I selected the unit, I realized that it was an intense story of a miraculously gifted monkey king who trains both as a warrior and a magician and then rebels against heaven, causing Buddha to become involved. This piqued my interest both of my brothers and my father are passionate about Martial Arts and I imagined everything they have learned and studied through the years when picture the Monkey King's training. It has been exciting and entertaining to see my family become so passionate about Asian culture and I have found myself really enjoying it, so naturally I was drawn to the Asian Mythology unit. After glancing through it, I liked the writing style and tone and I feel confident that it is a piece I will enjoy later this semester.

(The Monkey King. Wikimedia Commons.)

 

The final unit I browsed and was interested in was Dante's Inferno Unit. I have actually always been interested in reading Dante's Inferno, so I was excited when I saw that this was an option in Week 13-14's literary works. I am a little nervous that this piece might be more challenging, especially of its reputation, but the topic and overview are fascinating to me and I love Italian cultures and influences. I am interested in the Purgatory and Paradise and intrigued to see how the Christian theology of hell is integrated with characters and influences from ancient mythology.

 (Dante's Inferno. Illustration by Bartolomeo Di Fruosino.)

My Storybook Favorites

The three stories that piqued my interest were My Brothers Grimm: The Diary of the Only Grimm Sister, College of the Elite, and Not to Touch the Earth. Each of them was extremely different and creative and it was exciting to see the similarities and imaginative additions to each story from the original tale. 

The first story I read was My Brothers Grimm: The Diary of the Only Grimm Sister and I knew it was going to be good when I saw the layout of the website and the perfectly depictive illustration. The layout of the page was consistent with the initial picture and the font created a humorous and whimsical tone that was reflected in the style of writing. I was intrigued by the title because I have two brothers and could perfectly relate to Charlotte's character being the only girl in the family and always having to help her brothers out. I thought it was incredibly creative to create such a storyline that seamlessly connected Rumplestiltskin, Hansel and Grethel, Jorinda and Jorindel, and the gang of cannibal men- all of which I would have never connected before. The stories were perfectly written to allow Charlotte to play her role yet also preserving the original story that the brothers tell and that are popular today. I greatly enjoyed reading these stories and believed as well as related to the characters wholeheartedly.

(Image Source: Old German Town. Source: Wikipedia.)

The second story, College of the Elite, was clever, humorous, and exciting to read. I chose it because I am currently in college and was not sure what to expect with the name. It was about the Elite University where students of different races- including Vampire, Banshee, Fae, and Siren- are beginning their Freshman year of college and want to disband any archetypical stereotypes that give them their reputations. I lived with a random roommate my first year of school, so it was funny for me to read the interactions between Brea and Evie as they adjust to rooming together, which can tend to be a shock. The transitions between points of view were clear and well-written as the last line of one story became the first of another. These deeper looks into each scene gave the characters a greater sense of humour as the reader understands their thought processes and different interpretations of social experiences. I especially liked the images- screenshots of both the text and email- that the writer, Katie, created to give the story a sense of realism.

(This is Corpus Christi College in Cambridge. Web Source)

Not to Touch the Earth, the third story I read, was very different from the other two. I initially selected it because of the title, which I was completely unfamiliar with and definitely wanted to discover.  It was based on the story of Beowulf and the villain he faced, Grendel, and I was excited to read this piece because of how greatly I enjoyed reading Beowulf. The plot was wonderfully accentuated by a post-apocalyptic theme, something I am fascinated by, that presented many unique settings and dark places for nerve-wracking action.  I also enjoyed the Great Gatsby influence with the side character, Fox, to the leading hero, Rye. I found that to be a unique perspective for the details in the story. The illustrations of abandoned, dark buildings and empty streets excellently set the scene and tone and I was on edge throughout when imagining the chilling and scary villains. The impact of the layout of the page and the theme of illustrations was inspirational to me for when I begin my own piece. I also liked the navigation of the website along with the length of the pieces because it felt similar to chapters of a thrilling novel.

 (Image Credit: "The Hole" by lordyo. Source: Deviantart.)

Introduction to a Performer and Future Physical Therapist

Hello, and welcome to my blog! My name is Katie Hill, I'm twenty-two years old, and I have been born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma. (BOOMER)

(Source: OU Sooner Sports)

I have a variety of interests from music and theatre to health science and exercise, both of which have been my majors throughout college. I started my Freshman year of college at the University of Central Oklahoma as a Musical Theatre major. After performing in over fifteen musicals in high school, auditioning all over the country, and absolutely obsessing over musicals and Broadway performers for years, it was a dream come true to perform collegiately!

  (Personal Photo from my favorite musical performance- Jane Eyre)

 I also dreamed of moving to New York City and becoming a Broadway star someday. So I took voice lessons, musical theory, piano, ballet, jazz, tap, modern, theatre history, and rehearsed many hours a day for productions and performances. I even met famous stars such as Betty Buckley and Judy Kuhn (voice of Mulan and Pocahontas)!

(Source: Wikimedia Commons) 

However, during my Freshman year, I dislocated my knees several times and was finally unable to dance anymore. So I decided to transfer to OU as a Health and Exercise Science major and begin studying for my new dream- Physical Therapy. My favorite classes at OU have been Anatomy and Physiology as I learned more about the human body and the way it works and maintains itself. I have also experienced Physical Therapy, as a patient for both knee and shoulder surgery, and worked as a Physical Therapy technician, so I fell in love with a field that involves helping people manage and relieve pain, rehabilitate after injury, return to daily activities, and achieve goals they didn't think were possible.

 (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

After spending the last few years preparing for applications and interviews, I am absolutely thrilled that I will be pursuing a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Central Arkansas after graduation in May. I could not be more excited to have achieved my goals and be one step closer to helping people! I will hopefully work at an Orthopaedic Outpatient Clinic and possibly specialize in Neurological or Performance Rehabilitation somewhere in Colorado, like Boulder, Denver, or Colorado Springs someday!

(Personal photo of my favorite place in Colorado: Boulder Lake)

Aside from classes, I like to watch Netflix, take and teach Zumba Fitness classes, sing in the OU choir, participate in my sorority Tri Delta, and Campus Activities Council (CAC) at OU. My favorite Netflix shows are Grey's Anatomy, New Girl, The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Breaking Bad and I probably watch them too often. My favorite de-stressor is Zumba and I try to take as many classes a week as possible. I also sing in the OU University Chorale as well as perform in CAC's University Sing and Scandals with my sorority. I am looking forward to my last semester at OU this spring and will be sad to leave the greatest university!

Week 1 Story- Hector Protector the Famous Magician

 

Hector Protector was dressed all in green;

Hector Protector was sent to the Queen.

The Queen did not like him,

Nor more did the King;

So Hector Protector was sent back again.

_________________________________________ 

Hector Protector the Famous Magician

There once was a young boy named Hector Protector who dreamed of being the best magician in all the land. He saved his money for months to buy a kit of magic tricks and then he practiced many hours each day. His mother, Mrs. Protector, who believed in him most of all, sewed an all green outfit- complete with a blouse, leggings, shoes, and a cape- fit for the greatest magician of all because green was his very favorite color. Armed with his kit and dressed all in green, he performed his shows around the town and his reputation soon began to spread. He soon found himself dreaming of one day performing for the King and Queen, who were known to be enormous fans of magic shows.

Hector's Magic Tricks

(Source: Flickr User: Jin)

After months of performing and on his 18th birthday, Hector received the best birthday gift imaginable. An old squire delivered a royal scroll right to his door and when he opened it, his jaw dropped to the floor. He had been summoned to the royal court to perform his very best magic tricks at the King and Queen's royal Summer Solstice dinner. He had one week to prepare his very best. He shined his wand and straightened his cards while Mrs. Protector washed and ironed his clothes and cape. Finally, the day had come and he was ready.

Hector was escorted into the palace by the very same squire who had delivered the good news. He was led into the royal dining room where the King and Queen were seated at a beautiful table with all the important lords and ladies of the land. Hector took a deep breath, knowing this was his time to shine. After arranging his props and with the Queen's nod of approval, he began. However... much to his dismay, he couldn't perform his show! He dropped his wand, jumbled the cards, and even knocked a glass off the table with his mighty cape. Hector was mortified and wondered how he could possibly save his show.

 The Royal Dining Room

(Wikimedia Commons)

Alas, the Queen rose and stood at the head of the table, staring straight into his eyes. As he looked around, he suddenly realized that neither she nor the King was amused and all of the lords and ladies were laughing at him. He felt his face turn bright red as she raised her arm and pointed to the door in dismissal. The squire from before quickly returned to his side and shuffled him out of the room while he frantically trying to gather his belongings. Hector felt tears streaming down his face in embarrassment as he was sent away from the royal palace.

His mother was waiting with open arms when he returned home and he told her of his tragic experience. Hector desperately wanted to quit being a magician at that moment, but Mrs. Protector would not let him give up that easily. She told him that his talent as a magician was not determined by the King and Queen's approval and that it was time to find a new dream audience. Consoled by her advice and encouraged by her kind words, Hector constructed a backyard theatre with a stage, curtains, lights, and seats and created fliers, hanging them around the town in eager anticipation of his new show.

When the night of the show arrived, Hector, dressed in all green, stepped on stage and was greeted by a full house of friends and family there to support him. He nervously began his show and to his surprise, it was flawless! The audience erupted into cheers and he couldn't help but grin realizing that friends and family were more important than the King and Queen anyway. Hector was a real magician- he had done it!

Hector's Magic Show

(Source: Elise Carlisle)

Author's Note: 
In the original rhyme, Hector Protector- who was dressed all in green- was sent to the Queen, but neither she nor the King liked him and he was sent back home. I instantly pictured Hector as a young man who was eager to impress the Queen and King with his talent but was devastated to be dismissed from their palace. This inspired me to make him an aspiring magician who was anxious to prove himself. However, I did not want the story to settle with a depressing and sad ending, so I added that his mother, who was his biggest fan, encouraged him to try again and become successful in his own way. Expanding on Hector's character, as well as creating his mother Mrs. Protector, was challenging yet enjoyable!

Bibliography:
This short story is inspired by and based on the nursery rhyme "Hector Protector" in The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew Lang.

Favorite Place

Cinque Terre, Italia. Cinque Terre in Italy is my favorite place in the world. I studied abroad in Italy during the summer of 2014 and it was the absolute best adventure of my life. We studied in Milan, Florence, Arezzo, Rome, Cortona, Parma, and took a weekend trip to Cinque Terre on my birthday. There are five villages in Cinque Terre- Monterosso al Mare, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Vernazza. All five of them are absolutely breathtaking with ocean views, friendly people, bazaars and boutiques, delicious food, and Italian culture. I hope to go back there some day!

We stayed in Monterosso al Mare on my birthday and ate an incredible seaside dinner at sunset, complete with organic white wine and a walk on the beach. It was beautiful!

 

Since we were visiting Cinque Terre during the annual Lemon festival, there were many tables and carts with free lemons, drinks, and clothing items and accessories inspired by the color yellow. It was so much fun to explore!

 

The next day we hiked between the villages and then concluded our weekend stay with a boat ride the iconic view of Riomaggiore. It was an amazing trip and the best birthday.

 

(First Image: Monterosso al Mare. Taken by Flickr user ISF Florence on July 16, 2013.)
(Second Image: Monterosso al Mare during the lemon festival. Photo by Katie Hill.)
(Third Image: Riomaggiore. Taken by Kim Olson Photography on April 20, 2012.)