(My New Phone, The Samsung Jitterbug. Photo by Flickr)
I am Camille and I am a Senior at The University of Oklahoma majoring in Neuroscience. I chose Neuroscience because at the age of ten my Grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Watching my family suffer put the fuel in my tank to make a change in what we know about the brain. I have hope that someday I can help prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. The link between nutrition and Alzheimer's fascinates me and I hope to be able to use food to prevent the onset of the disease. Concerning my future from here, I have no idea. I am going to take on one day at a time till I get to where I am going.
When I am not studying I am doing one of a few things: working out, hiking (click HERE to see my favorite hiking adventures), or spending time with my friends. If you are a fan of OU Football you probably know my friends and I, we are the RUF/NEKS and the RUF/NEK Lil'Sis. If that does not ring a bell, we are the people who shoot the shotguns and drive/ride the Sooner Schooner every football game (If you are still drawing a blank, check out the picture below to see us in action)! These people have become my rock while at OU. We have traveled from Long Beach, CA to Miami, FL together, stayed up way too late, woken up way too early, and have a great time representing the University of Oklahoma.
(Touchdown Run with Sooner Schooner: Picture by Camille)
The past four years have been nothing short of incredible, but..... did they go by in a blink if the eye?
No. The longest portion of my life has felt like college. I look back and it feels as if it has been an eternity, but in the best way ever. It has been full. Filled to the brim with friends, laughter, success, growth, love, and learning. I have traveled across the United States, hiked to the tops of mountains (small mountains, no Kilimanjaro....yet), and found my friends in a rowdy group. I have seen things and felt things that I was ignorant to before college. College has only been four years for me, but every moment has been full and has made me who I am today: a fun loving, adventurous, and determined woman who loves to yell Boomer Sooner (:
Hi Camille! I love that your reason for doing neuroscience is so selfless. I hope you do find a way to slow the progression of Alzheimer's because it is so painful to watch it take over someone's life. Nobody deserves that. We need more people like you who have so much ambition to help people! Also, it's so fun that you are a part of the RUF/NEKS! That's definitely a unique experience. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the course!
ReplyDeleteHi Camille! That is amazing that you are part of RUF/NEKS! I love going to OU games and always admire how you all get the crowd excited and take Boomer and Sooner around after every score! Neuroscience is an interesting subject, and it is inspiring how you are looking to cure Alzheimers. I wish you the best of luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteNeal
Hey there Camille! It is really great to see that you are studying neuroscience! My grandmother is currently being tested for Alzheimers, and I must admit that my family is pretty scared. On another note, I am a pre-med student and so I have had the opportunity to shadow a pediatric neurosurgeon at OU Children's this summer, and I completely understand your interest. The brain is so complex, it is quite beautiful. Hopefully we both have a great senior year and don't feel too old by the end of it!
ReplyDeleteHey Camille!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, while you're passing the sugary candy to the grandkids, I'm hobbling around with my walker and fiddling with my ear, possibly yelling at some point, "These damn hearing aids!" College to me has felt like an extremely short four years, but when I look back at how much I've grown, it's hard for me to ever picture myself living in a time before college (which also makes it seem like college has been an eternity - time is funny that way). My uncle is a neuroscientist at the University of Texas (I know, a touchy subject for someone who rides the schooner) and I have always been fascinated by his work. I think it's wonderful that you're exploring the same field and want to help progress the existing knowledge we have of the brain! It is such a relevant and important area of study, and I wish you all the best in your future pursuits.
Hey Camille!
ReplyDeleteI completely sympathize with your not so mid-life crisis. It is wild to think that I can finally call myself a Senior at OU. I have also given advice to younger students and agree that it truly does go by fast. Your friend group sounds absolutely legendary. I think when people come to college that is one of the main things they are looking for. Congratulations on making such meaningful connections and good luck in the rest of this class.
I keep hoping and hoping for some neuroscience breakthroughs with Alzheimers, Camille: how great that you could be part of that! There has been some really interesting work done on storytelling and the brain also; storytelling is one of those universal human phenomena, like language itself, which means there is bound to be some brain dimension to the act of telling and listening to stories. Maybe that is something you can learn about along the way in this class!
ReplyDeleteAnd what a wonderful photo of the Schooner in action. I hope you will have a thrilling season to remember for this your senior year, with lots of touchdown yells.
Hi Camille! I think that your inspiration for studying neuroscience is amazing. I hope that you have enjoyed your area of study so far. You’re definitely not alone in not knowing what you’ll do in the future. I graduate in December and after that it’s all to be determined! It’s awesome that you have been so involved in OU school spirit, and I am sure that this is something that will stick with you long after you leave OU as a student. Best of luck to you this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Camille,
ReplyDeleteI'm applauding you for pursing neuroscience as a major. I know that it can be very difficult, but you have a heartfelt reason that will help you push through! I noticed you said you liked to hike! I'm curious where around Norman is good for hiking? I've been wanting to pursue that hobby, and the last year in Norman(maybe) seems like a good time as any!
Hi Camille,
ReplyDeleteI am so inspired by your deep passion for Neuroscience and the significant meaning behind your decision to pursue this career. From the age of 13, I volunteered at an Alzheimer's Nursing Home, so I too have become very passionate about that. I also think it's amazing that you have such love for OU. I am jealous that you have had the opportunity of traveling for OU!
Hey Camille!
ReplyDeleteGood to see you again! I had no idea you were in this class! lol I'm bookmarking you page to read your stories! I took the Indian Epics class two years ago and had a jolly time and I think I'm really going to enjoy this class as well. Feel free to check out my page and stories whenever you get the chance!
I wish you the best this semester!!!
Hi Camille! First of all, what a great reason to pursue your field of study, you're clearly really passionate about that. I'm a junior and I'm already having freshmen ask me questions that make me feel ancient so I'm sure next year I'll be joining you on the Jitterbug train! It seems like you've had a fun time during your years here between hiking and the RUF/NEKs though! I hope you have fun this football season and have a great senior year!
ReplyDeleteHi Camille!
ReplyDeleteI am blown away that you are majoring in neuroscience! That is such a huge need in our society right now, you are going to change so many lives! I really enjoyed reading the meaning behind why you chose this major, and I know you will continue to gain something from it each and every day. It will for sure be rewarding!
Hi Camille! My great-grandmother recently died of Alzheimer's. It's a really horrible disease, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone or their families. I think it's really cool that you've taken your personal experience and turned it into motivation to learn about Alzheimer's. I hope to see your name in an article some day about how you discovered a cure or preventative measures or something! Keep working, you're awesome. And boomer sooner :)
ReplyDeleteHi Camille,
ReplyDeleteI think it is awesome that you are majoring in neuroscience. Alzheimer's is very common and it affects more people than most realize. It is such a terrifying disease and we need more people like you who are passionate about finding a cure. While I agree college has been long, I think once we are out, it'll feel as though it flew by. It is crazy how the feeling of time can change based on what you are going through in the moment. Don't let your passion for neuroscience fade because you will one day feel so accomplished and be able to help many people out one day! Keep it up!
Hi Camille, it is nice to meet you! I relate so much to your first paragraph as a fifth year senior. Meeting new freshman and sophomore students and being asked for advice is such a trip because I feel like I just started college haha. Neuroscience is such a fascinating major and I love you reason behind choosing it since it provides you so much motivation. Being a part of the RUF/NEKS sounds like such a fun, life-changing experience as well, you and the rest of the group are such an important part of football games and the student experience so thank you for dedicating so much time to it! I hope you have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Camille!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome that you're a RUF/NEK, I'm definitely gonna look out for you at the next football game! I totally agree that college has gone by slow but still been the best ever... which is so bitter-sweet. I had my last big-little for my sorority last night and couldn't believe that I'm actually the oldest now. I also think it's so cool that you're a neuroscience major! I hope you have a great year and I can't wait to read your stories!
Hi Camille,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, loved your first paragraph. (Honestly, I’d use one of those Jitterbugs — probably way more reliable, and I’m pretty sick of these damn smartphones :D )
You might not know what’s next right now, but I think it’s great that you know what you want to do with neuroscience in the long run. I’m fairly ignorant about the research around Alzheimer’s and nutrition: what is the link?
Best,
A.M.
Hey Camille,
ReplyDeleteIt's so awesome to see another Neuroscience major. It sucks that OU doesn't have an official major for it yet and we have to go through the Planned Program, but it's super rare for me to run into someone else who's done that. As for your interest in nutrition and Alzheimer's, I think that would be an amazing way to delay onset. I think people often look to drug or surgical interventions but fail to consider the importance of what we do everyday--eat! I hope you have an amazing final year at OU!
Hi Camille! It was great to hear about your passion for neuroscience and why you chose to pursue it as a career. I know that it must have been so difficult to watch a family member go through something that terrible, but I am glad that it helped shape you in to the person you are today and showed you your passions! Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi Camille!
ReplyDeleteIt was so inspiring to read why you want to study Neuroscience. When I was younger, my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease. Unfortunately, he ended up passing away a couple of years ago due to complications from this disease. I hope that in the future, you are able to figure out a way to either cure or slow down the progression of this disease. Your work in Neuroscience will have such a significant impact on so many different families. I wish you the best of luck in the future!
Hi Camille, nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI love the passion you have for your career plans, and for OU. I've also lost family members to dementia-related diseases, and it sucks, so I'm glad to know there are people like you who are working to do something about it! Good luck with the rest of the semester, and I can't wait to read your stories! :)
Hi Camille!
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear more about the connection between dementia-related diseases and nutrition. I have lost family members to them and want to prepare myself for anything that can happen. I never thought what I eat now might affect me in that way though!
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI love the way you opened your intro about yourself. I also have to say that you have quite the motivation for your major. How do you figure food can help with Alzheimer’s? I know it is a horrible disease and hope that there will be a cure for it. Yes college is both the longest and the shortest…It is something else. I am coming to the close of my time at OU as well. What will be the first thing you do after you graduate?
Hi Camille,
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to meet you. I seriously considered neuroscience for a while, however for me it stemmed from the Amazing Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. It is really cool that you have such a connection to your work. I think that is really important, especially when most of us are picking what we want to do for the rest of our working lives. Are you graduating in the spring?