Hello! First of all, I hope you are having an amazing day so far. If not, please first enjoy this picture of my first hedgehog, Mochi, in a tiny santa hat.
Personal Photo: my first hedgehog's first Christmas!
It might be an unusual choice of pet, but it is one that I highly recommend for students. I am a senior, graduating in May with a degree in Chemistry&Biochemistry and a minor in Pre-Health Social Sciences. These past four years have been very time consuming, and I wanted a pet that would accomodate my schedule. Enter: hedgehogs. They are solitary, nocturnal, small, don't require a lot of resources or space, perfect! And once I got my first, I became hooked on other exotic animals as well. I hope to one day have a large assorment of interesting critters and reptiles!
Aside from loving my hogs, I try to spend my extra time travelling all over the world. Both my parents immigrated from Asia, and we frequently travel back to visit my extended family. I have been flying to Malaysia and Singapore quite literally since I was born. As my interests broadened, so did my horizons. I often travel independently all over Asia and Europe. I sincerely belive that you can discover a lot about yourself through solo travelling. Being in a completely new environment, alone, sometimes not speaking the same language can be daunting, but it lets you immerse yourself in a different culture. It has also helped me build courage and become comfortable approaching locals and tring to speak their native language. I've found that no matter where you're going, people appreciate you trying to learn about their culture, traditions, and language.
Personal Photo: atop Champ-Elysees in Paris
Personal Photo: the view of Rome, Italy atop St. Peter's Basilica
Personal Photo: green tea fields in Jeju Island, South Korea
During my time in Norman, I have really enjoyed taking the Chemistry courses offered here. I have a huge interest in science and understanding how the world works on a molecular level. I will be attending medical school this fall with the intention of becoming a pediatrician. I love working with kids and their parents, and I got to be more invested through my involvement with CAC's Soonerthon! Being able to play my part for the kids is one of my most cherished opportunities I get here at OU.
Personal Photo: Soonerthon 2018 with one of our Miracle Kids
It may already be obvious, but I am quite a big fan of Game of Thrones. The fantasy genre has been a favorite since I was young, and I especially liked anything with dragons. If I'm not watching that, the other option is the Great British Baking Show. I love the chemistry involved in baking and often challenge myself with new recipies and techniques.
Personal photo: meeting Kit Harrington outside the York Theatre in London
A huge part of my life has been invested in music, and it is something I am thankful to have had the opportunity to continue at OU. I was a member of the Pride of Oklahoma for two years, marching trumpet. I also participated in Symphony Band and Jazz Band. I love performing, and standing on the field in front of crowds of over 100,000 is an amazing feeling. Participating in a wind ensemble has also helped me grow a lot as a musician, and the skills you learn there can be applied to many aspects of what I believe makes a good physician. For example, how to listen across the ensemble, be attentive to others and adjust yourself accordingly, and most importantly how to work as a single unit. Besides trumpet, I am also part of the piano studio here and enjoy playing classical solo works. Some of my favorite composers include Chopin and Debussy. Piano gives me an outlet for artistic creativity and a break from academic stress.
I want to live a courageous life, full of new experiences, adventures, and hopefully positively impacting those around me along the way. I am looking forward to being able to document some of those adventures here throughout the semester!
Personal Photo: my second hedgehog, Plum
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Hi Moriah!
ReplyDeleteMochi is such a cute name for a hedgehog. One of my friends in high school had a pet hedgehog, and although they're a little intimidating at first (spiky!), it's not too hard to warm up to them.
I'm also a Game of Thrones fan. It's so cool that you got to meet Kit Harrington and take a picture with him. I'm super excited for the new season to come out, and I hope it lives up to all of the hype they've built up from last season.
It's really cool that you travel so much! I definitely agree that travelling helps you to learn a lot about yourself. I think each trip I've taken has also helped me grow a little as a person, whether it's becoming more confident or patient!
Good luck this semester!
Hi Moriah,
ReplyDeleteWow, you seem really busy with your school, your pets, your music, and your traveling. I think it is amazing that you were involved with the Pride and that you continue to play multiple instruments. I am taking a beginning piano class this semester and I find it really difficult, I am in awe of people who play with proficiency.
Your photos are beautiful. I love traveling as well and I was in Italy and Rome last summer! I agree that traveling, especially alone can really challenge you and show you things about yourself that you didn't know before.
I wish you luck with the rest of your school and with your future career. Being a pediatrician sounds difficult but rewarding.
-Elyse
Oh, this is great, Moriah: we need hedgehogs at the Pet Padlet! I hope Mochi and Plum will find a place there! Here's the "Pet Padlet" -- Padlet Tech Tips, which is a fun way to do an extra credit Tech Tip thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd did you maybe think about a Hedgehog Storybook for class...? That could be so fun! Some hedgehog stories here: Hedgehog stories of the world. Or a Game-of-Thrones-themed project with dragons and hedgehogs!
Thanks also for the lovely photos here: I love the shared spatial shape of the difference places in those three photos. Beautiful! If you can have tea fields resonating with St. Peter's, I am sure you can have hedgehogs resonating with dragons somehow! :-)
Hi, Moriah!
ReplyDeleteWow, your life seems so interesting! I think I liked every new thing you mentioned in your post. From hedgehogs, to travel, to Game of Thrones, you had me intrigued! I wish my life was more like yours. I would love to travel around the world way more often than I have had the chance to in my life. I have also never traveled completely solo for an extended amount of time before, so that would be interesting to try. I can't believe you got to meet Kit! I'm sure that was a super cool experience for you. I'm excited to see what other fun stories you will bring to your blog!
Good luck this semester!
P.S. Mochi and Plum are super cute names for hedgehogs :)
Hi Moriah!
ReplyDeleteFirst, the obvious, your hedgehogs are so cute! I am very impressed you have so many interesting pets. I personally am afraid I am incapable of caring for anything more difficult than a cat. I'm also impressed you have reptiles, for reasons I myself do not fully understand, I am desperately afraid of snakes (I blame that scene in Harry Potter). It's cool that you've traveled so much. I also love to travel and would love to go to Asia sometime. My mom is from Korea and I have always wanted to go. This summer will be my first time solo travelling. I'm a little nervous but also excited!
Good luck with the rest of your semester!
Hi Moriah!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, you're hedgehogs are so adorable! I love animals as well and got a new puppy last summer! I love your comments about traveling. My family and I have traveled a lot since I was born and I feel as if traveling is truly one of the only ways to open yourself up to new people, places, foods, languages, and cultures. I think it is so important to have these opportunities and it's awesome that you get to travel so often to see your extended family! Also, I am a huge fan of The Great British Baking Show, too! I started it this year with my roommate and we are in love with it. You have such a talent for writing and I can't wait to read more of your posts.
Have a great semester!
Hi Moriah!
ReplyDeleteI think it is so cool how involved you are. Soonerthon is such a good organization to get involved in. Soonerthon raises so much money and really does make a change in our community. It also does take up some serious time. It is really impressive that you are able to balance such a demanding organization with all of the other things you are involved with.
Hey there Moriah!
ReplyDeleteIt is so cool that you have a hedge hog! I could probably count on one hand the people that have a hedge hog and that’s it. I definitely agree with you that traveling solo really makes you have more self-confidence, and it really isn’t an option. I lived overseas in Africa for three years and it was definitely an eye-opening experience that I wish everyone could experience. Have a great semester and good luck in medical school!
Drew
Hello Moriah!
ReplyDeleteI must say that I really like what you have done with your blog. I kind of got this feeling from your blog, but do you like hedgehogs? I don’t think anyone really realizes that they could always use a picture of a hedgehog at any moment, especially a picture of one called Mochi! Thank you for sharing your love of hedgehogs with the world!
Hi Moriah,
ReplyDeleteI love your little hedgehog. It is very adorable. Also, congratulations on getting into medical school! It is nice to meet another chemistry major. We are of a rare variety. I love all your pictures; they all tell a great story. I hope to participate in Soonerthon this year because like you said, it is an amazing philanthropy. I wish you the best in your future endeavors and can't wait to get to know you more!
Hi Moriah, I absolutely love animals and especially ones that people find to be uncommon. A hedgehog has got to be one of the coolest and most exotic pets I've heard of someone having, so kudos to you! I am on Soonerthon Exec and it is really cool to see cause-connnected people like you doing amazing things here at OU and in Oklahoma!
ReplyDeleteHello, Moriah!
ReplyDeleteI think I should start with the fact that Mochi and Plum are adorable--I love the names, too! I have never known anyone who has owned a hedgehog but have always thought that they are incredibly cute. I am so impressed with all of the things you manage to accomplish, what with being in band, working on Soonerthon, traveling, doing chemisty and biochemistry (super difficult subjects, so that alone is impressive to me!), and taking care of two little spikey babies! I can't wait to read the stories you come up with this semester!
Good luck with the rest of your college career and beyond!
Hi Moriah, I really love animals as well, so that was something that I instantly connected with you on! I have a Yorkie named Maggie and she is adorable and I think all animals are, too! That is so cool to hear that you are getting involved at OU and doing it in a cool way that affects our community in such a positive way! Keep it up! Good luck with the rest of your time at OU.
ReplyDeleteWow! That was a really good introduction! I never knew there was so much to hedgehogs, but they seem like very economical animals, plus they're adorable!
ReplyDeleteBiochem and Chem with a minor, that's quite a lot of work, I can imagine it was time-consuming. That's really cool and impressive. I'm also super jealous of all the places you've been! I hope that once I get a job I'll be able to go travel around and stuff, but for now, I'm just stuck here studying.
Also your aspirations and work with Soonerthon is really admirable! I think it's so cool that you want to be a pediatrician, that's amazing.
I love the hedgehog! It's super cute. It sounds like you must be busy throughout the semester, and I thought I was busy. Reminds me that they always say that someone else always has it worse. I hope you have enjoyed everything you've spent your time doing here, though I hate doing homework I have enjoyed most of my school.
ReplyDeleteHello Moriah,
ReplyDeleteIt was so much fun to read through your introduction. Hedgehogs really are adorable. I think they are one of the most underrated animals out there. I think it is super cool that you are interested in exotic animals, and I would be interested to see how your pet collection grows over the years. Best of luck this semester!
-Andy
Oh my god. That hedgehog is so cute it's unreal. I wouldn't have thought that they'd be such a low maintenance pet! That's good to know.
ReplyDeleteI love your attitude towards travel. I think solo travel can be really, really intimidating but also super rewarding. Aside from being in an unfamiliar place, it lets you spend some time with yourself and figure things out without help. I love it as well.
Good luck this semester! Looking forward to reading your writing.
Hey Moriah!
ReplyDeleteWow, I can’t imagine how busy you must be! As somebody who avoids the hard sciences as much as possible and much prefers the social sciences, I can’t imagine your major. It’s impressive that you’re able to do that much! It’s so great to see your picture at Soonethon!! That charity is the best part about OU and I’ve enjoyed it over the last 4 years. All the best this semester!
- JD
Hey Moriah!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you've done a whole heck of a lot of stuff in your time, between travelling, band, your amazing hedgehogs, and of course college. I'm also a huge fan of travel - I'm hoping to hit every continent before I turn 40! I wish you luck in your path through medical school (I have some friends in it now... spooky stuff I hear) and of course, the best of luck here at the end of the worl- college!
Hey Moriah,
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, this was such a cool post to read to get to know a little bit about you. I feel like from all of your traveling you have significant experience that no doubt helps you in a multitude of aspects. I have only traveled out of the country once, but really want to continue to travel as I get older to understand different various cultures better. Good luck in medical school also, I have heard about how tough it can be but I am sure you will kill it! Looking forward to reading some of your stories and I hope you have a great semester.
Hi Moriah!
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that you have a wealth of passion for numerous things: chemistry, music, and your hedgehogs. It's hard for me to relate given that I struggled my way through Chemistry 1, can hardly play "hot cross buns" on the piano, and sometimes forget to feed myself, let alone an animal. I do share your passion for traveling though. I'm sure you'd agree that getting outside of your comfort zone and experiencing new things is always well worth it.
Hi Moriah,
ReplyDeleteLet me start off by saying that Mochi looks adorable. Congratulations on graduating this May! Also, I am a big Game of Thrones fan, and I am super jealous of you getting to meet Kit Harrington. I can't wait for this final season. Anyways, I hope you are having a great semester, and I look forward to reading some of your stories!
-Kevin
Hey Moriah,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, congratulations on graduating in May! I am currently a sophomore, so that honestly feels like a lifetime away! I haven't ever seen an episode of Game of Thrones, but your enthusiasm makes me want to try to watch it! Mochi is also absolutely adorable! Kudos to being a responsible pet owner in college because it isn't easy at all! I hope you enjoy your semester and have fun being a senior for the last month or so of school!
Hi Moriah,
ReplyDeleteYou are almost done! Congratulations on graduating. Good luck with your future endeavors. Your pet hedgehog is so cute! I can only image what great pets they are. I also love to travel. While I have never been to Singapore I would really love to. My friend is studying abroad in Hong Chong right now and visited Singapore last weekend. The pictures were insane.
Hey Moriah,
ReplyDeleteJust checking in once again as the last week of classes and this course come to an end! At the behest of many of my friends, I have started watching Game of Thrones, so I'm sure you would be proud of me! I've really enjoyed it so far, but I hope to avoid spoilers as much as possible, but it's pretty tough! I am still a huge fan of Mochi and hedgehogs in general! I hope your finals and your last few days on this campus are as great as your future seems to be! Good luck out there!
Hey Moriah,
ReplyDeleteA couple of my cousins are really into hedgehogs as well. I think they're odd little creatures, but I definitely see how they could be a cool pet for college students. Also, I am a bit jealous of your traveling experiences. Singapore sounds like an awesome place to experience. I used to have some family that lived their, and they loved it. They have since moved back to the states, but their comments about Singapore have made me want to visit!
Best,
Brady