Introduction to a Girl with No Plans

Hi! My name is Sally and I'm a junior majoring in biochemistry here at OU. I was born in North Carolina but have spent most of my life in Los Alamos, New Mexico (known for the WWII Manhattan Project). I chose to attend OU for college because although I'm really fond of New Mexico and its gorgeous landscapes, I wanted to try living in a new state and OU gave me the option to do that without spending too much money!

Beautiful Los Alamos! I really do miss the mountains

during the semester. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

I enjoy learning about biochemistry because finding connections between different ideas, facts, and systems makes me really excited! Biochemistry has a lot of these connections because it requires us to think on large and small scales to understand life, from the atom to the cell to the organism. It makes me happy and full of wonder to see how the simplest chemistry concept allows the existence of complex functions and systems in the body. I don't know what I want to do career-wise yet, but I'm considering doing research. I chose biochemistry not because I had a certain career in mind but because I generally like studying it and I like a certain amount of stability, which a STEM major can provide.

Here is a blurry picture of me presenting my

summer research in Los Alamos.

My favorite things to do are playing the piano, spending time outside, reading (I like classics the best), and spending time with my friends or parents. I've played piano since I was 7, and it's been a big part of my life. I think I have more innate motivation to play piano than to do anything else! My favorite composer to play is Debussy (but I definitely haven't played all the big composers!), and I also really like playing jazz and gospel arrangements. 

I know it's cliché because everyone loves it, but I'll still say it: I love to travel! Last semester I studied abroad in Arezzo, Italy, which was wonderful and definitely gave me the travel bug if I didn't have it before. For spring break, one of my friends and I rented bicycles in France and traveled on a bike trail by the Loire river for five days, visiting little villages and staying in Airbnbs along the way. I really enjoy visiting smaller towns since I'm not much of a city person and since the people are always so dang nice!

Cycling in France, with the Loire River

in the background!

Even though I had a great time abroad and am hoping to travel more someday, I must say that I'm also happy to be at OU again, surrounded by Chick-Fil-A and ready for another semester!