The Basics:
Why, hello there! My name is Sarah Stuart and I am a "senior " here at the University of Oklahoma. Wondering why I put quotes around senior? Well it turns out chemical engineering is pretty hard, so it is looking like I may end up being a fifth year senior next year. |
| (OUr Campus: Wikipedia Commons) |
Why Engineering?
If you ever want to know what type of engineer someone is, all you have to do is ask them why they chose to become an engineer. The mechanical engineers always have some variation of the answer " well I like to work with my hands and tinker with things." The industrial engineers say something a long the lines of "Well, I have always been able to see how things could be more efficient ." The chemical engineers say something like, "I really enjoyed math and chemistry in high school." If you would have asked me this question a few years ago I would have said the same thing, that I chose chemical engineering because of my strong interest in chemistry and math. As I have matured, I have found that the true purpose I have in choosing chemical engineering is to use the skills and knowledge I am taught to help people that do not have access to the resources that we do here in the United States, and to focus on environmental sustainability. Specifically, I hope to use my degree to help design and develop better systems for water usage, storage, and filtration in the United States as well as developing countries.
Things I Enjoy (when I am not studying):
Favorite Books & Movies:
It is really hard to narrow down my favorite books and movies because there are so many to love! My favorite novel, arguably the best novel ever written, is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. It is the only novel that Wilde ever wrote and I choose to believe that is because he said everything he needed to say in the one novel. For those unfamiliar, the novel follows the story of Dorian Gray, a young aristocrat that makes a wish for a painting of himself to age rather than his body.
My favorite movie is Star Wars: Episode IV, but to be honest I enjoy all of the Star Wars movies. Among my other favorite movies are the Harry Potter series, Ocean's Eleven, and Jurassic Park. I love going to the movies and I don't have a specific genre that is my favorite.
Hobbies:
When I am not busy I love to hang out with my friends, play guitar and piano, and travel. Most recently my best friend and I took a trip to Mexico Beach, Florida to enjoy some sun and sand before a tough semester went underway.
Pets:
Growing up on a ranch east of Norman, I have had a wide variety of pets growing up. I grew up riding horses but I especially love my dog Bella. Bella-bear is a 9 year old rottweiler with a heart as big as she is (approximately 80lbs).
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| (My Bella, personal photo) |
Thanks for reading!
Hey Sarah! Just got done reading your introduction blog and it seems like you will have a busy semester! I know that chemical engineering is no easy degree to track, so no shame at all in taking another semester or year to complete. Keep trucking and you will reach all your goals you have planned for yourself. I too love all the Star Wars films. I was wondering what you thought about The Lord of The Rings/ Hobbit films? I personally love them just as much. I hope you find some more time this semester to take a "chill" moment like you did at the beach and have some time for yourself!
ReplyDeleteHi, Kasey! Thank you so much for your encouragement. TO answer your question I do enjoy the Lord of The Ring/Hobbit movies but never quite as much as Harry Potter. I have yet to read all of the Lord of the Rings books and I have read all of the Harry Potter books so I have always leaned towards Harry Potter. Recently though I have been addicted Game of Thrones, and if you have not already seen it I would highly recommend it!
DeleteHi Sarah! I have a lot of friends that are chemical engineering majors that are also doing 5 years because of how difficult the major is so don’t be discouraged! I love your goal in life and how you have exactly how you want to help other people with your degree already planned out. Your dog Bella is too cute, I used to have a dog named Bella as well!
ReplyDeleteHello, Rosa! It is such a relief to hear that other chemical engineers need to spend a little extra time too!
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ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! I love your perspective and your goals for what you can do with your degree in chemical engineering!! I hope you have a lot of success and find it very fulfilling and have a lot of success doing something you love! I'll also have to check out the book you mentioned, it sounds so good! Being an English education major, I am always looking for new books to add to my list so I will have to check that one out sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteHey, Hannah! Thank you for those kind words, I really appreciate the encouragement for my future career. I hope you find time to read the Oscar Wilde novel, I can assure you that you won't be disappointed.
DeleteThey really need to do something with that whole freshman-sophomore-junior-senior thing, Sarah! Right now, the graduation statistic that OU tracks and publicizes is the six-year graduation rate! So really, we need to come up with not just four names for the years, not even five (I sometimes hear people say "super-senior") but actually six! And how great that you want to take your university learning to work on sustainability here and abroad. Maybe you will be able to use this class to learn about some parts of the world that you think you would like to travel to and work in at some time in the future! And listen, did you know that Oscar Wilde also wrote fairy tales? They are really beautiful too; you can find out more here: House Of Pomegranates and The Happy Prince and Other Tales. His mother was also a writer; this is a book she wrote about Irish folklore: Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland by Lady Francesca Speranza Wilde. So keep those in mind when you do project exploring later this week! And thank you for sharing that picture of your Bella: she is indeed very beautiful! Maybe she will make an appearance in your storytelling this semester too!
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah! To start off, it's really nice to see another engineering student in this class. Don't let the "senior" thing throw you off. We're all going at our own pace! I really like that you actually want to help others with your major. A lot of people call us engineering students mindless, awkward drones, but it's good to show them that we have our hearts in it. As for your choice of favorite Star Wars movie, I'm sorry but I am going to have to disagree with you - Episode III was the best (if not of the whole movie series, at least of the prequels). Good luck this year!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your encouraging words! As you said, it is nice to see another engineering student in this class and I am glad to see another Star Wars fan as well!
DeleteHi Sarah! It is so nice to read about your reasons for becoming a chemical engineer. I'm a biochemistry major, and it's really inspiring to know that people like you want to use chemistry to make the world a better place. Now that school has started it's almost painful to read about your beach trip, but it looks like it was a lot of fun! What a great way to end the summer. And Bella is so adorable.
ReplyDeleteHello Sarah! I am noticing a lot of engineering students in this class. Kudos to you for how you want to help makes things more efficient and to also help developing countries, the world needs more people like you. Star Wars : Episode V is my favorite movie of all time and Boba Fett is my favorite character. When it comes to anything Star Wars I love it, even the prequels (it is all Jar Jars fault). Hope you have a good week!
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah! I’ll be honest, I’m a little jealous of you. It seems like you’ve got everything figured out. You even seem to have an honorable goal in mind. I’ve heard that engineering, especially chemical, is nearly impossible to finish in four years. I don’t read much these days (other than textbooks), but The Picture of Dorian Grey sounds really interesting. I may have to give it a read. We share very similar tastes in movies, however, we’ll have to agree to disagree on Star Wars. I think Episode III is the best. I’m also a big fan of travelling, specifically to Florida. That was the place in my favorite place post. Also, your puppy looks super sweet! I’ve always wanted a big dog. :)
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your comment! I can assure you that you have nothing to be jealous of, I do a lot of planning but I rarely feel like I have things figured out. Everything is a work in progress. Also, it is nice to see so many Star Wars fans in the class!Best of luck this semester!
DeleteHey Sarah! I applaud you for being an engineering major. It's a lot of work, and honestly, I don't think that I would be able to do it if that was the field that I was pursuing for a career. While I'm a pretty avid reader myself, but I have never read The Picture of Dorian Grey. I have, however, seen the movie adaption with Ben Barnes. I liked it, probably only because Ben is so pretty. I'd have to agree with you on the Star Wars. I think, however, the second movie in the originals is my favorite. Princess Leia and Han Solo are my ultimate couple goals. Your dog is so cute; I have two, and since I'm so far away from home, I miss them! Can't wait to hear from you more!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! I have not seen the movie adaption of The Picture of Dorian Gray, so I will have to look into it. I understand missing your puppies, as Bella still lives with my parents. I felt as though she would be to confined in my small apartment, so I guess there is some solace in knowing she is happily at home.
DeleteHi Sarah! I giggled once I seen the purpose for your quotes around your senior status. My major is in Biochemistry and Chemistry so it is somewhat similar to your degree! This is my 6th year so I would not feel ashamed for a fifth year if I were you. Your dog is awesome I love big dogs, good luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteIt is reassuring to see that I am not the only one that has to take a little bit of extra time! Good luck with your semester!
DeleteHi Sarah! I'm actually really happy to find someone who also likes Dorian Gray! While I've never read the book, I have seen a few different movies based on the novel, as well as The League of Extraordinary Gentleman which is a movie that has many different characters of British novels such as Allan Quartermain, The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as well as a few others I don't wanna spoil. while the movie itself may not have done amazing, I thought it was a spectacular movie. I tried Chemical Engineering as a major, but physics and Calculus were not my strong suit so I changed it. I wish you the best of luck in your future!
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you. I have several friends that are pursuing degrees in engineering, so I admire all the hard work that you put into your studies. Environmental sustainability sounds so interesting. I admit that I don't know much about it, but it sounds like you are planning on using your degree to benefit others! I love to hear that.
I don't think that I've ever read the book about Dorian Gray! I might have to check it out. Anyways, nice to meet you!
Hi Sarah!
ReplyDeleteWow, first off, I really like how you organized your introduction. It's nice to give a little background information to your major, so that was really helpful. I have never seen or read the movie and book you listed, so I will definitely have to check that out. I also love the picture of your dog! So cute! I have an 8 year old German Shepherd, and boy do I miss him while I'm up here in Norman. I'm looking forward to reading your stories, and good luck with the rest of the semester! Nice to meet you!
Hi Sarah!
ReplyDeleteMy middle name is Anne too but with an E, so we have 2/3rds the same name and the same initials haha! I think it is awesome that you are a chemical engineering major! That is what my boyfriend is too and he loves it! I love your pictures of your dog, she is the cutest! Her little smile will brighten anyones day! I saw that you like Star Wars, I hope you are excited for episode eight because I sure am!!
Hello Sarah!
ReplyDeleteYay! A fellow engineering major! I am industrial, and you gave an accurate representation about why most people in my major chose my major. Both of my parents are chemical engineers, and my dad actually does something similar to what you want to do in the future. He is the manager of a water conservancy district, so basically he is in charge of making sure that several towns in Oklahoma have access to water at all times. I highly approve of your choice of favorite book and movies.
Hey Sarah! I hope your semester is going well. First of all, your page is so organized! You've a very good job at making everything very easy to navigate. Also, that's very impressive major to achieve, so kudos to you, especially being a senior. I hope your last year goes as planned! Moreover, I think its great that you play instruments, I play as well and its the most rewarding thing that I have ever chose to do. But anyway, I hope you have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteI only took the one mandatory chemistry class we had to take in high school and passed with a C because the teacher could see I was really trying just not getting it. I was curious what you could do with a degree in chemical engineering. I feel like college is about finding what profession you can do with your degree. I like that you have found a way to help the environment with your future profession. Good luck in class this semester and next school year! You are almost done!!
Hi Sarah!
ReplyDeleteYou seem like a very well-rounded individual! I personally hate math and chemistry. I'm more of a biology kind of person, but I do see the appeal of engineering. I'm not that "creative" to come up with my own solutions to things. Star Wars is such a great movie series! Have you seen the recent one, Star Wars 7? Are you going to see the one coming out in December?
Hey again!
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow chemical engineer, I know this part of the semester can be pretty challenging and crazy! I hope you are hanging in there and excelling in all your classes. As a Junior, I feel like I haven't learned as much this semester but that will definitely change next semester when I take classes like Unit Ops and stuff! Good luck!
Hi Sarah!
ReplyDeleteAnother ChemE here, there does seem to be a lot of us! I'm a "senior" to this year, so if you do have to fifth year, I'll be right there with you! My favorite part about this major is how diverse everyone's ambitions are! I want to go into medical research and, until I read this, never thought about how a Chemical Engineering degree could be used for working with the environment. Also, you have excellent taste it movies! I have read The Picture of Dorian Grey yet, but it's on my list! Good luck with your senior year!
Hi Sarah!
ReplyDeleteI really admire the focus that you have gained on how to use the education you are getting to find a way to make the world a better place for others. I think that is such a noble way to look at your place in the world and how you want to effect. I also really liked your anecdote about the different types of engineers. It sounded pretty spot on to me! Good luck in everything that you do!