I work part-time at CSL Plasma. It is a great company that collects blood plasma from willing donors for research and medications. I know selling your blood has a bad reputation, but I promise it is a clean safe place that gives back to so many people. I love learning new things about the human body and interacting with all of the donors. Currently, I work in the front where I take vitals and collect small samples of blood for testing.
My life consists of working, schooling, and applying for medical schools at the moment, but when I do have free time I enjoy reading, hiking, hunting, and yoga. As I mentioned in my favorite places post, I like to camp and hike in the area. Although I have mostly remained in state, I hope to explore areas in Arizona or Arkansas next.
I was able to travel to Boston this summer and see the beach for the first time. I have not been able to take a vacation like that in so long, so it was really great to get away from the Oklahoma heat for nearly a week. I traveled with my boyfriend to visit his family in the suburb of Duxbury. We swam and ate so much seafood the entire time we were there. Everything was wonderful despite not being able to fly home on the day that we planned due to the Delta Airlines failure. Below is a picture of the beach that we went to almost everyday.
Duxbury Beach Taken by John McKenney
First off congrats on almost begin done! You're so close, finish strong. I started off at OU as a pre-med track as well but switched my major to English education shortly after. I have always enjoyed the aspect of helping people so I find your desired profession really interesting. I have never traveled to Boston but have always wanted to. Any advice on places to go there for when I do get to travel there someday? I am excited to read your blog and get to know you more throughout the semester.
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ReplyDeleteI'm glad too about graduating! As much as I enjoyed my time here (primarily getting to learn more about my favorite subjects), I'm glad to be able to do other things and live in other places.
ReplyDeleteI'm always a big fan of the coast. When I was in Washington state, I seemed to survive on ocean views and seafood. I hope you're able to take time out soon and visit Arizona and Arkansas. If you're a big art fan, I'd suggest looking into Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville. It has pieces from the 1700s all the way up to the 2000s.
What a great combination of interests, Megan, and I hope you get good responses to your medical school applications! That is very cool how you have a job that already puts you in contact with the medical world; I am so blood-phobic that I could never work in a place like that... although I guess that kind of job might help me get over my phobia, ha ha. And that beach photo looks like my idea of the perfect vacation: beautiful solitude in nature. I bet if you can close your eyes and just imagine that beach, that vision will be a calming comfort in all the hectic business that is school! If you are interested in exploring the topic of healing in this class, that could be a really great angle to pursue: one of the best stories is Hanuman and the medicine hill which you will be learning about in the Ramayana soon! Here's a sneak preview if you are curious: Hanuman to the Rescue: Hanuman Brings the Sanjeevani - that's one of the comic books we have on reserve in Bizzell for this class, very cool! :-)
ReplyDeleteMegan, I am currently applying to medical schools right now too. This is such an exciting time and I wish you the best of luck as you work on applications. On the bright side, at least you are done with the pre-req coursework and hopefully the MCAT. And if not, you'll be done with it soon, which is a huge weight off your shoulders. The hands on work experience is also a bonus, of course, and makes the process more exciting because you already understand more than other applicants who don't have that experience. Good luck and hopefully you can update your introduction as secondaries get filled in and you begin receiving invitations.
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive major!! I am not that brave, but doing what you love and are passionate for is so important! I am glad you have found that. And also, congrats on it being your last semester at OU! That's so exciting. Though you're not quite done with school, at least now you'll be able to really study more of what you want to in medical school!! Also, you had never been to a beach till recently? Oh my goodness! I am so glad you were able to take a trip to see the ocean. The ocean and all the creatures that live in it are amazing. Though I could probably live without the sand, it seems to find its way into the strangest places on your body haha! And salt water isn't the most pleasant to swallow or get in your eyes!! It was very nice to meet you and read about who you are, can't wait to learn more about you as the semester goes on!
ReplyDeleteHey Megan! Hope medical school applications are going well... I have a number of friends going through the same process, and I know that it isn't easy! I also hope you loved Boston; I visited a few years ago and loved the history the city carries with it. It's certainly very different from Norman, but I adored it all the same.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, Megan, I'm going to say that I really like the background picture you put on your blog. Your major to me seems very different from the medical background, but I guess it will all fall into place when you use it in emergency situations to help police solve cases that involve blood!
ReplyDeleteHi Megan,
ReplyDeleteWow there's so much I could comment on in this post! First off, it's funny that I read your intro today because because my roommate and I drove by CSL Plasma just a few hours ago and started talking about donating! What a coincidence. Anyway, if you end up traveling to Arizona you should definitely stop in my home state, New Mexico, on the way. We have AMAZING hiking and its definitely a place I could see you enjoying.
Finally, your trip to Boston sounds amazing! I travelled with my boyfriend to the East Coast this past summer as well. So much fun!
Hi Megan! It's cool that you work at CSL because two of my sorority sisters work there. Your major is also not the typical pre-med major, which is super neat. I'm pre-med as well, but actually a Letters major so it's always great to find people who chose slightly different paths. Good luck with the medical school applications! I'm studying for my MCAT now, but after that, med school applications will be right around the corner for me as well.
ReplyDeleteThere were so many points in your intro that I wanted to comment on! First, I KEEP saying that I'm going to donate Plasma! My friend and I are talking about going next week! Maybe you'll see my blood. Neat.
ReplyDeleteI also love yoga! I like hiking, but honestly only in the fall. I can handle heat... but now while hiking. Congratulations on your nearing graduation, maybe I'll see you at commencement! Best of luck with medical school applications, I hope you get to go where your heart most desires!!
Hello Megan,
ReplyDeleteCriminology sounds like a very exciting major! I think getting into forensic pathology would be a great career field with a lot of job security. I am jealous of your time at the beach! The beach is one of my favorite places to be! It has some sort of magical powers that just take all my worries away! Anyways, you sound like an awesome person and I look forward to reading more of your things in the future.
Wow! What a cool and interesting combination of interests you have. I do hope you will be able to become a doctor. I too love to hike. It’s just so calming to me. Camping is one of my favorite things to do with my family. I love doing things that you would do at home, but not at home (if that makes sense haha). What do you wish to see the most if you were to visit Arizona or Arkansas? I hope everything goes well for you!
ReplyDeleteHow was your time in Boston? A couple summers ago I got the chance to go with my grandparents over the 4th of July and it was simply amazing. The fireworks, the performers... being in the cradle of America's birth during the day that we celebrated our independence was so wonderful. I didn't get to go to the beach though... maybe next time!
ReplyDeleteHello, Megan! Goodluck writing all of you med school applications! I hope you begin med school this coming Fall as well. :) So glad to hear you got to enjoy some really nice seafood this summer -- it's absolutely the best, isn't it? I always eat as much as I can when I can physically see the Ocean, so I hope you did too!
ReplyDeleteHey Megan! I'm in the process of grad school applications so I totally understand where you are! I hope all those applications and everything work out well though! All your hobbies sound like a great stress relief! I love to do yoga and sea food is one of my favorites too! It was really great to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHello there,
ReplyDeleteI hope all your medschool applications went well. I've been doing job applications for most of this semester and just recently finally got a job lined up for graduation so I hope everything is going well for you too. How was Boston? I've never been personally but I've always wanted to. I bet it was really interesting! What kinds of things did you do?
Hello Megan! I think that is awesome that you are a criminology major! I took a criminology class at my first school I went to and though it was a very interesting major! I am also going to apply for Chiropractic school so applications for that is pretty annoying so I feel your pain with that! Good luck in getting into Medical school! You got it!
ReplyDeleteHi Megan! I was surprised to find and introduction that I hadn’t commented on this late in the semester! Anyways, it’s nice to meet you. I think you have an awesome major. That sounds so interesting! I also think it is super interesting that you work at CSL Plasma. That place has always kind of creeped me out (not that I’ve ever been), and you definitely made it sound less scary haha. Also, good luck with your medical school applications!!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a beautiful picture of the beach. I’m sure you guys had an awesome time on your vacation there!!