My Introduction
I am a third year chemical engineering major at OU, and despite that being the most important part of my life right now for me, I try to focus some of my time on hobbies. I am an avid traveler. Being abroad in Italy studying chemical engineering sparked my love of travel, and while I don't think I will have the time nor money to go back to Europe soon, I have continued traveling domestically using the skills I learned abroad. I also love music. I haven't been to a lot of concerts, but I am a big fan of folk and bluegrass music, and I am trying to get to a couple of concerts before the end of the semester. Music is easy for me to get more into because I don't have to pay too much attention to it. If I had more time, I would try to get more into cooking. However, with school and my other hobbies, I typically cook like a college student. While I try to spend as much time as I can on hobbies and hanging out with my friends, studying at OU is very important to me.
Florence Italy: Wikimedia
I dedicate most of my time to studying and with my major in Chemical Engineering. I am currently the social chair of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. While it is a lot of work, it's very fulfilling because I am able to talk to other engineers I wouldn't normally talk to and make connections with people I otherwise would not have. I am lucky because I can go into a lot of different industries and fields with Chemical Engineering. While I may not exactly have a career path right now, I still plan on entering the workforce post-graduation. I would like to work as a process engineer, and Oil and Gas is the industry I will most likely start in. Ideally I would like to work as a contractor, so I can travel as I work, and eventually possibly run my own contracting firm. I have very fortunate to have the opportunity to study what I'm studying at OU, and I hope that I can work in an industry where I can utilize skills and knowledge that I have gained over the past two and a half years.
Trace, I am one of your fellow classmates in Indian Epics, nice to meet you! I have been to Italy as well, though I was in the Lago di Garda area of Borgastallo. I camped on the lake with a friend. I haven't been to any of the major cities like Milan, Rome, Florence or Venice though, but it is definitely on my travel wish list. Best of luck this semester with your classes and I hope you find time for your hobbies of music and cooking.
ReplyDeleteHey Trace! It is so cool that you have been able to study abroad. A lot of my friends are in engineering, and they have had troubles going on different programs outside of the country. It is so important to have exposures to other cultures. I originally wanted to go into ChemE, but I decided to change my major to International Studies with a focus in energy security.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous picture of Florence, Trace: that is a place I would gladly travel to and visit ANYTIME. I studied at the University of Siena while in graduate school... and frequent trips to Florence were very much a part of that experience! I wish we could magically travel to India for this class and be right there, but we'll have to use words and images and video as substitutes (including music videos!). And in the spirit of engineering, I will point out that in India, there is a god of engineers: Vishvakarma, who name means the "All-Maker" ... you can find out more about him here: Vishvakarman ... he has a connection to the Ramayana, too, because the legend tells that he built the Golden City of Lanka, which is where Ravana, the king of the rakshasas and Rama's mortal enemy, resides: Vishwakarma, the Lord of Architecture in Hinduism ... maybe he is someone you will want to explore as a possible Storybook project for this class. :-)
ReplyDeleteHello Trace. My name is Jonathan. I was a junior chemical engineering major once. It is an incredibly difficult major and I wish you the best. I also almost did the travel abroad in Italy as well. A few of my friends shared their stories of their time there and it sounded spectacular time. I hope your semester goes well.
ReplyDeleteHey Trace,
ReplyDeleteI love to travel too! I don't get to do it very often but I take in as much as I can when I do. I'm planning a fairly intense camping trip to the Grand Canyon sometime this semester. I'm a little jealous of your Italy trip, it looks gorgeous. I've been to London and Paris but Italy always looks so relaxing. Good luck this semester!
Hi Trace, I am always impressed by people who are able to major in any form of engineering, it certainly is not for me. All of the math associated with that field really kicks my butt. Italy looks like it was very beautiful, and a lot of fun. I have not gotten to travel abroad yet in my life, but I hope to be able to soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Trace! I caught the travel bug when I took my first trip abroad a few years ago as well. I can't wait to have the time and money to travel more in the future. Mainly I want to travel for the food! I love to try new things and learn about how to cook them myself. Like you I don't get to cook as much as I'd like while I'm in school, but it's my favorite way to relax and be creative at home.
ReplyDeleteHi Trace! That is so wonderful that you got to study abroad in Italy! I have always wanted to study abroad but have never been able to fit it into my schedule. I haven’t left the country yet but I really hope to one day! Props to you for having a difficult major! I have friends with that major who literally cry every day. I wish you lots of luck in your future!
ReplyDeleteHey, Trace! I am glad that your studies at OU are going well for you. Your involvement with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers is impressive and it will definitely pay off for you. During my internship last summer, about 80 percent of the music I listened to was Folk and Americana. It is very peaceful for me to listen to and it allows me to focus and work.
ReplyDeleteHello Trace! Nice to meet you. I am Jay and a senior at OU plus my major is Management Information System (MIS). Your major sounds and looks hard good luck with that. Hope you are able to go to Europe soon and do also like to travel outside the country but same as you don’t have time and money to spend.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Trace!
ReplyDeleteI am also a travel junkie! I went to Scotland and wish I had the time and money to just travel to other countries all the time. I think that's awesome that you got to go to Italy and that it was focused towards your major! Italy is definitely one place I was to see when I save up enough money.
I wish you the best of luck as you continue on in a difficult major. With your involvement and study habits, I'm sure you will achieve great success post-graduation!
Hey Trace! It is so nice to (kind of) meet you! You seem like such an interesting person, and it is so cool that you had the opportunity to study in Italy! You seem very driven and it is evident that you will do very well in Chemical Engineering because you are so dedicated to the field even now! Great job on your intro and I can’t wait to read more!
ReplyDeleteHi Trace, You seem like a busy man. I think it is awesome that you still have hobbies in college. That has been something I struggle with because of work and school. A great place to travel here in the US is Naples, Florida, you should check it out. Engineering seems like a very difficult and time consuming major, kudos to you. I hope you have a great rest of the semester.
ReplyDeleteHi, Trace! Thanks for sharing some of your story with us. I think it is so interesting that you are going to be a chemical engineer! I have so much respect for mathematically minded people, as that has never been my strong suit! I studied in Italy as well, and I feel in love with it, so I don’t blame you. Wishing you the best of luck with the remainder of the year!
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI completely understand when you say you've caught the travel bug. I also studied abroad in Italy and immediately knew that I wanted to travel more in the future! Living in a different country really teaches you so many things about yourself, plus you get to learn about other cultures which is very interesting! Good luck with this semester and I look forward to coming back and checking out your blog!
Hey Trace! It is always good to see other engineers around. Cooking in college is definitely a hassle sometimes, and I can really agree on having absolutely zero time to do anything except studying. I am an aerospace engineering major, and it feels like there is always something due or in need of more studying. Bet of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Trace!
ReplyDeleteYou seem like a really dedicated student, and that is so admirable. I hope you get more time to spend on yourself and your hobbies before you graduate next year! I am so jealous that you were able to study abroad. That is such an incredible opportunity that not many people get. I hope you get to go back to Europe soon!
Hello Trace!
ReplyDeleteI am so many friends who have major as engineering and every time I get to hear that engineering major is hard. One of my friend who had same major as yours drop his major and I can kind of tell how hard is the major. You like your major is the major thing. I am senior at OU and my major is MIS. I like to travel a lot and sometimes I can but most of the time I work. Good luck with your semester.
Hey Trace!
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten the chance to study abroad, but I always wish that I would have since I'm graduating in May. I'm hoping that I'll be able to do some externships through vet school to get some of that travelling experience! I've been out of the country a couple times, but there's so much more I want to see. I wish I had more time and money to pursue travelling right now, a couple of my friends who graduated early just left for a two month trip around 10 different countries! I hope this semester is going well for you!
Hi Trace! Wow I never think of engineering majors as not knowing what they want to do post-graduation, but I suppose that is just a misconception. I am always impressed with engineering majors committing to such a difficult field of study, so I am sure your resume will impress employers in the future! I hope you are enjoying the course this semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Trace, I am also an avid traveler but I have never been out of the United States. My grandfather is from Italy until his family moved to New York when he was 6. I have always wanted to go visit Italy because we have family that still lives over there. Also, from the pictures I have seen it is really a beautiful place. It seems that you are very focused on your major but enjoy the work you get to do with it. Good luck with your classes this semester, it is almost over!
ReplyDeleteHey Trace, I think it is awesome that you are a chemical engineering major! I have a good buddy who is a chemical engineering major and let me just say, I could not do it. So hats off to you. It is also cool that you are into traveling. I have never left the country but I would like to do so some day. I also like music as well. It is the only universal language. Thanks for sharing and have a great rest of the semester.
ReplyDeleteHi Trace! Wow! I could not imagine being a chemical engineering major! I am a biology major and barely made it past physics I and II! I know how time consuming biology is, so I cannot even being to imagine how time consuming engineering is. It is really cool that you are social chair of your organization. It is also cool how you like to travel and I am so jealous that you got to study abroad in Italy. Great post and good luck with the rest of the semester!
ReplyDeleteHey there, Trace! I just finished looking through the introduction on your website, “Indian Epics: A Blog by Trace Youngman”. Your introduction is so informative, and like I have said before, it is a great thing to have this information right up front because it can help the reader better understand both you and your stories. Great job on this!
ReplyDeleteHey Trace, I see that you went to study abroad in Italy, my dream is to go overseas and explore. But being a college student it is hard to do a lot of things especially when we have difficult majors. I wish i had time to go to concerts and explore just like you because i do like music but i can never tell myself to go to a concert. And i'm surprised you can do all these things with having that kind of major but good luck to you.
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