Introduction to Me!
My name is Rachel, and I'm currently a senior Letters - Constitutional Studies major and Spanish minor. I'm pre-law, and I spent the majority of this last summer studying for the LSAT! Thankfully that is behind me now, and I can focus on enjoying my last year of undergrad (and applying to law schools, of course).
I'm from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I don't think that most people realize what a great place Tulsa is. There are several beautiful parks throughout the city, including the serene Reconciliation Park located downtown and the gorgeous Woodward Park - not to mention the sprawling Riverside Gathering Place. Additionally, Tulsa is also home to a thriving local arts scene, as well as being an attraction to national headliners through the BOK Center and the Performing Arts Center. A city of hidden gems, Tulsa sports many trendy and unique places to explore, eat, drink, and shop. I think all OU students should go for a weekend at least once!
Apart from school, I spend a lot of time competing on OU's Mock Trial team. For those of you who may not be familiar, Mock Trial is exactly what it sounds like. It's a competition based activity where teams from different universities go to trial and litigate fake cases. While the facts may be fabricated, the rules of evidence, procedures, and overall intensity are very real! I do want to be an attorney, which was my primary motivation for joining, but it's honestly a very entertaining and rewarding activity. Picture the famous cross-examination scene in A Few Good Men, except you get to be young Tom Cruise and your biggest rival from another school is Jack Nicholson, cracking on the stand. It's very fun.
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| "You Can't Handle the Truth" from: 21 Things you Never Knew About a Few Good Men |
Hi Rachel! I've actually only been to Tulsa once since I moved to Oklahoma, but hearing such glowing words about it makes me want to visit! Me and my family are a fan of parks, so if I do head to Tulsa I'll check out Woodward. I have a friend that just got a job at the BOK center too! Also that Mock Trail team sounds really intense but fun. Do you think it prepares you well for the real court room?
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteThat's cool that you do Mock Trial! One of my basically-brothers was heavily involved in that in high school, and I know he really enjoyed it.
As for whale watching, I worked with someone who really loved whales, and she went many times. The northern part of the west coast is where she tended to do most of her whale watching, and she almost always got lots of great pictures!
Hi Rachel! Studying for the LSAT sounds like SO much fun ;) I wonder how you celebrated. I love Tulsa! The Gathering Place is so cute! Surfing is fun! I've done it a couple times, but it is really scary if you don't know how to swim lol. I told myself I would read during quarantine, but I ended up doing nothing. I love Steinbeck's other works. I will definitely have to read that one!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel! I'll be honest, I haven't been to Tulsa since coming to Norman for school, but your post makes me really want to go! It feels hard to find the time to do the driving when I'm in the middle of classes, but I think you're right and that it would be really fun. I have wanted to go to the gathering place for a long time, and I was planning a trip there with my friends in the spring, but then COVID hit and I ended up home in New Jersey for five months (went home for spring break and never left).
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that I'm from a "coastal city," but I am from NJ and grew up only 45 minutes from the shore! You should DEFINITELY move near an ocean, if you can. The shore is my happy place and one of the things I miss most when I'm in OK.
I hope you have a great semester!
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making it to senior year. I am right there with you! I love that you are so proud of your hometown. A lot of people seem to want to get out and never go back, so I think it is a great experience to be able to want to go home again (if that is eventually what you want). I have never actually been to Tulsa, but I've heard that it is definitely worth experiencing. I grew up about an hour and a half away from the Pacific ocean, and I can confirm that it is a quality way of life! I also have the goal of learning to surf, although I'm afraid of sharks so I haven't quite made it out there yet!
That sounds like such a great major/minor combination to lead you into law school, Rachel! And Mock Trial sounds really exciting: maybe you will do some courtroom-style stories for this class. Fake cases can come from anywhere: from real-world litigation, but also from mythology and folktales, fairy tales, and so on. And then... there are whales! It's not the same as whale-watching, but you could use this class to make yourself an expert in whale mythology. And wherever there are whales, there are whale myths and legends because of course people who see whales feel inspired to tell stories about them too. Whales at Sacred Texts - link ... So, whether it's mock trials or whales or something else, I hope you will find something fun/useful to explore in this class connecting up with your interests.
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel! I am so glad you are done with your LSAT, that just sounds like a not fun time! I love Tulsa, but unfortunately have never made it up to visit the Gathering Place. My grandparents are from Bartlesville so we frequently stop by Utica Square to check out what's new in the shops. I'll be honest Mock Trail sounds terrifying yo I commend you for doing that and especially for pursuing law! That is mad intense. Good luck this semester and stay safe!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel, I too spent most of this past summer studying to take the LSAT and still plan on taking it one last time. I didn't decide until last semester that law school was something that I truly wanted to persue so I never got into something like Mock trial but I am sure that is really exciting. I currently work for a lawyer in Norman and love getting to be in on his cases. I also love Tulsa! I am from Norman but Tulsa has always been such a fun place that my family and I or friends have made day trips out of.
ReplyDeleteHey Rachel, I feel you in terms of being Pre-Law, as I am too! Though, you're already one step ahead of me since I haven't studied for the LSAT yet because I want to wait till I graduate to be able to focus more so on it. Still, I'm happy for you that you managed to get that miserable test out of the way, and I also hope you got the score you desired!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see that you're from Tulsa! I totally agree that people don't quite see how great the city is. My aunt lives in Tulsa, so we'll go down there to visit and check out the sights. In middle school and high school, I went down to Tulsa once a weekend for honor choir conventions, and it's always so much fun! The restaurants are great, and the Convention Center we practiced in was always beautiful.
Hey Rachel, I am so excited when you talk about the beauty of your homeland. I come from Xian, China, and I love this city just like you like Tulsa. Also, since you mentioned the art center in Tulsa, I am curious about do you like to view the art center in a different city? For me, I really enjoy visiting each art center when I traveled to other cities.
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteThat is also my mother's name so it is interesting to get to say that without getting an odd look from her. I am not from Tulsa but I spent most of my life in OKC. My brother played competitive league basketball and I visited Tulsa for several of his tournaments. It sounds like a beautiful place. I am not one for Law and government related things but you make it sound so interesting. I am excited to learn more about you and see how your personality and interests feed into your storytelling.
Hey Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI'm from the Tulsa area too, and I love the great appreciation you show for the city! I agree that the restaurants and parks are great aspects, and I definitely need to spend some more time at these places the next time I visit my parents ( I STILL haven't made it to The Gathering Place, yet–yikes). Good luck with law school!
Hi Rachel! I thoroughly enjoy visiting Tulsa! My husband and I try to take a weekend trip to visit the city at least once per year. You are right about Tulsa's thriving art scene. It is definitely not something that most folks would picture when they think of Oklahoma. I really like being able to walk downtown and just window shop or grab a sweet treat to eat to pass the time. Now I think I am going to talk my husband into taking me to Tulsa after finals week! It was nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI remember doing mock trial a very long time ago in high school. It was a lot of work but also a lot of fun! I do miss visiting Tulsa - we used to take weekend trips, or even day trips, a few times a year. With the pandemic we don't even travel up the turnpike anymore! Reconciliation Park is a lovely addition to the historic Greenwood area. Post-pandemic I hope to visit again and eventually make it over to the Gathering Place.
-Eli
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time that I've read an introduction from someone in the class that was also from Tulsa! In retrospect, I do think that Tulsa is a wonderful place to explore and adventure, however, I think that because I've been there all of my life, I always have looked forward to going away from home. Tulsa itself has many great spots such as these parks, as well as areas with great historical significance such as Greenwood. Maybe I should really think again about my outlook on Tulsa whenever I'm bound to be back home again in the near future. I look forward to reading more from you!
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI also grew up in Tulsa! It really is the best city in Oklahoma in my opinion! I think it's so cool that you want to go to law school! I considered it but ultimately decided that I do not enjoy school enough to put myself through that! I have heard that it is insanely hard. I hope your semester went well and that your journey to law school and beyond continues to go well!