Introduction to the college mom
Physical Therapy sessions on Navy active duty in San Diego, Ca ( image source: Wikipedia )
My name is Brianna Pottage and this is my second year at OU. I like to think of myself as a woman of many titles. Mother, wife, student, veteran, baker, cross fitter and home maker. After spending six years in the Navy after high school I decided that I wanted to go back to school to get a degree in health and exercise science. I struggled after high school knowing what I wanted to do for a career and almost decided to go to culinary school. I have always loved to cook but I am happy I did not make that my career. I now can cook in the comfort of my own home without the pressures of working in a professional kitchen.
I am from California but because my husband is still in the military we now are living in Oklahoma. I was happy this summer that my family was able to come visit me for a week. We rented a couple condos on grand lake and rented boats to spend time out on the lake. This summer I also took another vacation to Dallas with some friends and their kids. Our "staycation" was the perfect after vacation, vacation I never knew I needed.
My future career goals are to be in rehabilitation. I want to pursue either physical therapy or occupational therapy graduate programs. I had always known that I wanted to be in healthcare but there were so many options out there. During my time in the navy I worked as intelligence specialist and spent my time at a desk in an office with no windows. That set in the reality that I do not want to spend my days endlessly sitting at a computer. Physical therapy combines my desire to help people with my love of exercise. I have a long way to go but every semester I can juggle all of the titles I carry bring a sense of relief that I am getting closer one step at a time to completing my goals.
Oh, how great that you were able to take your experience in the Navy to decide on your path at OU, Brianna: that sounds wonderful! As you can guess, I am pretty happy at spending my days at a computer, but I've got to have windows... and I feel like the Internet is a kind of big window onto the world for me. Like with this class, I have so much fun following different writers from India at Twitter, along with Indian museums and newspapers. Writing does happen at the computer, but imagining the stories you want to tell: that can happen anywhere! I usually get my best ideas when I'm out walking... maybe you will find the right places/times when story inspirations will strike. Windows and/or the outdoors might definitely be required! :-)
ReplyDeleteAlso, you might want to use this class to learn about yoga or about some of the medical traditions of India. There's a brand-new book by my favorite mythologist, Devdutt Pattanaik, all about the stories of yoga; it's a perfect resource for this class if you are interested: Yoga Mythology: 64 Asanas and Their Stories ... in America, yoga is not really connected to stories so much, but it is very much connected to stories in the Indian tradition. I hope you will find some good connections between your goals and interests with the stories you are reading (and writing!) for the class.
Bri you sound like a super mom you do everything cook, a great wife, college attending student and a veteran, you are pretty much an all rounder thats amazing. I think you made a wise choice not to go into culinary as it requires immense amount of work plus the menu is not always given to you to decide I once thought to do occupational therapy but i am very social so went into Pre Law and I love your passion to help people by physical therapy. I will come to you in my old ages when I am stuck to teh wheelchair.
ReplyDeleteHi! I love having another mom in the class. I don't think many truly understand what that means. Although you are definitely more on it all than I am! What a cool past! I'm glad you're working to get to your goals. It may be slow progress, but any progress is wonderful. How do you like Oklahoma in comparison to California? I feel you with being stuck at a desk. I'm currently in a cubicle away from windows, and it drives me its. I don't sit still well at all. I'm so glad to be in this class with you!
ReplyDeleteHi Brianna! First I wanted to say that I love the look of your blog, it's very pretty. That's really cool that you're a mom who's going back to school, my mom is finishing her Bachelor's through OU. She actually took Laura's other class, Myth and Folklore, a few semesters ago. I also want to thank you for your service. You bake too? I love baking, I can do a couple things from scratch, mostly cookies and muffins. Everything else I typically use a box mix, but I want to learn how to make more from scratch.
ReplyDeleteHi, Brianna! I have to commend you on your dedication as a mom and a student at the same time! You should definitely wear your many titles as a badge of pride, that is quite a full plate! Also, what a history! I'm sure your experience doing physical therapy in the service serves you well in school as I assume it has given you valuable practice as well as a wealth of other skills. The real world and the workforce can do that! Also, I have been to California once and I can't imagine what you think of Oklahoma in comparison! Best of luck to you with your academic and occupational goals!
ReplyDeleteHi Brianna! I think your time in the Navy is really admirable. My grandpa was in the Navy on an aircraft carrier back in the 50s. He's got some funny stories from back then! Also, I think it's super cool that you're from California. I think I want to go to graduate school there, since there are a lot of good programs there. And good luck with becoming a physical therapist! That sounds amazing :)
ReplyDeleteHi Bri! I love that this class allows us to meet and connect with so many interesting people with different backgrounds. Props to you for pursuing a degree while also balancing having a family--I feel like I can barely keep up with myself a lot of the time in college. Did you meet your husband while you were in the Navy? How do you like living in Oklahoma after growing up in California? I'm from the east coast, and I definitely found it a bit of a shift to come to the Midwest, but the people are really nice. Best of luck in your career path!
ReplyDeleteHi Brianna! Wow, that is super impressive! You are juggling a lot and that is not easy. I'm a parent, work full time, and am going back to school. The struggle is real. Were you stationed anywhere really interesting or exotic while in the Navy or was it just all desk, all the time? What part of California are you from? That is one state that I hope to visit some day.
ReplyDeleteHi Brianna! Your life sounds so exciting and full! Very cool! You’ve definitely earned all of those titles! Being able to balance all of those things seems like a skill it itself, I can tell that you’re a dedicated person. I love cooking, but also think that it might be too high pressure to pursue a career in. I used to live in California, Palm Springs area. The contrast between Oklahoma and California is wild! Best of luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Brianna, I do not know if you remember me or not but I was in your lab group in Human Anatomy! It is nice meeting you again! I cannot wait to read your stories and see how creative you can get with your storytelling. Although we spent a semester together, I still found out a lot about you from your introduction post!
ReplyDeleteHey Brianna! Balancing a family and school sounds very, very difficult. I do not think I could do it, and I imagine that you are extremely busy. I am also not from Oklahoma, but I am still from the Midwest. I have to imagine the move from California to Oklahoma was crazy. Health and Exercise Science is really interesting - if I could realistically get 4 majors, Health and Exercise Science would definitely be one of them.
ReplyDeleteHey Brianna!
ReplyDeleteFirst off I want to thank you for your service! My goal is actually to join the Navy after medical school and serve as a doctor. I do not know much about the logistics yet and am still doing my research, but it is something that I definitely want to do.
One thing I do that helps me relax is to watch cooking videos. I cook quite a bit myself, but I tend to stick to the same thing every week because I have bad time management skills and never allow myself enough time to try new foods.
I have a few friends perusing PT and they love it. I am pre-med myself, so professional school is on the horizon hopefully. I am sure you will do great as a physical therapist.
Hi Bri!
ReplyDeleteHope the shortening of your name is cool. I noticed your blog is Bri. If not, my apologies!
I think it's great you're going back to school now. I have two kids and work full time so I understand some of the challenges that come with it.
I also think it's great that you found what you are passionate about! It took me 13 years of going to school and changing majors every could years to finally find my niche, accounting. Bless you for doing the medical field though. If any of your future patients are anything like I was in PT, you deserve a medal!
Good luck with the rest of your schooling and I hope you enjoy your time in Oklahoma. Our weather sucks here, but the people are wonderful and full of love and life!
Hi Brianna, wow, you've already done so much with your life! I can't imagine how challenging it must be to balance everything but you seem to be doing a great job with it! I'm glad you decided on health and exercise science! I've heard it is a good major choice and hopefully you end up where you want! Still, culinary school is pretty cool, although I appreciate anyone that can cook since I'm so bad at it! I hope you have a great semester, and good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteHey Brianna,
ReplyDeleteIt is really cool to read a small aspect of your life through this blog introduction. I struggle balancing school work and my internship, but you definitely have a lot more on your plate and it seems like you got it all down to the T.
I also really enjoy cooking as well; I like making my own dishes from the ingredients I have at home. I have to agree that cooking from the comfort of your home really brings out the best flavors in your dishes.
I look forward to reading your renditions of Indian mythology in this course.
Hey Brianna! It was nice getting to know you through your blog post! First of all I would like to say I am very impressed that you are able to balance being a wife, mother, and student and seem to be doing it quite well! I think it is really awesome you spent time in the Navy. I look forward to getting to read you stories for this class!
ReplyDeleteHi Brianna!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you for your service!! My dad was in the Navy for a while after high school too. He always jokes that submarines are the reason he can’t hear anything now. I’m sure Oklahoma lakes are nothing compared to the beautiful beaches in California, but I hope you are enjoying it here anyways! You listed “cross fitter” as one of your many titles, and I just want to say that is so admirable because Cross Fit is intense to watch; I can’t even imagine participating! Good luck in your future endeavors in PT/OT school!
Hello Brianna,
ReplyDeleteThe Navy that's amazing! I tried cross fit a couple of times and it was really fun. I completely understand what you mean by the not choosing culinary arts as a path. I love cooking just not in high stress environments, I cook to relax and that just seems like it would take the joy out of cooking for me. And a job that didn't have windows that must have been sad. I am glad you found something you are passionate and PT looks like something you would really enjoy from your life style.
Hello Brianna!
ReplyDeleteWow, you are a woman of many titles and Im sure youre a busy woman. I think you have taken the best of your life by just trusting yourself. You seem like a person who is ready to explore the world and nothing is out of your comfort zone. Your life story and accomplishments is crazy and I have much respect for women like you. Im glad your in this class, keep doing what your doing!
Hello Brianna,
ReplyDeleteI like how you called yourself by the many titles. For some reason when you did this it reminded me of Bilbo when he recited his titles to the dragon. Thank you for your service! I think your goals for work are very admirable. I thinking the highest pursuit job wise is to help others in life. I think that is what you have done and hope to do in the future. I hope you achieve your goals!