Introduction to Quarantine Season 2
So I'm from Washington state, but came to OU thanks to scholarships and am currently studying chemistry as my major. I love chemistry because spending time in lab is a pleasant experience where I can just vibe out to music and mix chemicals, even with COVID canceling all my other in-person classes. The best class I took last semester was 9 Things About College and Money due to all the little things about personal finance I picked up. I'm usually smart about my money but the class was super informative on little things I'd need to know down the road like loans and credit cards. Besides class, I spent a lot of time catching up on shows in my free time since there's not much else to do when you're quarantined at home. One of my favorite franchises is the Star Wars universe, and watching season 2 of the Mandalorian was a blast. I'm not the biggest fan of the recent Disney trilogy, but the extended universe definitely makes up for all its shortcomings. Last semester I decided to do an entire listen of Kanye's discography since I was spending 3 hours every week in lab with not much else to do but wait for reactions to finish. The Life of Pablo still ranks as one of my top Kanye albums but College Dropout reminded of some classic bangers I haven't listened to since middle school. COVID-19 didn't really stop all of my hobbies though, and most of my free nights during the week consisted of playing Warzone with my roommates. When quarantine first started last year during spring break, we installed the game and proceeded to play nearly every single day nonstop from spring to end of summer, totaling 286 hours of game time. Quarantine brought me and my roommates together everyday and we made the most of our first year in quarantine, ending with a release of our own Christmas card. Most of us are pre-med students but with COVID-19 restricting our shadowing, volunteering, and work ability, the only thing we could really do was study and keep our grades up. I had a great semester all things considered, and still made tons of memories to look back on when I'm older.
Hey Aaron,
ReplyDeleteI like the Star Wars universe as well and during quarantine, I actually watched the whole trilogy in a week. The Mandalorian is pretty good too and season 2 was amazing. I think the best way to describe this show is that it is a side quest set in Star Wars universe. Warzone is large so I can't play it but I find Valorant to be a fun and competitive fps. I am a pre-med as well and is going to take the MCAT in the summer. Overall, I did say this past year has been great despite COVID-19. I find that I have grown so much more this year compare to the past years and became a better person.
Hey Aaron,
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool you are from Washington, it is one of my favorite places to visit. I am the exact opposite of you when it comes to chemistry. I have had to take a few chemistry classes and can definitely say I'd rather stick to biology. Life of Pablo is an extremely solid album you are not wrong for having it as one of your top Kanye album. Man I'm a big warzone fan I spent a lot of time on there this winter break taking a break from Call of Duty Cold War. If you ever need someone to run let me know. Look forward to reading your stories this semester!
Hey Aaron!
ReplyDeleteLike Wesley, I am definitely a bigger fan of biology than I am chemistry, but I have some mad respect for chemistry majors, you guys are real ones. I listen to some Kanye, but lately I have been listening to a lot of bbno$ (just throwing that out there in case you're looking for new tunes to bop to). I have also been putting a lot of time into games since the quarantine started, but I'm terrible at FPS games so I mostly play Minecraft and Stardew Valley. As a fellow pre-med student, when quarantine began, I was a bit stressed because shadowing is a much trickier matter nowadays. Wishing all the pre-med students the best of luck this year (we're probably going to need it lol).
Hi Aaron!
ReplyDeleteI also really enjoy the Star Wars universe! I actually got into it pretty late and binged all of the movies over a winter break one year (I did a similar thing with Harry Potter), but after that binge, I never looked back. I love going to see the new movies with my friends.
I had a similar experience with my roommates over quarantine, while it was definitely an upsetting time in general, the isolated quarters kept us together and we all became much closer. So glad you had a similar experience!
Hey Aaron,
ReplyDeleteLove that chemistry is your thing! I have taken chem 1 and 2 here at OU, and I must say they were not my favorite sciences to learn. Anatomy and physiology were more my content (even though they were tough as nails). However, I did love chem lab, but that was probably because I had stellar partners. Star Wars is the best! Yesssssss, the 2nd season of the Mandalorian was incredible. How did you feel about the Luke reveal? Did you like how the season ended? I also agree with you about the sequel trilogy. It was not their best content, but the extended universe has been making up ground. Love to hear you made the best of quarantine! Haha I also spent much of it playing video games with my buddies. Keep making the best of times!
Hi Aaron,
ReplyDeleteI also like the Star Wars Universe as well. I remember always watching it when I was growing up and was excited when they came out with the Mandalorian. My husband and I would watch every new episode together and would not watch it without the other. I am the opposite of you because I hated chemistry class but I did enjoy the lab since we got to mix different chemicals.
Hi Aaron, nice to meet you! I haven't been to Washington since I was a toddler, but it's someplace I definitely want to go back to. It's really cool that you're taking this class as a Chemistry major. It's also exciting that you want to go to medical school—do you know what kind of doctor you want to be? I laughed at the "Merry Gulagsmas" card you included, and I'm glad you've still managed to make good memories with your friends during COVID. I'm excited to read more of your stuff this semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Aaron,
ReplyDeleteI, also, am a massive Star Wars fan and I, along with most people, agree with you about recent developments in the Star Wars universe. Many of the changes made to the universe in the Sequel Trilogy are an absolute tragedy, with the only mollifying factor being additions like Clone Wars Season 7 and The Mandolorian. At least those are positive addicts to the world in the wake of the struggles brought on by Covid! Good luck finishing up with your degree here in the coming months!
Hi Aaron!
ReplyDeleteIf you've seen my introduction post, you'll know that the ONLY B I have received in college was from the general chemistry class I took the first semester of my freshman year while I was still a meteorology major. You could say that chemistry and I do NOT get along. It's always encouraging for me to see people thrive in that field though! Good luck with the rest of your semester!
Aaron, I totally relate to Warzone during the quarantine. I remember downloading it at my house in Norman before going back home for the rest of the semester. Warzone kept my roommates and I closer than we would have been otherwise. We still play to this day. Although not as much (thankfully). I'm glad you're making the most of your time. I haven't listened to all of Kanye's discography, but I do really like his most recent album "Jesus Is King." I also like the Poopity-Scoop song and weeping and gnashing of teeth. Whatever that is. Good luck being a doctor, dude!
ReplyDeleteAaron,
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome that you enjoy spending time in the lab! I have worked in a lab before, and I did find the experiments and research fascinating. I just miss the social aspect of working. I really like to talk and to interact with people, so I miss that when in the lab environment. I love the Christmas card also! Your class you took definitely seems beneficial. I have a ton to learn regarding money and finances, so I am going to be looking into that!
Hi Aaron,
ReplyDeleteI am a biochemistry major, but I definitely prefer the chem aspect of that to the bio, so to speak. I find biology interesting, but I am just better at chemistry. Unfortunately, not many of my labs played music, but I definitely prefer the ones that did. I am also pre-med, and it is frustrating how much Covid-19 has set me back.
Hi Aaron!
ReplyDeleteI am also not a fan of the recent Disney trilogy, although the extended universe does do a good job of making up for it! I got my entire family into The Mandalorian. Your quarantine Christmas card is amazing, and is definitely a good way to make something good come out of something bad. Nice to meet you!