My name is Jeremy Wiggins, and I'm a senior at OU majoring in Chemical Biosciences. I came to OU with interest in Marketing and Computer Science, but when I took General Chemistry my freshman year, I really felt like I had found my academic calling.
My plan upon graduating is to hopefully attend Northeastern State University's School of Optometry (to which I have been accepted now, FYI). I also really want to spend time doing optometry mission work in South America at some point. Additionally, my girlfriend and I want to open a Spanish / Mexican style restaurant and bar at some point. We have both spent much of our working lives toiling in the kitchens and dining halls of restaurants. I have worked in a cafeteria and Mexican restaurant setting, while she has worked in a barbecue setting.
In my spare time, I am a sports fanatic. I was an OSU football fan growing up, and was even one to some extent for my first semester -- that quickly changed. My favorite sport, however, has got to be basketball. I love the NBA and the Oklahoma City Thunder. If you ever see me on campus, you will undoubtedly see me with something NBA-related. I have a ton of jerseys and I spend lots of time studying up on how the NBA's economy -- the salary cap and contracts -- really works. I also watch EPL soccer and NFL football.
I'm from Choctaw, Oklahoma, which is really just 20 minutes east of Oklahoma City. We are actually a 6-A school, and we just got our own Wal-Mart! While I'm not involved in the Choctaw community, I do spend most of my weekends there when it's not gameday. I usually go back home to hang out with my girlfriend and my family -- free food, too. My girlfriend of over 2 years goes to Rose State College where she is a Pre-Architecture student. Unfortunately, she will likely only be attending OU once I'm up in Tahlequah, and I'm a little scared of the distance that will be between us.
If you'd like any refinements or detail about me, let me know!
Source: The Hawk-Eye Studio
I think it's really cool that you want to use your degree/skills to help people in South America. I'm also looking into various international service options after graduating, and having studied Spanish for seven years I too am interested in Spanish-speaking countries and cultures.
ReplyDeleteI have worked in restaurants quite a bit as well, though I would never want to own one myself! Good luck!!
I wonder, what made you choose this class? I'm a Religious Studies major, so it fulfills part of my major. How did you find out about this class, and what drew you to it?
That's awesome that Gen Chem turned you towards your passion! It had a different effect on me. I'm going to second Elena in saying that it's cool that you plan on using your skills to help people in areas without the same access to good medical care that we have here.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to your future restaurant, what is Spanish cuisine like? If you had Mexican food, would it be the style of food commonly found in the U.S. or would you explore the dishes of different regions of Mexico?
I'd also like to add that the area around Tahlequah is absolutely gorgeous! If you like to look at the beauty in nature, that's a great part of the state to do it in. Rafting down the Illinois River is also quite fun!
My husband was a chemistry major when he was in college ... and I bet he would have loved an interdisciplinary major like Chemical Biosciences. That sounds really fascinating! And I mentioned in a comment already I think about the very very very high regard in which I hold optometrists! They have been working miracles for me all my life (I started wearing glasses in kindergarten). I've got totally high myopia, and wow, I had such an adventure this summer: I had a horseshoe tear in the retina of my right eye. I was really lucky: my optometrist found it and got me in to see an eye surgeon the next day... who lasered me! It was AMAZING! For years and years I've been warned about the dangers of retinal tears... and sure enough: it happened! The eye surgeon said those horseshoe tears are especially bad and it would have detached for sure if my optometrist had not found it. He took one of those Optos photographs which meant I could even see the tear myself. That was so freaky! Anyway, I ended up with an even greater respect for optometrists and eye surgeons after my adventure this summer. You will be able to do wonderful things for people... such a great profession!
ReplyDeleteWow I am glad you were able to choose a major that was better fit for your personal preferences than the one you were originally set in. I was in a similar situation my first year at OU as well. I think it is great you have specific goals that you want to accomplish in your lifetime with your career and your interests in the restraint business-- you could incorporate your love for the Thunder somewhere ;)
ReplyDeleteI have never actually studied up on the economics of the pro basketball world, it would probably just make me angry lol but I think it is definitely cool you do this just for your own educational attainment.
If you are your girlfriend have made it two years in college I think you will do fine with the distance! Seems like you two have a lot in common from what you provided. Good luck in your endeavors and hopefully you are able to have the rounded and full life you imagine to have!
Jeremy, that is such a fascinating major to choose! It is so amazing that you want to do some optometry work in South America. I know there are areas there that are definitely in need of people like you. I completely relate to you on being a fan of basketball! I love the Oklahoma City Thunder and honestly I look forward more to watching their games than watching an OU football game (oops). Don't worry about distance, everything that is meant to happen will take the course it is meant to take. Just do your thing and keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteYou and your girlfriend have such unique majors for wanting to open up a Mexican restaurant. But props to you guys, because that's awesome! I love Mexican food and I'm sure with as big of dreams as you two have, you're sure to succeed. Good luck with the optometry school and mission work, though, I'm sure they'll be amazing.
ReplyDeleteHey Jeremy nice to meet you! I am also a huge thunder fan! The first thing I thought of when I saw your last name was Andrew Wiggins. Its really cool that you have a lot of different aspirations. Seems like you are an extremely well-rounded person! Best of luck in Optometry school!
ReplyDeleteHey Jeremy! It seems like we have a lot of things in common. Chemistry is one of my favorite subjects and always have been really fond of it until I ended up taking organic chemisty I. I am also a huge sports fan. My favorite sport is soccer and I am really excited to see what comes of the new team FC Energy here in Oklahoma.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeremy! I am also a chemical biosciences major! While you seem to lean more toward the chemistry side though, I prefer the biological part of our major! They're both pretty interesting though, right? I think your interest in doing mission work is really admirable! I've always wanted to do that as well.
ReplyDeleteI also love the Oklahoma City Thunder, and basketball in general, much more so than football!
That's really cool that you and your girlfriend want to start a restaurant together someday! I bet y'all will be just fine, despite the distance! Good luck with everything!
You like the Thunder? I like you already! I can also say that I've spent way too much time looking up information about the NBA and salary caps this summer. I went through some intense Thunder phase and wanted to know everything about their contracts. Weird? I don't know, probably.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, that's awesome that you're interested in doing optometry work in South America. I've never heard of anyone that I know that has wanted to do that, so that's awesome! I've never personally been to South America, but I plan to travel there in the future. My entire family is from Puerto Rico so that's the most Spanish culture that I've experienced! I hope you have a great rest of the semester!!
Hi Jeremy! I think it is so cool that you decided to change your major based on gen chem! I had actually taken it my freshmen year as well and it definitely had an impact on my decision to change my major as well! I think it is really cool that you and your girlfriend want to eventually open up a restaurant, I have always thought that would be so much fun! I have been in a relationship for over 5 years now, and had to do long distance at one point, and it is definitely do-able and worth it! Don't stress about it! Good luck with everything that you do!
ReplyDeleteHi Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend is a chemical biosciences major, so I understand how challenging it can be. Congratulations to you for graduating on time! That is really honorable to desire to do mission work. The Thunder is my team as well. What do you think will result from Kevin Durants injury? I did long distance for a while and its not so bad. Tahlequah and Norman are not that far! Try Norman and San Francisco! Good luck with everything!
Jeremy, it’s great to meet you. I don’t know you, but I really hope you achieve your goal of going to Northeastern State. I think that you will be rewarded for your desire to give back doing optometry mission work in South America. That is incredibly cool. When I was little, the Lion’s Club in the small town where I grew up would pay for doctors to check hearing and sight in kindergarteners. That’s when I learned that I have amblyopia. Luckily, they caught it early. I saw an eye specialist and excercised my left eye for a lot of my childhood (even wearing a patch some of the time). Without the Lion’s Club, I would probably have a lazy eye. I say all of this to just keep in mind that there are people here, too, who might need your help too! I hope you have that Mexican style restaurant soon. My favorite place in Norman (to eat AND to drink) is Chimmy’s. Is that the kind of thing you’re talking about, or do you prefer something more authentic? If you ever are in Houston, PLEASE try Escalante’s. It’s the best Mexican food I’ve ever had. Maybe you can bring one to Oklahoma.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you, Jeremy! Somehow I managed to get to this point in this semester without ever reading your posts, and that's kind of a shame. Here's to remedying that fact!!
ReplyDeleteI think it's fantastic that you were able to find your calling so early on in college, even if it differed from your high school expectations. And the fact that you want to spread your skills through mission work is quite admirable.
Also, I love that you have a completely different, completely separate dream of opening up a restaurant. Cooking is one of those things that I wish I could spend more time on, but it is a really enjoyable and relaxing task. I can imagine that opening up a restaurant would be (ultimately, at least) a relaxing and rewarding job with plenty of perks--such as leftover food, haha.
It was great to finally "meet" you, and I look forward to reading more of your posts!!
Nice to meet you Jeremy! I can't believe I haven't read any of your posts prior to this, but I am finally able to! It is amazing that you have already figured out what you want to do with your life. Your plan to open up a restaurant sounds like it will be amazing. It's completely different from what you want to do before that, but it sounds like it could be a lot of fun! Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteHi Jeremy! I can't believe I haven't read any of your posts till now!
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you figured out what you want to do so early in college. I changed my major my sophomore year and it put me a little behind on classes.
I've been in a long distance relationship for a year before my boyfriend moved to OU this past year. It was hard but not as hard as you'd think. It worked because we wanted it bad enough.
Good luck!
Hey Jeremy. It's nice to make your e-quaintance, man. I gotta say that I admire your ambition. Between finishing your current degree, attending optometry school, and owning/operating your own Mexican restaurant, I think you'll have your hands full!
ReplyDeleteI'm a sports fan as well, though I have always been more interested in combat sports--boxing, kickboxing, MMA, jiu-jitsu, etc. I'm from McAlester, OK, and I remember what it was like when we got our Walmart. It was like getting a mall that sold food. Anyway, good luck with the future! Oss.
Hello, Jeremy. I am also a chemical biosciences senior, so we have a lot in common class wise. I am also very interested by computer science, but I'm glad I chose the major I did. I tinker around with computers in my spare time instead. Good luck on getting into Optometry school! Owning a restaurant seems like a lot a work, but if it is something you are passionate about I'm sure it would be rewarding. Especially if you were doing that with your significant other. I'm also a huge NBA fan. The Thunder are my team as well, and I also play fantasy basketball.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeremy I am glad that you found your academic calling, it took me a while to find mines almost two years. I took chemistry and it was fun and easy but just wasn’t for me, and ended up loving physics so I chose mechanical engineering. Like you I also love basketball and it is also my favorite sport. Good meeting you!
ReplyDeleteHey good morning Jeremy. First off, congrats on the acceptance into the optometry school, that’s really awesome. Speaking of optometry, my little sis is attending OSU and is planning on pursuing a future career in optometry as well. I too was raised as an OSU fan and was one up until probably junior year but I have to say they finally got me brain washed and am now a sooner. Well, best of luck in your future endeavors and your future optometry career.
ReplyDeleteHey there Jeremy! First off, congratulations on being accepted into optometry school, I know how much of a challenge and stressful process that can be. I think opening a Mexican restaurant sounds like a great endeavor; I also spent a lot of time working as a waiter in one throughout high school. I hope you are having a great senior year and enjoying yourself before the real work begins.
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