#firstyeartu

So in order for us to be able to run these rehearsals we would need permission from Lakeside’s head and assistant band director and from my high schools Band and assistant band director. So once all that is finally approved we begin rehearsals. We split the band into woodwind a woodwind ensemble and a brass ensemble so that we could alternate week-to-week who was going after school and running a rehearsal. Finally it was time for our first rehearsal and my friend and I walk in and there are three clarinet players and one bass clarinet player. As a saxophonist, who has played clarinet maybe 3 times my entire life, I knew that our struggle was just beginning

Lakeside junior high is a school that should of had next to no effect on me. Lakeside opened my sophomore year of high school, so I did not have to worry about new rivalries or who went there. Though my older brother received a job there as an english teacher as well as my favorite band director Lakeside’s existence did not effect me. Continuing into junior year I had just began the International Baccalaureate program (IB) and I was in search of a community service project. I decided I would get a group of band kids who were also in IB and we would help with solo and ensemble.  

My overall favorite thing I ever done at TU involves this tea kettle (well not this one specifically). As residents we are told to join Hall Gov and join RHA so that we can get the most out of our time while in the residents halls. As treasurer of Fisher South Hall Gov and Publicity chair for RHA I have done many activities on campus from Haunted Hall, TU Thanksgiving, Boxer Bash, and Pizza’s of Tulsa, but the most rewarding activity was buying this tea kettle. I simply noticed one day that we could have electric tea kettles, but Fisher South did not own one. I brought this to hall gov to see if we could purchase one. Everyone agreed that the approximately $30 for the tea kettle was well worth it. Shortly after it was available to check out it has been used almost every single day. People like to make tea other like to make ramen, but regardless my simple proposition to hall gov had a drastic impact on where I live and the people that live there. I think the beauty in this example is the simplicity of it. Hall gov is a medium for you to develop your hall and I effectively used that medium and made a change.

TU quickly feels like home, you make so many great friends with a huge array of political, religious, and social view. The top of this design represents me as a computer science and mathematics major and the ungodly amount of time I spend in Kep. Continuing down is the TU logo done in water color, it is intentionally child-esc because when you go to college sometimes it is nice to feel like a kid and take a break from everything. Finally is the colorful bar at the bottom, it goes from Red to Blue and a transition of myself from Arkansas to the University of Tulsa. The colorful bar also represents my involvement with Pride on campus and the Equality center downtown. Both of these places have great resources and really made me feel welcome in the City of Tulsa

Although you can only see my hand this picture was taken at Elote after an afternoon spent at the equality center. Tulsa has many great places setup for queer youth. TU offers pride club and SA had a pride week on campus back in November.

Ideally I would like to partner with someone on this event. For a couple weeks there would be a time we meet in the lobby and have study time. During this time you can find people in your classes or people who have taken your class in order to help you.

918-631-2241

This was taken at the end of orientation week. My group was the Slapshots which was full of all band kids. It was so much fun getting to meet all the kids in band before spending all year with them.