Time Strategies

A visual representation of my thoughts when I think about the timely nature of a due date.

After reviewing my schedule for the class, though I did not follow it very closely this first week, I feel my current schedule still meets my needs and fills up my schedule very nicely and will not overwhelm me! The first week back to school was full of a lot of new and exciting things and opportunities, but as the semester gets back into gear, my schedule will calm down. I am generally very good with my time, though I do not actually use a calendar or planner. I have a very good memory and I am often able to remember what I need to do by what time to be successful, as long as I think about it once or twice and consciously reiterate it to my brain. Most things I forget are small things that are not really of consequence because if they were, I would be thinking about them and I would not let myself forget. I am often of the mindset that if what I am doing now (excluding mental and physical health breaks) is not helping me achieve something that I must do, then it is wasted time. It's a very good rule of thumb that has made me successful in the classroom. If I am doing something that is not helping me out, then I will recognize that and usually look over notes/do whatever assignments are outstanding. This personally works for me, but I do see the inherent value of a planner and I am very open to trying it out to see if that helps me further my time management skills. 

Technology Thoughts

A cool graphic I found that describes how I am feeling while learning about all of these new technologies we will use in this course

I am not at all familiar with most of the technology tools and webpages we will be using in this course starting next week, but I am very excited to be able to learn how to work them accurately and efficiently. I do know about bookmarking pages, as it's a common habit I keep anyway, Google Docs, and basic image editing (though I admit I do it on my smartphone, not my laptop). I am really looking forward to learning how to use and create more complex and fun blogs, as I am really enjoying the course blog so far! I also know that I will need to have a firm grasp on using the course webpages and tools in order to successfully create my semester-long project. I took this course for my love of mythology, but I think I will take away a better grasp of technology, a new learning style, and a new perspective on grading in general, as I've never taken a course set up in a manner such as this. 

Assignment Thoughts

A figurative picture of me pondering the assignment types and extra credit opportunities

The assignments in the course I am looking forward to the most are definitely the reading and blog commenting categories. I am a really big fan of reading and I cannot wait to begin delving into the realm of both mythology and folklore this semester because I believe that reading keeps our minds sharp and allows us to appreciate the world around us more clearly. Additionally, I am really looking forward to being able to read other students' blogs and hear their thoughts and opinions on course material and their general outlooks on life and what matters to them. I am very much a people person and I am excited to meet my fellow classmates and get to know a little more about their stories. I am also very excited at the prospect of extra credit so I can possibly skip some assignments that I don't feel like doing or am too busy to complete on time. This course is very accommodating and I am glad to be in it!

Growth Mindset

A cool meme I found that epitomizes a growth mindset in action.

Though I have never explicitly heard of Carol Dweck, I have been familiar with the concept of a growth mindset since my elementary school days due to some wonderful and passionate teachers I've encountered. The idea of a growth mindset is very empowering, regardless of whether or not you believe it works or has effects. The very notion that believing your brain can grow and evolve as you grow older and can influence the way children think about life and can even make college a more tangible and achievable goal for disadvantaged students, which frankly is powerful in and of itself. I am definitely interested in learning more about growth mindsets this semester, as it can be an effective parenting tool for me and my future wife to be able to instill confidence and the notion of change into our childrens' minds. I've definitely had to adapt my study skills at OU and focus more on learning the way that is the most effective for me in order to be successful in a time-efficient manner. I am excited to be able to experience firsthand the ability of our minds to change and adapt to overcome obstacles. 

Introduction to a Hopeful Future Doctor

A picture of my girlfriend and childhood best friend (left) and myself (right).

Hello everyone! My name is Chase Gaddis and I am a Biology/Pre-Medicine major from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a large suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I have always been interested in trying to understand the way people function and interact with the world on a daily basis, so choosing biology as my major has been the plan since 7th grade, when I figured out what college was and all of that other important stuff. Definitely the coolest part about learning about biology is seeing the same types of processes and fundamental elements that are present in so many diverse types of life being applied across the board of existence. The best class that I've taken at OU was BIO 1134, which studies ecology and diversity of biological systems, which is exactly what I have always wanted to focus on! That class, and the very idea of understanding biological systems, really cemented my dream of trying to become a doctor. I have always felt like doctors are just mechanics for people, and that thought has always interested me! Aside from all of the boring scientific stuff, I am currently in Orlando, Florida. I will be at Disney World until Monday afternoon, and I am so pumped to be here. I love all things Disney, and going to the parks and riding the rides here just adds a whole other dimension to my love of Disney. My favorite movie I saw in 2018 was definitely Mary Poppins Returns, and I encourage all of you to see it. In my free time, I enjoy running (sometimes), playing soccer, and playing any Nintendo video games of any era. It would be rash of me to include a picture of my girlfriend and not mention her at all, so I will do that now. I met Lexi in my 5th grade class at Wolf Creek Elementary in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and I have liked ever for as long as I can remember! I finally got the courage to ask her out in 10th grade, and wouldn't you believe it, she said yes! We have almost been dating for 4 years at the time of typing this, and I hope there are more years to come! That's pretty much all there is to me, so if you have any burning questions, comment something below!