Attending a medical conference proved to be one of the most amazing and eye opening experiences I’ve gone through.  Getting to have fun with fellow MD’s and DO’s….who wouldn’t want to partake in that adventure?

Most importantly though, I met some pretty amazing friends, from all over the country actually.  I still keep in contact with about 90% of my group from this summer, which is astounding because this conference was nearly 7 years ago.

I’m pretty sure the camera found me just about wherever I was.  Thank goodness for digital back then.

On the way to the Mall of America via public transit.  Major fun in the twin cities y’all.  Had a blast meeting and making new friends.

On a “night off” from workshops and lectures, a huge group of us decided to go on the town.  At the time it was a bar called the Wild Onion.  Crazy, huh?

…still the Wild Onion.  Let’s just say I had a blast and had nothing to drink that night.  I think I was a newly minted 21 year old, too.  Pure Craziness.

Last group shot with the girls that evening, we all had fun getting to know each other during our trip.

Found a pair of goggles on our boat that night, so in true Erin fashion I had to put them on.  Talk about goofy all while having fun with my friends. : )

Getting ready to dock, head to the hotel and head out to the bar.  Last night in MN, you’ve gotta do it up big, right?!

Another partial group shot.  We took so many of these that week, seriously was one of the best times in my life being Pre-Med, but I made an even better decision career wise and can’t wait to see what journey it takes me on.

Our hotel was somewhere in the background.  We stayed at one of the fanciest hotels I had ever stayed in and we all had a blast.  Pretty sure I called home just so I could say I was staying in a Trump Hotel.

Our conference director.  He set up all the yet to be in med school applicants and directed my group on which lectures to sit in on and who to rub elbows with.

What our lovely paddle boat looked like sort of.    How many of y’all can say you’ve traveled a portion of the Great Mississippi?  I have.

Relaxing on the boat and taking in the scenery.  I had never been that far north, so this was a completely different experience especially since it was my first ever plane trip.  Talk about an exciting time in my life.

Me & Ash.  We’re still just as close as we were here.  We’ve moved.  Traveled across the US.  But always kept in contact (thank you Facebook!!) through the years.

St. Paul in the background and us looking completely silly.  I sure miss those days…

Now you can’t leave a medical conference without going to the Mall of America at least once while you’re “in town”, that would just be horrible.  If I remember correctly, I made at least half a dozen trips and even left my digital camera in a dressing room (that I later recovered thank goodness).

There’s just something about OU’s Campus on a Summery night to make you fall in love all over again with the amazing Top 10 Business School you’ve chosen.  Ahhhh….life.

I wound up taking Senior pictures to fully ‘document’ that my parents first born was officially leaving the nest and joining the college life.

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.  And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

 You’ll look up and down streets.  Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.

 It’s opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don’t worry.  Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! -Dr. Seuss

Believe it or not, I still can’t believe I graduated almost 8 years ago.  Where has the time gone?  Seems like only yesterday I walked across the staged & grabbed my diploma…..not really.  Our class actually had their diplomas held on account of “how we acted in Rayleigh Chapel”.  Let’s just say….there were beach balls…fog horns….silly string…streamers…those mini “pop” streamer things…and a whole lot more.  My grandparents had gone to their fair share of Graduations, but this was the first “rowdy” one they had ever been to.  Way to make 2004 memorable Class of 2004!

I’ve learned both versions of Copperhead Road, but the country bar I go to typically does this version, the Texas version.  I haven’t had the chance to go in a little over a month, but I’m hoping with my break from school I can get out on the dance floor and have a little fun before heading back to class on January 3rd.

Here ya go.  Perfect shot of dinner and semi-cramming for finals this week.  I’m ready for this semester to be over with, I’m over it and ready to move on from this JV coding atmosphere.

There is nothing in the world that I love more than anything is fall weather….mix in the University of Oklahoma and you’ve got quite the campus.  …I just hate walking around campus after dark….but that’s a story for another time.

After moving out of one dorm and into another my first year, I met a great group of girls and some I still talk to even to this day.  Let’s just say I had a blast this Christmas.

…then you throw the randomness of black hair dye…..a Wal-Mart shopping trip…AND the sporting goods aisle and you’ll have on helluva time.  Trust me…I know these things.  I invented the word fun inside one podunk towns Wally World

Would you look at that grip!  Not to worry, I didn’t technically swing the driver, although I really wanted to…

Deflating the yoga ball.  The one true cause of why I’ve had 2 nose jobs….it’s a crazy story, but I blame that yoga ball for breaking my nose.

Heading out to the only club worth going to in Ada.  At the time it was C4 although, I’m not sure as to what it’s called now.  I’ve heard it’s changed names thousands of times since then, which makes me feel older than dirt.

Another shot from the Christmas Party that year.  We rocked at having a good time that year and looking back now, I’m not sure I’d do anything differently…well other than study more!

…I can be a bit goofy…and silly…and love to make a mess of things or at least get messy….

I’ve always been blessed to have great friends around at all times.  Even if they were my State Officer team.

I can rock the official dress code of BPA and have my leg wrapped up in a semi-cast from a not so great dance injury so long ago.

So while paper writing sucks for some, I’ve grown to really enjoy it.  Well, just as long as I have a bag of Hot Tamales and  some extra time on my hands.  These things are usually few & far between when it comes to studying for finals though.  Luckily, I’m stocked up on 9 pounds of Hot Tamales for now & I’m sure those will be gone in no time once mid terms roll around.  So, here’s to a wonderful semester — can’t wait to go through 9 pounds of candy (actually, I can).

Ellie-O & I are learning some relationship advice from one of my classes tonight.  She’s actually a pretty great study buddy and I’m completely loving her ability to sit still for long periods of time just like this.  Makes my day just having her around and acting like she’s actually reading my books and learning something.  Love HER.

Who loves driving to school?  Not me!  I’d much rather take the interstate or drive down a 4 lane highway instead of driving to OU’s campus.  There is a ton of traffic on the road all the time no matter what time of day it is.  Needless to say I prefer to spend my time North of campus and out of traffic.

The building where one of my classes is held.  Weird ain’t it?  Oh well, it’s the Physical Science building, it’s allowed to be uhhhh, different.

On a normal school day….I wear cutesy dresses…have a pair of sunglasses on my head/face at all times…I AM the typical college girl.

Sure, I’ve partied.  Sure, I’ve done things most would have never thought of me doing.  I’ve danced until the wee hours of the morning.  I’ve hung out with friends inside a giant foam mass and had a great time.  I’ve indeed lived up the college lifestyle.

I’ve hung out with friends while living it up too.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’ve had quite the college career and in just a year, it’ll all be over with.  Can’t wait for that day to come!

Yes, I put my actual number on my shirt one night….talk about one crazy college girl.

Yes, that’s right.  I said fake.  Blame my blonde headedness on my Mom & Delilah.  They decided to highlight my hair once, which just turned out to highlight my entire head instead of strands.  There are photos of that incident actually.  My first highlighting experience involved a lot of tears, every hair on my head being pulled through a cap (someone didn’t read the directions before starting & it wasn’t me!) & one happy girl at the very end of getting my hair done for the first time.  It definitely was a moment I’ll always remember.

Okay, so back to this photo…..  Any ideas who I just might be in this photo?  If you’ve given up, I’m the one on the right.  Let’s not critique my clothing choices as this was long ago and now I wouldn’t be caught out of the house like that — ever.

I’m ready for rain, so bring it on Oklahoma.

If those huge red pieces in my hair don’t give anything away already….I’m a pretty BIG OU fan.  I’ve never been to a game, but I know I’ll go soon enough.  For now, I’ll just show my support while rockin’ these red hues and cheering for football.  Yes, I cheer for a sport I know nothing about and I’m totally clueless while doing it.  This girl needs a guy in her life to explain these things!

With school getting ready to start up again after Spring Break you can count that multi-tasking will be a huge part of my life….just take a look at this.  Facebooking and writing a paper.  All too common with the college girl I must say.  I’ve definitely become the computer geek and this just shows that even more.

This is the best canned soup in existence and if you don’t believe me go out & try some yourself.  It even beats out Cambell’s hands down.  Fix it in a bowl or drink it out of a coffee mug.  The choice is yours.  I love cold mornings, pouring myself a cup of tomato soup and taking an MIS test that I forgot about.  Oooooops!

Another semester in school.  Another hair color.  The school year has started off with a bang and I’m more than a little ready to finish up and get the heck out of OU.  I’m determined to graduate with my degree soon, not too much longer now!