Introduction to an Explorer
Hello! My name is Dora Valadez and I am majoring in Biochemistry and Pre-Pharmacy. What I enjoy most about my majors are learning about all the scientific intricacies that happen every day, that we rarely put thought into. The title might be a little misleading but what I mean by it is an explorer of information, plus it seemed fitting for my name.
I was born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK and sadly, rarely travel. I have only ever visited three places in my life and one of them is a small town in Mexico, which is not very exciting. This summer break I got to visit Austin, TX for the first time, besides that I took summer classes so my break was pretty uneventful. As mentioned in my Favorite Place post, I got to visit Spain briefly during my senior year of high school. So, I have barely scratched the surface of world exploration but I would love to be able to explore many more places. In the meantime, I would enjoy learning another language as a form of exploration.
There is not much to me, and now you have learned as much as I can think of. Thank you for reading!
(Photo of a Library, Source: Pixabay)
Something interesting about me is that I like to collect books. I enjoy reading as a past time and would currently call The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom my favorite book. In all honesty, anything by either Mitch Albom or Neil Gaiman I will most likely enjoy reading. As for movies, I rarely go out to the theaters, the most recent movie I have seen and enjoyed was Focus starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie. My overall favorite film goes to The Outsiders. I tend to watch comedy shows on Netflix, and I have just started watching some of the Marvel shows on there as well. My music taste is kind of scattered, it ranges from classical to alternative hip hop, from pop punk to ranchera. Here is an example of one of my favorite bands:
(Source: YouTube)
I was born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK and sadly, rarely travel. I have only ever visited three places in my life and one of them is a small town in Mexico, which is not very exciting. This summer break I got to visit Austin, TX for the first time, besides that I took summer classes so my break was pretty uneventful. As mentioned in my Favorite Place post, I got to visit Spain briefly during my senior year of high school. So, I have barely scratched the surface of world exploration but I would love to be able to explore many more places. In the meantime, I would enjoy learning another language as a form of exploration.
(Personal Photo of Dora next to Our Lady by Federico, Photo from July 2017)
There is not much to me, and now you have learned as much as I can think of. Thank you for reading!
That is so true about the amazing science of everyday, Dora! Right now, things more incredible than we could even imagine are happening in our bodies, allowing us to breathe, move, think. The more I learn about neurobiology, for example, the more amazed I am. And how great that you like to collect books! I mostly read ebooks now (I am VERY near-sighted, so I like making the fonts big!), but I certainly have plenty of books that I acquired over the decades that I would be very sad to get rid of. I hope this class can be a fun way for you to explore new worlds and stories! And Neil Gaiman can provide much inspiration along the way; he is one of my favorites too. His words inspired this growth mindset cat: Do things you've never done before :-)
ReplyDeleteHey Dora! I think visiting a small town in Mexico would be great! When I travel I really like to get out of the touristy areas and explore the local culture. Cozumel is for the birds (although sometimes I am a bird, a broke bird, and they have a lot of all inclusive stuff !). Your blog is really well done, so you must be pretty proficient at technology and stuff like this. I'm sure that will help you do well in this class! Maybe you can even help me because that is SO not my strong suit! I have a collective taste in music as well, but I think that is the best way to be! Good luck, but I am sure you'll do great!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think my blog design has to do more with me wanting things to be aesthetically pleasing. But I will gladly help you if it is something I can do.
DeleteHello Dora! Loved your post, especially how you see your major and studies as exploration! I have so much respect for Biochem majors, especially as someone who's terrible at science — you're all so smart! That's so neat that you've gotten to visit Spain (also, Austin is one of my favorite cities!). Which language do you want to learn? I am currently working on a minor in Spanish and you're right, it's a great way to travel and learn about new cultures and worlds without even leaving the classroom. I love to read also — several blog posts have mentioned that Neil Gaiman is excellent, so maybe I'll have to check him out after reading this!
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to learn Portuguese for a long time but I keep getting off track. I originally planned on minoring in Spanish but decided to drop it. But I definitely recommend reading Neil Gaiman, the first book I read of him was "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" and it was an interesting read.
DeleteHi Dora! Your title is very clever and I’m a little embarrassed that it took me until I had finished reading your post and started to write this comment to get it. I haven’t seen Focus, but I like Will Smith and Margot Robbie so I’ll have to check it out. You said you like comedy shows on Netflix... have you seen The Office? It’s one of my favorites. I really liked the song you included too. I may have to look up the band on Spotify. I hope you get more chances to travel! It’s very enjoyable, even if you don’t go far. One of my favorite vacations was in Dallas. It was cheap and I had lots of good food we don’t get access to in Oklahoma.
ReplyDeleteI have not actually full seen The Office, but my brother has seen the entire series like ten times. Maybe I should finally get to see that series. I'm glad you like that song, they are one of my favorite bands. Hopefully, I can visit Dallas sometime soon.
DeleteHi Dora! I have always wanted to visit Spain so I think it is really cool that you got to go there when you were still in high school. I have also rarely traveled so I feel your pain when it comes to that. Your love for books and reading is something I admire because of how important literature is in our society. I used to read a lot, but unfortunately I lost my passion for it. However, I am always down to read a good book so I might have to check out "The Time Keeper".
ReplyDeleteHi David! I try to read but seem to have begun to not read as much as I used to. I have many books that I have yet to start reading. But I highly recommend "The Time Keeper", I found it to be very intriguing and profound and I absolutely enjoyed it.
DeleteDora, I love the name of your blog! That’s so funny! I used to be a biochemistry major and I was pre pharmacy too, but now I’m a math major. It sounds like we have pretty similar tastes in TV shows, because I usually stick to comedy, but I’ve been branching out into the Marvel shows lately! Look forward to reading your blog this semester!
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincide! I used to have math as a minor because it was my favorite subject. But I would gladly take any recommendations on shows if you have any.
DeleteHey Dora!
ReplyDeleteI'm proud of you for being a Biochemistry major because that was one of the hardest classes I've taken so far. Don't worry too much about not traveling too much because I haven't gone outside the country except for one time. You'll have time to travel later on in life. I should start watching the Marvel shows because I love their movies such as Logan and the Avengers. I also like alternative Hip-hop but my favorite comes from the late 90s early or early 2000's.
Good Luck in the class!
Hi Dora!
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool that you have a collection of books! I definitely watch comedy shows as well as the Marvel shows on Netflix too. I know how you feel girl, I took summer classes too and my summer just flew by. Anytime anyone asks me if I went anywhere during the summer, my response is nope, I just took summer classes…
Hi Dora! I really enjoyed reading about your major and why you love what you study. As an English education major, I am most definitely not someone who is science inclined so I always think it's interesting to meet and get to hear from people that are. I hope you have a lot of success in your field! Also, I love that you have been to Spain! That's somewhere that I have always wanted to go but I haven't quite made it there yet!
ReplyDeleteHey Dora! I see what you did with the title of your intro and your name, I am embarrassed to say that may have actually laughed out loud. I do love a good pun. I also collect books! I always make it a point to stop at the thrift stores and small bookshops wherever I go because I enjoy collecting old books. Sometimes I will buy a book that I am not interested in just because I like the way it looks and it has an old print date, the older the better. I am also always excited to meet another Neil Gaiman fan. I just finished reading American Gods for the 4th time; I also really love Good Omens, the book he co-authored with Terry Pratchett. There were so many things in your post that we have in common I could go all day. One last thing, you should visit The Outsiders house in Tulsa where they filmed the movie. They are turning it into a museum for the movie/book. Have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Dora!
ReplyDeleteI think it’s really cool that your major is biochemistry and your pre-pharmacy. I took one biochemistry course here at OU and it was pretty difficult so props to you for majoring in it lol. I also really like how you set up your introduction page and included an audio of one of your favorite songs! I can’t wait to see what else you post to your blog and I hope your having a good semester so far!
Hello, Dora!
ReplyDeleteMy first thought upon reading your title and initial introduction of this post was of Dora the Explorer, which I can imagine you intended. Love it. I also love to collect books! I think reading is such a great hobby, and surprisingly, not one pursued as often as you would think. My roommates used to give me a hard time for lugging loads of books to and from Norman during the first couple years of college. (And also for having so many books without consistently reading them...whoops.) Anyways, glad to have something in common! And I'm also a huge fan of The Outsiders!
Hello, Dora! Your title was so cute, and I love that you consider yourself and explorer of information. I am a chemical engineering major and I also really enjoy learning about how the world really works from a scientific perspective. I also collect books and enjoy reading in my free time! I have not read The Time Keeper, but I am always in search of a great book so I will have to look into it!
ReplyDeleteHi Dora!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this introduction! I'm a biochemistry major too, and I love that you describe yourself as an explorer of information (and of course I love that it goes with your name). I'll have to remind myself of that the next time I get stressed out by school! I think it's wonderful that you have such a strong desire to learn about the world, both through science and traveling. I'm sure that you'll get to travel in the future, since it is clearly something that you're invested in. That is such a beautiful picture of the Our Lady; I love the bright colors, and it makes me want to travel too! Good luck with your semester, and I hope you get to go somewhere special soon.
Hey there Dora. It was nice getting to know you a little bit. Awesome tract choice becoming a Biochem major and going into pharm school. I have a friend that is currently in pharm school as Southwestern Oklahoma State and loves it! I too am looking forward to the future and being able to perhaps get to get out into the world and see everything it has to offer. Good luck with the rest of the semester and all your future endeavors.
ReplyDeleteHi Dora! I love they way you explained your love for science! As someone who typically doesn't enjoy science based classes, you definitely made me look at it in a more interesting light! I love that you collect books. I used to read so much when I was younger, and seeing all the books on my bookshelf that I had read made me so happy. I have really lost the magic of reading for fun over the past several years because school keeps me so busy, and I find myself gravitating towards Netlflix when I am finally ready to take a break. Good with luck the rest of this semester, we are halfway there!
ReplyDeleteHi Dora!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you! I think it's super cool that you love to collect books. I honestly wish I had more time to read in general. College always takes a toll on my life and my time, so I really admire that you continue to read. It's super cool that you visited Austin, TX. While I may have explored the world, I have never seen that many places of the United States, including Austin, TX. So there's one place that you have over me! I'm looking forward to reading your stories, and know more about you!
Hey Dora! I enjoyed the irony of your introduction title. It's really nice to meet you! I wish I had more time to read, but with school it's hard to read for enjoyment when you have all these textbooks weighing you down! I want to visit Spain one day. Maybe I'll study abroad next semester and explore if I get the chance. I'm hoping I get to read lots of your stories, it was nice meeting you!
ReplyDeleteHi Dora! I love that you collect books! I used to have all of the Nancy Drew books when I was younger, but now that I am older I do not have as much time to read. That is really cool you have gotten to go to Spain! I am sure as you get older there will be opportunities for you to travel more! My belief is that experiences matter more than stuff. Good luck with the semester!
ReplyDeleteI understand about collecting books! I always think that a room is empty and void of imagination until it is filled with books. When I studied abroad, the hardest part was not being able to bring books and not being able to buy many while I was there, though I still bought several! I also fail to go to the movies often, I don't even know what is out in theaters right now.
ReplyDeleteHello Dora! I love your title, and how you tie that in to being an explorer of information. Your major sounds really interesting, what are you hoping to do with that in the future? I like instead of saying that you love to read, you said that you like to collect books. I never thought of it that way before. The comedy shows are my favorite part of Netflix. I hope you have a marvelous week!
ReplyDeleteHello Dora! When I read the title of your introduction I laughed so hard that everyone in my office looked at me like I was crazy. That is awesome you can find the humor in it makes that much better. Hopefully in the future you can use the explorer title for going more places. I love to read as well but have not had the time to recently. Science is used in so many ways most people do not realize it. Doing something you enjoy for a career helps a lot.
ReplyDeleteHi Dora! I guess you'll be hearing from me a lot this week since I also read your Storybook! Your title is great and I love that you are a different kind of explorer. Most people wouldn't think about it in that sense and I think it's great that you have. I love The Outsiders too! We read it in eighth grade and then watched the movie and my friend group assigned everyone nicknames based on the characters and their personalities. One of my friends was Madibit because she was the comedian, one was Pony B because she was the youngest, and another was Mikaylapop because she thought Rob Lowe was hot. I was Kerry because I took care of the group like Darry did. Can't wait to read more of your stories and finish your Storybook!
ReplyDeleteHi Dora! I like the title of your post and how you think of your scientific majors as focusing on exploration of information — that's fantastic, and such a cool way to think about studying. I hope you get to travel and explore more in the future. Glad you got to see Austin — that's where I was born, and I love it there. I've been to a touristy part of Mexico before, but I would love to visit a small town like you said. Hope you have a great rest of your semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Dora!
ReplyDeleteBefore the page even loaded I immediately thought of Dora the explorer, and it laughed a bit when I saw your post title. That great that you appreciate the small details of everyday life. It really is interesting that we are able to map and understand a lot of natural phenomena through experimentation and observance. I guess what is also more interesting is that there is many more things to figure out! Hope you have a great semester!
Hey Dora, I think your introduction is really creative! I really like the Dora the Explorer thing. Anyways, congrats to you on being a biochem major because that is some hard stuff. I've taken all of the chemistry classes, but I could not do all that biology and zoology and stuff. I think its awesome that you said one of the reasons you chose your major was because its cool to see all the scientific intricacies that happen every day, that we rarely put thought into, because that is one of the reasons I chose my own major. Anyways, good luck with the rest of your year and thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDora, I love the picture that you included here! Like you, I have not gotten to travel too much, and it can make one jealous to hear about others' adventures in foreign countries and their study abroad semesters, lol. You will surely get to travel in the future, though, especially with your major. I also love to read and have way too many books! I'm surprised that I only just now am reading your material!
ReplyDeleteDora,
ReplyDeleteI like the clever way you used your name for the title but still had it focus on your particular personally. My sister is a huge book reader. She has about five book shelves in her room. I will have to see if she has read The Time Keeper. I also haven’t travelled much and mainly stay in the United States when I do travel, so I think it is awesome that you got to go to Spain. I don’t know if you are looking for any funny comedies to watch on Netflix but I am a big fan of Two Broke Girls. The show always keeps me laughing. Good luck in the last couple weeks of the semester.
Hi Dora! Great "meeting" you! It's so cool that you're pre-pharmacy and also that you love reading so much! I'm a big reader myself but it can definitely be difficult to focus on during the school year so good for you for making time to do it even with your difficult major! I love that you want to travel - I love traveling and have been lucky enough to do some as well! I don't know any languages (like at all) so it's so cool that you're working on learning some, I'm sure that will make travel even more fulfilling! Good luck with the rest of you semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Dora!
ReplyDeleteIm sure you got the "Dora the explorer" joke millions of times growing up. So I will refrain. Its so cool youre doing pre-pharmacy. I heard that is really good major and you will always have a job! It seems like all the pharmacists I see now are very old so hopefully that means that there will be a lot of opportunities for you. Well sorry its the last day in the semester to meet you but hey im glad I got to read a little about you!