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Recent Journal
Ryan, where have you been?!
5 years ago
MarbleDidymus posted on my last journal recently asking for an update to what's been going on in my life since that last update was from...Jesus, four years ago. To be honest, I didn't expect anyone to really be that interested in where my life has gone, but it's nice to know I'm still thought about at least in some capacity. So for the at least one of you reading this -- here goes!
As the last entry mentioned, I actually returned back to school about a year and a half after graduating. First to get a second Bachelor's in Human Biology in order to get admitted into a Doctorate program for physical therapy. It was kind of a weird mix going back to college. On one hand, it was a return to a familiar schedule, life, and expectations, but on the other, I was a good 3-5 years older than most of my classmates when I returned. It doesn't seem like much, but when you're 24 and suddenly 19 year olds are inviting you to parties on Wednesday nights, you start to realize your biological limitations.
I was moving at an accelerated pace in that program given the previous college credits I came in with. I had always loved science growing up (math was an acquired taste, but we've developed an appreciation now), but I never really considered a career in STEM my first lap through college because I never really considered myself smart enough for it. I fell short in those subjects in middle/high school, though to be fair I was falling short by the "been in private/prep schools since 3rd grade" definition -- I was an honors student, but AP classes is the standard and honors is remedial. I had quite the breadth of subjects thrown at me in those first two years: biology, calculus, physics, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, organic chemistry (yuck), biochemistry (slightly less yuck), and even archery because apparently my new university didn't like my old PE credits. All of this and more, without much in the way of liberal arts courses to help pad out the difficulty semester to semester. To my surprise, I didn't drown. Instead, I learned to recognize patterns and shortcuts, I developed confidence in my ability to think on the fly with what I know and what I could extrapolate from a problem, I found a genuine love and appreciation for learning new things. I didn't just survive, I thrived.
All of those things have really been pushed to the test in the last two years once I got into my grad school program. I'm in class anywhere from four to six hours a day and then studying an extra two to three hours at night. It's admittedly mentally and emotionally exhausting, and harder than anything I've ever done academically, but to be able to help people regain independence and control over their life when I am out on clinical internship is the most rewarding feeling. My second year finals begin this upcoming week, and if/when I get through those, I'll be on track to graduate May of next year with "Doctor" in my name.
So all that has pretty much consumed my life, but I do have a personal life every now and then. In fact, I proposed to my girlfriend of 8 years last year! Admittedly it took a little bit longer than most people expected. My going back to school threw a massive wrench into our life plans, and combined with several mental health scares on both of our ends, I believed it was important for us to work on ourselves individually first and so a lot of time went into that before I finally popped the question. There's still hiccups every now and then, but I feel like our relationship is much healthier and more satisfying as a result.
She's been my biggest supporter, and I'll always be grateful for that. "Biggest" is a good pun in this case. She has grown more curious about my macro interests lately. She's always known about it being a thing with me, but I've always been too embarrassed to really talk about it until she started pressing the issue more recently. She personally still doesn't care for it, but understands why I like it and enjoys entertaining the idea if only for my reactions, and that's enough for me. Though admittedly, I haven't fully divulged that in some of my daydreams, she's not just building sized, but a building sized wolf girl. I don't think it'd really change our relationship, but she is also a denizen of the internet (more fanfiction circles than roleplay) and already has a bunch of preconceived notions about the fandom that I just don't feel ready to tackle yet. When I finally do work up the courage/energy to talk to her about it though, I would love for her to meet some of you just because I think interests and personalities align.
Speaking of the fandom, what is my role in it? I'm not entirely sure anymore. My free time for the last couple of years is only a couple hours a night so I'll spend it mostly chatting with folks; F-list seems to be the hot new place to find folks of the larger variety now. My grad school is in BFE, and so although it may be a bad idea to rely on the internet for social interaction, it's what I got for right now. I also finally made a furry twitter (PM me if you want that). It's nice to get a dose of socialization, even if it is virtual, but I do sometimes feel like I get swept away in all the commotion. That and I feel like I have a bit of an uphill climb with the whole "my main character is a human male" thing, but we've had that conversation so many times now since I joined the fandom. I'm a little bit more comfortable with the whole situation, if not all the way.
Still, I wouldn't mind some more faces to talk to and to play with. But the cold, hard reality is that the currency of fandom is content and I don't generate it. I don't really see myself as a writer anymore just because of my lack of time and inspiration. Not to mention that going back and reading my stuff gives me second hand embarrassment with the quality. You all really don't want to see my drawings, and I've had ramen for dinner twice this week so commissioning isn't really a consideration right now. So for right now I guess I'm just kind of that weirdo with a couple of really old pieces of gift art that hangs around. Overall I'm happy and appreciative for the folks that do talk to me though. I do worry that I pester them a bit too much sometimes though.
Alright, I've been writing this for about two hours now. You're all caught up on my life again. See you in another five years at this rate!
As the last entry mentioned, I actually returned back to school about a year and a half after graduating. First to get a second Bachelor's in Human Biology in order to get admitted into a Doctorate program for physical therapy. It was kind of a weird mix going back to college. On one hand, it was a return to a familiar schedule, life, and expectations, but on the other, I was a good 3-5 years older than most of my classmates when I returned. It doesn't seem like much, but when you're 24 and suddenly 19 year olds are inviting you to parties on Wednesday nights, you start to realize your biological limitations.
I was moving at an accelerated pace in that program given the previous college credits I came in with. I had always loved science growing up (math was an acquired taste, but we've developed an appreciation now), but I never really considered a career in STEM my first lap through college because I never really considered myself smart enough for it. I fell short in those subjects in middle/high school, though to be fair I was falling short by the "been in private/prep schools since 3rd grade" definition -- I was an honors student, but AP classes is the standard and honors is remedial. I had quite the breadth of subjects thrown at me in those first two years: biology, calculus, physics, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, organic chemistry (yuck), biochemistry (slightly less yuck), and even archery because apparently my new university didn't like my old PE credits. All of this and more, without much in the way of liberal arts courses to help pad out the difficulty semester to semester. To my surprise, I didn't drown. Instead, I learned to recognize patterns and shortcuts, I developed confidence in my ability to think on the fly with what I know and what I could extrapolate from a problem, I found a genuine love and appreciation for learning new things. I didn't just survive, I thrived.
All of those things have really been pushed to the test in the last two years once I got into my grad school program. I'm in class anywhere from four to six hours a day and then studying an extra two to three hours at night. It's admittedly mentally and emotionally exhausting, and harder than anything I've ever done academically, but to be able to help people regain independence and control over their life when I am out on clinical internship is the most rewarding feeling. My second year finals begin this upcoming week, and if/when I get through those, I'll be on track to graduate May of next year with "Doctor" in my name.
So all that has pretty much consumed my life, but I do have a personal life every now and then. In fact, I proposed to my girlfriend of 8 years last year! Admittedly it took a little bit longer than most people expected. My going back to school threw a massive wrench into our life plans, and combined with several mental health scares on both of our ends, I believed it was important for us to work on ourselves individually first and so a lot of time went into that before I finally popped the question. There's still hiccups every now and then, but I feel like our relationship is much healthier and more satisfying as a result.
She's been my biggest supporter, and I'll always be grateful for that. "Biggest" is a good pun in this case. She has grown more curious about my macro interests lately. She's always known about it being a thing with me, but I've always been too embarrassed to really talk about it until she started pressing the issue more recently. She personally still doesn't care for it, but understands why I like it and enjoys entertaining the idea if only for my reactions, and that's enough for me. Though admittedly, I haven't fully divulged that in some of my daydreams, she's not just building sized, but a building sized wolf girl. I don't think it'd really change our relationship, but she is also a denizen of the internet (more fanfiction circles than roleplay) and already has a bunch of preconceived notions about the fandom that I just don't feel ready to tackle yet. When I finally do work up the courage/energy to talk to her about it though, I would love for her to meet some of you just because I think interests and personalities align.
Speaking of the fandom, what is my role in it? I'm not entirely sure anymore. My free time for the last couple of years is only a couple hours a night so I'll spend it mostly chatting with folks; F-list seems to be the hot new place to find folks of the larger variety now. My grad school is in BFE, and so although it may be a bad idea to rely on the internet for social interaction, it's what I got for right now. I also finally made a furry twitter (PM me if you want that). It's nice to get a dose of socialization, even if it is virtual, but I do sometimes feel like I get swept away in all the commotion. That and I feel like I have a bit of an uphill climb with the whole "my main character is a human male" thing, but we've had that conversation so many times now since I joined the fandom. I'm a little bit more comfortable with the whole situation, if not all the way.
Still, I wouldn't mind some more faces to talk to and to play with. But the cold, hard reality is that the currency of fandom is content and I don't generate it. I don't really see myself as a writer anymore just because of my lack of time and inspiration. Not to mention that going back and reading my stuff gives me second hand embarrassment with the quality. You all really don't want to see my drawings, and I've had ramen for dinner twice this week so commissioning isn't really a consideration right now. So for right now I guess I'm just kind of that weirdo with a couple of really old pieces of gift art that hangs around. Overall I'm happy and appreciative for the folks that do talk to me though. I do worry that I pester them a bit too much sometimes though.
Alright, I've been writing this for about two hours now. You're all caught up on my life again. See you in another five years at this rate!
User Profile
Accepting Trades
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Human
Favorite Music
Anything but Country.
Favorite Games
Mass Effect, Destiny
Favorite Gaming Platforms
PC
Favorite Foods & Drinks
Not picky, but I'm a sucker for fries and coke.
Favorite Quote
'When you're going through hell, keep going.' -Winston Churchill
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