Photo of Me Off the Coast of Florida 2016
Hi! My name is Braden Merrill and I am a junior biology major here at OU with aspirations to go to dental school. Biology is a super cool major because I get to learn about all the mind boggling processes that give way to life.
The best class I took last semester was Biochemistry. While it was no doubt-ably the most difficult class I have ever taken, I enjoyed the challenge. We covered complex biological processes on a molecular level which was incredibly fascinating. We memorized SO much information and had to apply what we memorized.
Over this last break I was able to go with an on campus ministry called StuMo to a conference called SMC. Four thousand college students from the Midwest gathered together to learn about Jesus and it was awesome. SMC lasted 5 days, and these days were some of the most intense and energetic days of my life! Right after SMC I went skiing with a group of my best friends. We stayed in Keystone Colorado and skied there for two days. We also spent a day in Vail, which was some of the best skiing I have ever experienced!
A Photo of Me (far left) and My Buddies Skiing 2019
In continuation to the topic of traveling, I am actually going to spend seven weeks in Mumbai, India this summer. I am super excited to learn about Indian culture, make new friends, and try new foods. I really enjoy spicy foods so, from what I've been told, I have a lot to look forward to.
My favorite food is probably steak, while any kind of fish is a close favorite. Every time my family visits the ocean, we go fishing. The night after we catch the fish, we cook it and enjoy time together.
One thing I really love is music! I enjoy almost all genres but my favorites are rock and country. As a kid my dad always played classic rock on the radio in his car. My uncle played drums in a rock band call Midwest Kings with the former American Idol winner David Cook. I can still remember going to his concerts as a little kid. I love the depth in songwriting in rock music as well as the skilled musicianship. A good rock band combines all the ideas of the band members to create really good music.
The country side of me comes from my mom. She had three country CD's that would play on repeat in her car back when I was in elementary school. These three CD's were by Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, and Rascal Flats. My favorite part of country music is the storytelling involved. Country music artists are very skilled at writing relatable lyrics that bring about emotion. The best music in my opinion, creates emotion.
Glad I can share with you who I am and what I am interested in! This should be a fun semester!
Biochemistry sounds awful! Coming from the girl who does not enjoy science all that much, so who am I to know what sounds awful? I have to relate with you on the country music aspect. I also agree that good music has emotion behind it. That’s neat that you’re going to travel to India after taking this class. I don’t know if I think this semester will be fun, but I think this class will be
ReplyDeleteHi Braden,
ReplyDeleteHappy to have you in this class with me! I am also a biology major, but I plan on going to medical school after I graduate. I also took biochemistry. I have to say it is one of the most interesting science class I have taken so far. I think it is so cool that you are going to India! Is there a specific reason why are you going to India? I hope you keep blogging and keep us updated on your adventure!
Your classmate,
Joanna Yoon
Oh, look at that fish, Braden: wow! Maybe in addition to sports, you could think about hunting and fishing. You will see both hunting and fishing coming up in the epics (including some epically tragic hunting stories)... and the god Vishnu even had an incarnation as a fish: Matsya (matsya means "fish" in Sanskrit).
ReplyDeleteAnd WOW: you are going to Mumbai! I hope this class will prepare you for all the amazing sights and sounds you are going to encounter there. My favorite Indian musical duo, Maati Baani, are based in Mumbai... you might see them performing somewhere! Here's their website if you are curious: Maati Baani. They do fusion music: Nirali is a classically trained Indian singer, while her husband Kartik is a rock-and-roll guy with many other talents. I can't remember now if music was on your list of possible project topics, but you can never go wrong with Indian music! :-)
Hi Braden, I'm surprised to hear that you enjoyed bio-chem. All my friends said that it was torturous. I also like fish and beef; we have so much in common. I bet we also have lots of other things in common, like having 4 limbs and a torso. I must say that I generally lack large smiles though. Have a fun semester.
ReplyDeleteHey Braden,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, very impressed with the catch! My dad is a huge fisherman and I can remember the days he would drag me out to fish all day and I thought it was so boring, but now I love it because its so peaceful in a way.. until I'm getting dragged off a boat from catching something I wouldn't want to reel in, it has happened before haha. Anyway, I love how your'e very invested with your relationship with God, I think thats so important! StuMo and SMC sound like awesome experiences I will definitely look in to!
Hey Braden,
ReplyDeleteI think it's really cool that you got to go to that StuMo conference! I'm Christian too and it's awesome to see that you enjoyed it. I got to go to India a few years ago and it was so fun and the food is so good! I'm sure you'll have a great time. I'm the only person in my family who likes country music so I'll always blast it in the car to annoy my cousins. I hope to convert them into country music fans some day so wish me luck.
Hey Braden, it is cool that we are in the same class this semester. Also your trip to Mumbai, India this summer sounds like a fantastic experience. Hopefully this class helps expose you to Indian culture and makes the trip that much better.
ReplyDeleteI think that you are spot-on about the storytelling in country music. That is one of the main reasons that I enjoy outlaw country.
Hi Braden! I loved getting to read a little bit about you! Props to you for being a biology major! My roommate is taking biochemistry right now and she seems to really enjoy it! I also had a couple of friends that went to SMC and had so much fun! I love to travel and hope to travel the world one day! Going to India sounds like a lot of fun, what are you going to India for?! That's super exciting! I also love steak, it's my favorite food and my family loves to make it for me every once in a while whenever I come home. Music is one of my favorite things. I love to sing and have been singing since I was 2 years old, so I love talking about music with people! What's your favorite song right now?
ReplyDeleteBiochemistry with Sims? It might be the most information I have ever had to digest in such a short amount of time...But I feel that, even if you get a fraction of what was taught, you are still learning A LOT. That explains the huge curve (in my class, at least).
ReplyDeleteI think I've gone fishing maybe once in my life. It was cool, but disappointing because I could see the fish, but couldn't catch any. I'll have to go again one day and practice more! Nice to meet you, Braden!
Hello Braden,
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few friends studying Biochemistry and that is just not for me. I spend most of my time studying culture and religions, but also philosophers and poets. India sounds like a dream, especially from a cultural and culinary standpoint. I absolutely love spicy and flavorful foods. I used to love fishing in the ocean when I was younger, but I can't really stomach it now that I haven't fished in years (it usually is when I hook them in the eye). Colorado is a fantastic place and I absolutely love it, but I did not go skiing there. I completely agree with your opinion of country music and that is why I don't particularly like currently country music. I grew up on Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Brooks n Dunn, Diamond Rio and so on.
Hey there, Braden!
ReplyDeleteI think your major sounds both fun and challenging. The fact that biochemistry was your favorite class is pretty impressive... a lot of people I know said they struggled in that class. Being a dentist would be so cool! I have always been fascinated by teeth and think they are one of people's most attractive qualities. I also went to the mountains recently for spring break! We went snowboarding in Breckenridge last year and it was awesome!
Hi Braden,
ReplyDeleteI went skiing in Keystone too! It was such a fun experience! I am so jealous you get to visit India for seven whole weeks! India is such a beautiful place. My mom has visited there and she loved it. I agree i love spicy food and fish too. I bet nothing compared to catching a fresh fish and eating it after. It was nice to read a bit about you!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHi Braden,
It is great to meet you! That is cool that you're a Biology major. I am taking an Evolution Biology class right now and it is very interesting. It is also cool that you would like to become a dentist. I used to think the dentist was a scary place, but when you have an excellent dentist and dental hygienists it is not so bad after all. I actually love getting my teeth cleaned now. Also, I am super jealous you are going to Mumbai, that will be a memorable experience I'm sure! Have a great semester.
Hi Braden,
ReplyDeleteYour life is so incredibly interesting! I love that you are going to Mumbai over the summer. I am wondering what sparked your interest to go? India is a completely different world, but I am sure you will learn a lot from your trip! It is great that you want to be a dentist! My sister is actually in dental school right now, and she loves it to no end! It seems really cool. Good luck with all of your endeavors!
Hey Braden! I love the way you describe your interest in biology and the "mind boggling processes that give way to life." I think it is an extremely fascinating subject and I have so much respect for the study of those intricate molecular processes. How cool that you will be going to India this summer! I'm sure it will be a lot of fun to see how the stories we've read in this class relate to the culture there. I too enjoy spicy food and hope you find all the heat you're looking for on your travels.
ReplyDeleteThat is a big fish wow. Also it's cool that you're a biology major going into dental school. My roommate is also a bio major thinking about going into dental school, you might know him, his name's Willie. I agree with your opinions on classic rock music. It was a lot more relatable and not as over-produced as a lot of modern music. Classic country is also really good too. Cool bio, man.
ReplyDeleteHi braden! One thing I also do with my family is go on an annual fishing trip. After we catch a lot of fish we always have a huge fish fry. The only problem is we have such a large family and I am not the best fisherman, so I have to rely on my uncles and cousins to catch fish for all of us. I also enjoy country music!
ReplyDeleteHi Braden!
ReplyDeleteOne of my roommates took biochem last semester and complained about it all the time because of how hard it was. I don't think she liked it, to say the least, but I admire you for liking the challenge. I'm soooo jealous of you for spending seven whole weeks in Mumbai. I did semester at sea last year and spent a week in india and it was one of my most favorite countries ever. I don't have any advice specifically for Mumbai because I didn't go, but you are going to have an amazing time!
Hi Braden!
ReplyDeleteWow! Biochemistry is extremely impressive! I thought chemistry was beyond hard, but biochemistry is another level. India sounds exciting as well. A neighbor of mine is from India and I can vouch that their food is very spicy, but so delicious. I think you will really enjoy yourself and it will definitely be a unique experience.
Hey Braden!
ReplyDeleteWow, have fun in India! That will be such a trip. You will have a great time there, and it will be life changing! I'm glad you're going for longer than two weeks. I do not really understand those study abroad trips. You can learn so much more from that experience actually immersing yourself for over two months.
Hi Braden! I agree with your comments on biochemistry. Although it was one of the hardest classes just in terms complexity of content and amount of material, it was one of my favorites because it applied our culminated knowledge to real-life! Also India will be a blast! It is very different not just food/clothes but just overall culture but it will be a great experience!
ReplyDeleteHello Braden! Good luck on dental school in the future! It is pretty cool how you are studying Biochemistry. I have a couple friends in it and it seems pretty tough. Also, I like how you are very adventurous and visiting India this summer! This class was perfect timing for you! Have fun in India with all the scenery, culture, and food!
ReplyDeleteHey Brandon,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Olivia Yancey, I am a Microbiology major here at OU so we have some classes in common! Its cool you want to be a dentist that’s a hard path to go down so good luck! I am really jealous you get to go to Mumbai this summer, going to India has always been a big dream of mine.
Hello Braden!
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed with your Intro! It is well written and full of adventure! The festival you attended kinda reminds me of a Christian camp I used to go to when I was younger called Falls Creek. It was emotional, fulfilling, and fun. I have to ask why you are visiting India for 7 weeks? is it for schooling? I wished we could hear all about your trip! Did you choose this class as an elective because you knew you would be going to India or was it a coincidence? I am always so full of questions! Thanks for sharing, your Intro was a great read!
Howdy Braden,
ReplyDeleteI am also a junior pre-med, biology major. I have done things a bit backwards, so I haven't had to pick my poison of organic chemistry II or biochemistry, but I definitely do not look forward to that decision either. I commend you on your hopes to become a dentist, I know it is not easy. You seem like you have a fun summer of traveling ahead of you. Anyway, good luck on your studies for the rest of this semester!
Hi Braden!
ReplyDeleteI agree that life and the processes that make it work are fascinating. I came to college wanting to go into biomechanics, but funnily enough switched to straight mechanical engineering because of chemistry. I'm glad you enjoyed biochemistry, though! Also, the skiing in Colorado is the best. I hope to go to grad school in Colorado, and getting to ski all the time is a not insignificant factor in that. Lol. Good luck in your classes!
Hey Braden.
ReplyDeleteIt was great getting to meet you through your introduction. I am also a bio major! What was your favorite bio related class? What was your favorite lab? I thing genetics is my favorite so far. Good luck with school and your future career. #AlwaysFloss
Hi Braden!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great picture of you with that fish! My dad is from Maryland so he has been taking me out fishing ever since I was really little. He owns a fishing guide service on Lake Texoma. Nothing like deep sea fishing in Maryland though! Good luck with the rest of your semester!