Introduction to the "Type A" Idealist

Hello, I am Brittany.

My academic career has been somewhat episodic. Straight after I graduated High School, I had one very successful but short-lived semester at Oklahoma State University where I felt my first taste of unbridled freedom after a sheltered upbringing, unhealthily underexposed to the outside world. Due to extenuating circumstances, I had to withdraw the following spring. With my 4.0 GPA, some unpaid tuition, and a mental album of memories I entered the workforce unready but willing to work off my debt and save enough money to return to college of my own accord. Three long years later, after too many menial, minimum wage jobs I was enrolled once again. As much as I harbored regret and shame about how long it took me to get here, I learned a hard lesson about responsibility and have come out the other side with a sense of pride. The hardships were a heavy dose of reality, but the silver lining is that I am now currently a senior here at The University of Oklahoma. After switching my major multiple times, I settled on the College of Classics and Letters. Letters is an interdisciplinary degree of sorts focusing on history, literature (classics, linguistics, English), philosophy (political science, religious studies), and languages (both modern and ancient) as described by the Letters academics webpage:

The program’s original purpose was to instill a deeper appreciation of the major movements of Western civilization. By studying the important and characteristic achievements of the human mind from Greco-Roman antiquity to the modern era, students come to understand and appreciate the ideas and principles that form the basis of their own culture […] The program is based upon the assumption that cultivated intelligence, good judgment, and artistic expression in speech and writing are desirable in and for themselves.

This major perfectly suits my interests in people and ideas. A famous statement by the great thinker Socrates’ says that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” or in other words— the human experience is not one that is meant to be subjected to boundaries, whether that be in thought or in practice. Without self-discovery, existential analysis, and the abandonment of presuppositions influenced by personal aspirations and values, one would be engaging in life with blinders on. I feel as though Socrates’ credo fits my personal, academic, and occupational goals of merging logic and reasoning with sensitivity to the essence of human nature. 

I have a hushed demeanor outwardly, but an analytical, open, idealistic inward disposition. I am a true INFJ (according to the Myer’s Brigg’s personality test): a passionate and determined idealist, but a perfectionist to a fault with a need to always be working in harmony with a fixed vision lest I get burnt out. I have an endlessly creative, talented twin sister who is my built-in best friend, cheerleader, monkey-see-monkey-do,  and the second scoop to my double-dip ice-cream cone. We are identical but we march to the beat of very individual drums. Twinhood has had an enormous impact on my identity. There are definitely more pros than cons but as my sister has once said “it puts a new edge on “being number one,"" and has sharpened my competitive edge. However, to sidestep this tangent let me conclude by saying that I do like being ‘me.’

Who am I? Well, I enjoy platforms like Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram and streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu like every other millennial. I also have an interest in interior design and art (crafts, sculpture, sketch, painting). I am a cat person with a calico kitty named Kindred. She is a super quirky cat who chirps more than she meows. I grew up on country music (Shania Twain, Alan Jackson), but have come to love music of all types. I have a guilty pleasure for all things animation (classic Disney movies for sure- Pocahontas and Snow white are my favorites). I prefer nonfiction to fiction reads. I try to be socially conscious and politically involved (I have strong opinions about rising social and economic inequality). I strive on being tidy and I am a total “Monica” (“Friends” fans, anyone? Seriously, my closet is color-coded). I am hugely sentimental and overly observant. And if it hasn’t already been obvious, I am also extremely wordy as this longer than expected introduction exemplifies. This post has reached essay lengths, so this is where I wrap this up. Please enjoy my posts but don’t take my written musings too seriously!

(Image Source: Graphic made by me, SumoPaint Photo Editor)

10 comments Introduction, Week 1