Flashback to 2007 - Senior year of high school was one of the times I remember my mom punk'd me. She said we were going to the North Carolina State fair. I said, what's that? She said there's food and games and alot of fun things to do. I was so excited. Because of my people pleasing perfectionist habits - I was exhausted. Between being a straight A student, NHS secretary, Drum Major in Marching band, soccer team captain and student class treasurer - I was pooped out. The thought of some fun was so exhilarating. We drove to NC the night before and I got up early that Saturday excited go straight to the fair! I said what time will get there? My mom said, "Oh, sometime in the afternoon." I said, "Why so late?". She said, we are going to the Engineering open house at NC State first. My heart sank. WWHAT?! That sounded like work. I was ready for fun fun fun. That was the plan all along. I knew it. And she didn't tell me!
As I was wondering around the Engineering open house, I bounced between the Textile Engineering table and the chemical engineering table. I didn't think I was athletic enough (and everyone else around thought the same) to follow in my cousin's footsteps and be a professional soccer player on the US Women's Soccer team. Instead I thought maybe I could design more comfortable soccer cleats better than the ones that gave me blisters every year at soccer camp.
I don't know how it happened but a very enthusiastic lady came up to me at the open house and said, "where are you from?" I said, "Maryland". She said "Great!". I thought to myself, "Why was it so great to be from Maryland?". She said they were offering full ride scholarships to out of state students to study Pulp and Paper Science Engineering. I'm pretty sure I gave her a very confused look, like "What is Paper Science? That's a degree?" Before I could get any words out she walked me and my mom to a table of info and invited me to a short seminar they were having later that day to explain more on the program. I thought, "Great, they are cutting into my State Fair Fun again!" But anyway, my mom was all over it. She was talking to the lady and asking all these questions. And I was thinking, "Helloooo. I want to make soccer cleats, not paper!!!!" My mom accepted the invitation to the seminar later that day and we walked away. I said, "Mom, what are you doing, I said Textile or Chemical engineering, not paper!" Of course, however, the Pulp and Paper Students could also double major in Chemical engineering with just 1 additional semester. This opened more doors for the students. Of course my Mom's attitude was - "It could have been underwater basket weaving-engineering" as long as it was "Engineering" mixed with "full-ride". We knew funds were tight at home.
At the seminar - I remember 2 things:
They said they are working on an exchange program in Finland for a semester. I was sold there.
After talking with the current Pulp & Paper students and told them I was debating going to Virginia Tech, one girl said, "What? I competed against their volleyball team there and my cell phone doesn't even work there?" She was right. I spent 2 weeks there for a "Mom-inspired" girls in engineering camp the summer before and it was really difficult to get signal.
Lol, I don't actually remember learning about pulp and paper. It is now 12 years later and possibly a slight exaggeration.
So there I was in my Junior Year spending fall semester in Finland and Spring semester in Germany. My study abroad experience was every bit a dream come true. I had the time time of my life. I also did an internship in Germany before the German spring semester started. They was also very interesting. Especially considering I thought I knew more German than I actually did, lol.
And the doors open ...
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