I have visited Sultan Ahmed’s mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey. The Blue Mosque is one of many incredible mosques in Istanbul. It is called the Blue Mosque because of its blue interior decoration. Like many other mosques, it has one main dome, several smaller ones, and several minarets (towers). Some parts of the interior were under construction, but I saw the blue ceramic decoration, glass windows and the verses from the Holy Qura’an. It is still an active mosque, so there is an entrance for Muslims to pray and another entrance for tourists.

In summer 2017, I got the opportunity to visit Italy. My brother and I took a trip to Duomo, Milan. The cathedral, or the duomo of Milan is one of the biggest Christian churches in the world, and the symbol of Milan. It is located at the city square, with a large empty space in front of it. Shops and restaurants around the cathedral. On the outside, the cathedral has a strong Gothic look with many carved statues. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to go inside the cathedral. It took almost 6 centuries, many different architects and sculptures to finish this amazing structure!

The BOK Center is a very large arena that is used for lots of things such as concerts and sports games. This building is special to me because it is where I saw my first concert. This building was the first building of this kind that was this large. It drew in more attention to the Tulsa area, therefore more events came into town for people to see. I have personally been to the BOK Center six times. The building is modern and I also love the layout of it on the inside of the building.

The Expo Square is the home of many events that are hosted in Tulsa. For me, this is an important place because it is home to the Tulsa State Fair. Going to the fair was a great memory of mine growing up. There is a huge building that holds all of the venders and different activities for guests to do. Then outside is where all the rides, food, and games can be found. This area is special because I have many memories of going to the fair here with my family and friends. Although now I just care about going to the fair for the food, it is still one of my favorite things to do.

The Bizzell Library on OU’s campus was the meeting spot for my friends and I several times throughout my freshman year. The library has a very open feel that can allow for loud collaboration on group projects, silent studying by yourself, or even just a place to relax. As you walked through the side entrance by the clock tower, the first thing you see is a model of the leaning tower of Pisa. As you pass, most students take a quick left and begin to head downstairs, but just beyond the stairs was our spot. This was because we originally went there to look at the university’s old yearbooks. As RUF/NEKS, we pride ourselves on knowledge of the University. We are a group that has been around for 104 years. This means that a lot of our history is entwined with that of the university’s. So, what better place to learn about OU’s history than the library. As the year went on, we continued to meet there between classes, to do homework, or just to hang out.

The James C. Nance Memorial Bridge runs between the two local towns of Purcell and Lexington. This bridge is part of U.S. 77 and crosses over the South Canadian river. It was originally built in 1938, making it one of the oldest bridges in Oklahoma. However, due to welding issues, the metal beams began to crack in recent years. The short-term solution was to place support brackets around the welds, but the bridge still needed to be replaced.

Being raised in Purcell, I have a little more personal attachment to this bridge than most. Like OU’s Red River Rivalry with Texas, we also battled Lexington for “ownership” of the bridge. Our team mascot is a dragon, while theirs is a bulldog, but what makes this even more similar to OU is that we are red, and they are orange. This being said, the bridge was under construction for the majority of my high school career.However, this summer the new bridge was officially opened. The coolest part was that my dad got to cut the ribbon alongside the mayor of Lexington. To make it better, he worked with OU to get the RUF/NEKS there to shoot our ceremonial shotguns. The goal was that I would be standing beside him as the ribbon was cut, but unfortunately, I was stuck in Paris due to issues with the plane. Luckily, other RUF/NEKS were able to be there.

The stadium here at the University of Oklahoma has a special place in my heart. Since my freshman year, I have spent countless hours both inside the building and on Owen Field. I am there nearly every day to study or work on homework. Actually, it is where I am currently writing this blog. This stadium is a big part of nearly every students’ college career. Whether it’s just because of the freshman class photo, walking by on the way to class, or going to the Saturday football games; the stadium is a part of OU life. Personally, I love that the stadium can bring people together. Each game can hold roughly 87,000 people in the stands, making it the most congested space in Oklahoma. On those Saturdays, the thousands become one. Whether it’s the roar of the crowd on third downs or the singing of the OU chant, the people become the beating heart of Oklahoma pride.

Last Summer I had the opportunity to go to Europe. Our first stop on the backpacking adventure was Rome, simply because we did not want to take any chances on missing an opportunity to see the Colosseum. Everything went perfect. We were lucky enough for a couple to cancel their tickets the night before we went on tour, so we got to skip all of the lines for the same price as everyone else. Once inside, many people would just see the warn down surface, but I have been in awe of this statement in history for years. The models and stories of what it once looked like were incredible. However, I did not know as much about the Colosseum as I had thought. Not only was this a place for gladiator fights, executions, and even a naval battle reenactment; but after all those years, it was still a staple to the environment. The Colosseum became home for hundreds of merchants and farmers in its later years. As I walked around, the building came to life. After many fires and constant modifications by locals, every little piece of ruin has a story.

The first time I went to the Philbrook Museum was during a members event they were hosting. The museum itself is open to the public and is free if you show a student ID. This enormous building was actually a house for a family that used to live in Tulsa, but was eventually donated to the city of Tulsa. I loved coming here because it was a building like I have never seen before. Not only is the building itself impressive, but it is filled with fantastic pieces of art. The events that are held here are also really fun to me and another reason why I liked coming here. During these events you would have to dress formally and enjoy food and drink while you can look around the new art pieces around the museum.

The Gathering Place is a great park that offers many different amenities. I loved going to this park when I still lived in Tulsa. I have probably been a total of ten times and each time I feel like there is new things I can experience. I remember all the talk that surrounded the park as it was being built. Even in its early stages, it was being called the best park in Oklahoma by local news stations. This park does not just have amazing playgrounds for children, but also offers restaurants, skate parks, and a lake for row boats. There is also gorgeous buildings such as the Boathouse and this one that I have pictured above which have great places that can be used to study and get work done. The whole place is so breathtaking that I have a hard time understanding why Oklahoma was the place it was built, but I am glad they did.