My name is Elizabeth (Izzy) Cottrell and I am a Psychology major with a minor in Enterprise Studies: I will be graduating in May 2018. My major is one of the best, I get to interact with people and get to know them. I have the honor to see into people's lives and help them improve their lives. The psychology department is one of the best and the professors really want to help and teach you. Last semester I took research with Dr. Fuenzalida and did a study over Tulsa Police Officers (which I am engaged to one). It was a cool experience to see how these officers are being trained to do the best and think on their feet effectively. Alongside with that, I took my capstone with her also and got to volunteer with the Youth and Family Center. This was my biggest accomplishment because I got to work with these kids and just have fun with them. It challenged me both spiritually and mentally, it made me look at the world a little differently. After the semester, the break began and my boyfriend popped the question. It was an awesome experience.
(Personal photo, taken by Colleen Matthew, January 2018)
(Personal photo, taken by Colleen Matthew, January 2018)
My favorite books right now are The Chronicles of Narnia, I am in the fifth book right now. It tells a very interesting story of these four siblings and their adventure. My favorite movies are The Last Song, James Bond, and any love story. I am a sucker for love stories and cheesy romances. My favorite musicians are Coldplay, Foo Fighters, and Thomas Rhett. I really like all music. Here is my favorite song by Coldplay:
My career goals are really up in the air. I have so many options and I am just not sure what direction I want to go. I would like to eventually own my own business but until then I am looking at grad school and non-profit jobs. I have two puppies, Colt and Ruger. They are Brittany Spaniels and are adorable and love to be in your personal space.
(Personal Photo, taken September 2017)
(Personal Photo, taken December 2017)
My favorite place is Naples, Florida: Izzy'sFavoritePlace. My favorite food is everything!!! I love all kinds, I am celiac so I have to watch what I eat very carefully or I get very ill. I dislike squishy things like when cheese goes from being melted to being hard, that in-between phase I dislike. I love to cook from scratch for all my meals because I know for sure I will not get sick from eating the food. I love to bake cookies and cakes also. For myfiancé's birthday, I made him a Captain America cake.
(Personal Photo, taken December 2017)
My only hobbies include working out, cooking and hanging out with friends. If I had more time I would love to start kayaking. I am both type A and a free spirit at the same time and I will always be down for anything.
Hi Elizabeth! I definitely agree that the professors in the psychology department are the sweetest! I have taken quite a few psychology classes and have loved them all! That’s cool that you got to work with the Youth and Family Center; I am a huge fan of working with kids also! Congratulations on graduating soon and on getting engaged! Your ring is gorgeous! Wow, we have a lot in common; I am a fan of any cheesy love story too and a huge fan of coldplay. Colt and Ruger are too adorable!
Izzy, I am graduating in May as well. I am not sure how to feel, it seems like the first day of freshman year was just the other day. Congratulations to you and your fiance, and wow, what a beautiful ring! I bet you will be busy this last semester with wedding planning. Your doggies are so cute too, I had a Brittany Spaniel as a child, Haley. They are such great dogs.
First, let me say that I know EXACTLY what you mean about the cheese thing!!! I am such a cheese-freak, but especially in my first trimester (I'm 17 weeks pregnant), I had such a strong aversion to what I call "cheese skin." It is like pudding skin, but SO MUCH WORSE. Bleh! I'm glad someone else agrees. I feel the same about room-temp cheese on pizza. Yuk.
Wow, that cake looks BEAUTIFUL! I'm so impressed. It looks professional. Great job. Captain America is the best, by the way, but my fiance probably would've preferred Deadpool ;)
I learned something new today - I had no idea there was a dog breed named after me, but they are so gorgeous!
I look forward to checking in on your blog this semester. Good luck!
Oh, I know Dr. Fuenzalida, Izzy: we came to OU at about the same time (which is now a long time ago). She is such a great person, and I am glad you were able to get to do a study for class that has real meaning for you too. That proposal picture is absolutely beautiful! And as promised, there will be love stories on the way in the readings, starting with Rama and Sita in the Ramayana.
Yay for Narnia! You could even do a Narnia-inspired project. I'm not sure if you are reading them in chronological order or publication order, but when you get to the Magician's Nephew, there is the forest with all the pools that lead to different worlds... and one of those pools could lead to India of the epic past! Just an idea (I love the Narnia books!)... but I don't want to do any spoilers (Magician's Nephew is my favorite of all the books, and my second-favorite is Voyage of the Dawn Treader!).
And Coldplay has an Indian theme for Hymn for the Weekend video: have you seen that one? The video got some criticism for stereotyping, but I was actually glad they filmed in India and made a beautiful video at some gorgeous locations; here it is at YouTube: Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend (Official Video)
I would like to congratulate you on your recent engagement! I am sure that was an awesome moment for both of you. I read the Narnia books years ago. They were definitely some of my favorite books from back in the day. I respect that you like Coldplay. They are definitely one of the best bands of all time. They have created some amazing music throughout the years. My favorite song from them is Fix You. I wish you the best for the semester!
Hey Izzy! Congrats on the engagement and I wish the best future for the two of you! I like the love for Coldplay. I think that Chris Martin is an amazing song writer and they make great music to relax to. I would love seeing them perform one day. I also think it is cool that you like The Foo Fighers. I just saw them perform last October and what an incredible experience that was for me. Good luck this semester!
Hi Izzy! First and foremost, congratulations on your engagement! I loved reading about how you got to engage in your volunteer experience at the Youth and Family Center. I volunteer at The Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center, and I agree - it is challenging both mentally and physically, but I have gained so much insight! It is really cool to see how different departments at OU engage their students in community outreach programs. Good luck with your final semester!
Congratulations on your engagement! That's really cool how you have been able to take part in different research and volunteer opportunities while at OU! I really liked the Narnia books too, I love C.S. Lewis' writing style and the Narnia adventures are so much fun! I've only been kayaking a few times, but I've really enjoyed it every time I've been. It's definitely a work out, but it's so thrilling being out on the water and getting to see places that are off the beaten path.
Hello Izzy, and first things first congratulations on your engagement. Good luck with all the wedding planning, do not let it stress you out too much! Given your love of James Bond, I do have to ask, who is the best Bond actor in your opinion? It can never be anyone but Sean Connery for me, because that is the Bond movies I would always watch with my grandmother while she babysat me.
Hey Izzy! Congratulations on your engagement! I too love the Chronicles of Narnia! I prefer the movies over the books, but that is because reading is not my favorite thing in the world. I also enjoy cooking, and kayaking is a blast! I have had the opportunity to do it a few times, I highly recommend it! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading your stories this semester!!
Hi Izzy! Congratulations on your engagement! Your ring is stunning. Your dogs are absolutely adorable. I also have a dog named Ruger, he is an english bulldog. Also, congratulations on graduating soon. I have only taken an intro psychology class but I really enjoyed it. Did you decorate that cake and everything? If so you are so talented because it looks great. Great post and best of luck this semester.
Congrats Izzy on your engagement that must have been the highlight of your school year this year. Your ring is really pretty, I love to see different rings because it gives me ideas on mine in the future and how I want it to look. I am also, a big fan of animals, so seeing your two pictures of your Brittany spaniels warmed my heart, they both look so happy and camera ready at all times. and congratulations on graduating this May, time is slowing approaching.
Being a psych major sounds incredibly fun! Both my parents are psychologists, my mom owns her own practice here in Norman and my dad teaches here at OU. Coldplay is also one of my favorite bands, yellow is my favorite song of theirs. It's nice to see how much you care about others, it's refreshing to see especially nowadays. Congrats on your engagement! Hope life is good.
What a beautiful cake!!! And those puppies! I cannot wait to move into a place where larger breeds are allowed, it's been nearly four years dog-free in my life and that's far too long.
Celiac is so challenging! My aunt struggled for years to figure out what was wrong with her (this was before it became quite so well-defined medically), and she says that every day gets easier, as more restaurants (and companies) offer clearer labeling and gluten alternatives. Still restrictive, but at least the world is catching up to celiac needs.
So nice to meet you! Congratulations on your engagement.
What a beautiful picture of you and your fiance! Congrats on your engagement!
The image of the cake you baked is so wonderful! I've never really tried much cooking or baking but your post definitely inspired me to try sometime soon.
Izzy! Oh my gosh, I did not know you were taking this class! We are both doing research this semester under Dr. Funezalida and Dr. Vincent, and it is neat that we are both taking this class as well! First of all, congrats on your engagement - I wish you and your fiance all the best! :) Second, you have such adorable puppies. They look very friendly and always seem to be happy. Haha, I can relate to you when it comes to food - I love all types of food and am usually willing to try anything. The best way to anyone's heart is through the stomach, am I right?! Well, I hope to see you in research lab soon and best of luck this semester!!
Hi Izzy! I have a family friend and a family member who has celiac disease so I kind of understand the struggles you have to go through with watching what you eat so you don't get sick. The cake that you made for your fiancé for his birthday looked fantastic! I wish I had piping skills like that. I always make a mess when I try to pipe a cake with icing by myself. I look forward for reading more of your posts in the future!
Hi, Izzy!! Thanks of much for sharing part of your story with us. It is so awesome that you are enjoying your major so much. And don’t worry, most of us don’t have a career lined up anyway. Congratulations on your engagement!! That is so exciting and I am certain that you are looking forward to this new season of life. Best of luck this semester and happy spring break!
Hey Izzy! Wow I loved reading your introduction! We have a lot of the same interests, so that was really fun to see. I LOVE the Chronicles of Narnia series, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader is one of the best in the series. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. congratulations on your engagement! What an exciting adventure you are about to have after graduation!
Hi Izzy! Thanks for sharing your story, that's so exciting that you're engaged. I also looooved the Chronicles of Narnia series. I read them when I was a kid but I want to re-read them, I feel like I could catch new things and get more out of them now. Good luck after graduating!
Hi Izzy!! I actually minored in Psychology and, if it weren't for taking psychology my first semester at OU, I am not sure I would be where I am today! Psychology is such an interesting topic that I feel can be incorporated into anything and everything. Congratulations on your engagement! I am sure it was such an honor getting to do research on what your loved one is around day in and day out. Good luck on the rest of your time at OU and I look forward to reading your story!
Hey Izzy, I am also a psychology major at OU. I have loved all of my psychology courses because I think they help with understanding other people as a whole and being more compassionate towards others. Like you I have no clue what I am planning on doing once I graduate in May but am thinking it cannot hurt to apply to grad school. Congratulation on getting engaged. From the pictures, it looks like he might have surprised you in a classroom? Good luck in your classes this semester, graduation and your future wedding.
Hey there Izzy! Psychology sounds like a hard major and one of my friends also has the same major and she thinks it a hard major so good luck with it. My major is Management Information System (MIS) it has both computer and business to it so it fun. Congrats on your engagement hope you guys have good wedding plan.
Hey Izzy! That is so cool that you are a Psychology major. I have always been so interested in how the brain and people in general function and what causes them to do things in the way that they do. You seem to have such a sweet little life and I would just like to wish you good luck in your upcoming marriage!
Hello Izzy! I am also graduating in May, and it really is a crazy feeling to be this close. I'm also kind of unsure what my career goals are, but I hope you're able to figure that out! I enjoyed the pictures of your dogs. Dogs are the best, and I think any situation can be improved by adding them.
Hey Izzy! I am super jealous that you are graduating this May! I wish i can be done with school already. Congratulation on your graduation and your engagement! I love your dogs and it makes me miss mine back in Virginia. Stay strong til the end of the semester and good luck with your future experiences!
Congrats on graduating in May! I have never heard of your major before and I was surprised you said it's in the psychology department since it sounds more business college to me. But I guess that just means I really don't know what you study, ha! Congrats also on being engaged! What an exciting time in your life!! Hope your semester is going well!
Hi Izzy! Congratulations on your engagement! That's super exciting. It's so cool that you like your department so much. It makes it a lot easier when you know the professors really care that you get the most out of your experience here at OU. Your dogs are so adorable. I'm a total sucker for dogs, and I can't wait to get one (or more) for myself.
Hey, Izzy! You are so close to the end of the semester and graduating! That is so exciting! Congrats on your engagement too! Your ring is really pretty. I love the pictures of your dogs (well any dogs but yours are especially cute), I hope they are in your wedding. I am a sucker for doggy ring bearers. I hope you have a great rest of the semester and time at college!
Susan: Welcome everyone I am Susan and thank you for taking my tour bus to the Great Burning of the Lac Palace. We will see many things along the way but our first stop is here. Hey guys where is everyone from? Guy 1: I am from Canada Girl 1: I am from Mexico Guy 2: I am from America Everyone was shouting out where they were from. There were over 30 people enjoying the tour bus today. Susan: The Lac Palace is home of the Prince Duryodhana who was cousins of the Pandavas. They thought that Queen Kunti and the Pandavas had died in the fire because of the dead bodies out side of the Palace but they did not! They ran off into the woods to keep safe from the evil prince. Many people believed that Prince Duryodhana was so jealous that he wanted to burn his own family alive so that his people would love him more. Guy 1: So how did the Pandavas and the Queen Kunit escape? Susan: They escaped because Prince Vidura knew that he was planning an evil plot to kill them. Vidura planne
Hi Elizabeth! I definitely agree that the professors in the psychology department are the sweetest! I have taken quite a few psychology classes and have loved them all! That’s cool that you got to work with the Youth and Family Center; I am a huge fan of working with kids also! Congratulations on graduating soon and on getting engaged! Your ring is gorgeous! Wow, we have a lot in common; I am a fan of any cheesy love story too and a huge fan of coldplay. Colt and Ruger are too adorable!
ReplyDeleteIzzy, I am graduating in May as well. I am not sure how to feel, it seems like the first day of freshman year was just the other day. Congratulations to you and your fiance, and wow, what a beautiful ring! I bet you will be busy this last semester with wedding planning. Your doggies are so cute too, I had a Brittany Spaniel as a child, Haley. They are such great dogs.
ReplyDeleteHi Izzy!
ReplyDeleteFirst, let me say that I know EXACTLY what you mean about the cheese thing!!! I am such a cheese-freak, but especially in my first trimester (I'm 17 weeks pregnant), I had such a strong aversion to what I call "cheese skin." It is like pudding skin, but SO MUCH WORSE. Bleh! I'm glad someone else agrees. I feel the same about room-temp cheese on pizza. Yuk.
Wow, that cake looks BEAUTIFUL! I'm so impressed. It looks professional. Great job. Captain America is the best, by the way, but my fiance probably would've preferred Deadpool ;)
I learned something new today - I had no idea there was a dog breed named after me, but they are so gorgeous!
I look forward to checking in on your blog this semester. Good luck!
-Brittany
*edit: not "named after me." That sounded so conceited! I mean, "that I share a name with"
DeleteOh, I know Dr. Fuenzalida, Izzy: we came to OU at about the same time (which is now a long time ago). She is such a great person, and I am glad you were able to get to do a study for class that has real meaning for you too. That proposal picture is absolutely beautiful! And as promised, there will be love stories on the way in the readings, starting with Rama and Sita in the Ramayana.
ReplyDeleteYay for Narnia! You could even do a Narnia-inspired project. I'm not sure if you are reading them in chronological order or publication order, but when you get to the Magician's Nephew, there is the forest with all the pools that lead to different worlds... and one of those pools could lead to India of the epic past! Just an idea (I love the Narnia books!)... but I don't want to do any spoilers (Magician's Nephew is my favorite of all the books, and my second-favorite is Voyage of the Dawn Treader!).
And Coldplay has an Indian theme for Hymn for the Weekend video: have you seen that one? The video got some criticism for stereotyping, but I was actually glad they filmed in India and made a beautiful video at some gorgeous locations; here it is at YouTube: Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend (Official Video)
Hey there, Izzy!
ReplyDeleteI would like to congratulate you on your recent engagement! I am sure that was an awesome moment for both of you. I read the Narnia books years ago. They were definitely some of my favorite books from back in the day. I respect that you like Coldplay. They are definitely one of the best bands of all time. They have created some amazing music throughout the years. My favorite song from them is Fix You. I wish you the best for the semester!
Hey Izzy! Congrats on the engagement and I wish the best future for the two of you! I like the love for Coldplay. I think that Chris Martin is an amazing song writer and they make great music to relax to. I would love seeing them perform one day. I also think it is cool that you like The Foo Fighers. I just saw them perform last October and what an incredible experience that was for me. Good luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Izzy! First and foremost, congratulations on your engagement! I loved reading about how you got to engage in your volunteer experience at the Youth and Family Center. I volunteer at The Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center, and I agree - it is challenging both mentally and physically, but I have gained so much insight! It is really cool to see how different departments at OU engage their students in community outreach programs. Good luck with your final semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Izzy!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your engagement! That's really cool how you have been able to take part in different research and volunteer opportunities while at OU! I really liked the Narnia books too, I love C.S. Lewis' writing style and the Narnia adventures are so much fun!
I've only been kayaking a few times, but I've really enjoyed it every time I've been. It's definitely a work out, but it's so thrilling being out on the water and getting to see places that are off the beaten path.
Hello Izzy, and first things first congratulations on your engagement. Good luck with all the wedding planning, do not let it stress you out too much! Given your love of James Bond, I do have to ask, who is the best Bond actor in your opinion? It can never be anyone but Sean Connery for me, because that is the Bond movies I would always watch with my grandmother while she babysat me.
ReplyDeleteHey Izzy! Congratulations on your engagement! I too love the Chronicles of Narnia! I prefer the movies over the books, but that is because reading is not my favorite thing in the world. I also enjoy cooking, and kayaking is a blast! I have had the opportunity to do it a few times, I highly recommend it! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading your stories this semester!!
ReplyDeleteHi Izzy! Congratulations on your engagement! Your ring is stunning. Your dogs are absolutely adorable. I also have a dog named Ruger, he is an english bulldog. Also, congratulations on graduating soon. I have only taken an intro psychology class but I really enjoyed it. Did you decorate that cake and everything? If so you are so talented because it looks great. Great post and best of luck this semester.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Izzy on your engagement that must have been the highlight of your school year this year. Your ring is really pretty, I love to see different rings because it gives me ideas on mine in the future and how I want it to look. I am also, a big fan of animals, so seeing your two pictures of your Brittany spaniels warmed my heart, they both look so happy and camera ready at all times. and congratulations on graduating this May, time is slowing approaching.
ReplyDeleteHey Izzy!
ReplyDeleteBeing a psych major sounds incredibly fun! Both my parents are psychologists, my mom owns her own practice here in Norman and my dad teaches here at OU. Coldplay is also one of my favorite bands, yellow is my favorite song of theirs. It's nice to see how much you care about others, it's refreshing to see especially nowadays. Congrats on your engagement! Hope life is good.
I love your parents!! I’ve had them both for classes! They are great!
DeleteHi Izzy!
DeleteWhat a beautiful cake!!! And those puppies! I cannot wait to move into a place where larger breeds are allowed, it's been nearly four years dog-free in my life and that's far too long.
Celiac is so challenging! My aunt struggled for years to figure out what was wrong with her (this was before it became quite so well-defined medically), and she says that every day gets easier, as more restaurants (and companies) offer clearer labeling and gluten alternatives. Still restrictive, but at least the world is catching up to celiac needs.
So nice to meet you! Congratulations on your engagement.
Hello Izzy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful picture of you and your fiance! Congrats on your engagement!
The image of the cake you baked is so wonderful! I've never really tried much cooking or baking but your post definitely inspired me to try sometime soon.
Good luck with the semester!
Izzy! Oh my gosh, I did not know you were taking this class! We are both doing research this semester under Dr. Funezalida and Dr. Vincent, and it is neat that we are both taking this class as well! First of all, congrats on your engagement - I wish you and your fiance all the best! :) Second, you have such adorable puppies. They look very friendly and always seem to be happy. Haha, I can relate to you when it comes to food - I love all types of food and am usually willing to try anything. The best way to anyone's heart is through the stomach, am I right?! Well, I hope to see you in research lab soon and best of luck this semester!!
ReplyDeleteHi Izzy! I have a family friend and a family member who has celiac disease so I kind of understand the struggles you have to go through with watching what you eat so you don't get sick. The cake that you made for your fiancé for his birthday looked fantastic! I wish I had piping skills like that. I always make a mess when I try to pipe a cake with icing by myself. I look forward for reading more of your posts in the future!
ReplyDeleteHi, Izzy!! Thanks of much for sharing part of your story with us. It is so awesome that you are enjoying your major so much. And don’t worry, most of us don’t have a career lined up anyway. Congratulations on your engagement!! That is so exciting and I am certain that you are looking forward to this new season of life. Best of luck this semester and happy spring break!
ReplyDeleteHey Izzy! Wow I loved reading your introduction! We have a lot of the same interests, so that was really fun to see. I LOVE the Chronicles of Narnia series, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader is one of the best in the series. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. congratulations on your engagement! What an exciting adventure you are about to have after graduation!
ReplyDeleteHi Izzy! Thanks for sharing your story, that's so exciting that you're engaged. I also looooved the Chronicles of Narnia series. I read them when I was a kid but I want to re-read them, I feel like I could catch new things and get more out of them now. Good luck after graduating!
ReplyDeleteHi Izzy!! I actually minored in Psychology and, if it weren't for taking psychology my first semester at OU, I am not sure I would be where I am today! Psychology is such an interesting topic that I feel can be incorporated into anything and everything. Congratulations on your engagement! I am sure it was such an honor getting to do research on what your loved one is around day in and day out.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the rest of your time at OU and I look forward to reading your story!
Hey Izzy, I am also a psychology major at OU. I have loved all of my psychology courses because I think they help with understanding other people as a whole and being more compassionate towards others. Like you I have no clue what I am planning on doing once I graduate in May but am thinking it cannot hurt to apply to grad school. Congratulation on getting engaged. From the pictures, it looks like he might have surprised you in a classroom? Good luck in your classes this semester, graduation and your future wedding.
ReplyDeleteHey there Izzy! Psychology sounds like a hard major and one of my friends also has the same major and she thinks it a hard major so good luck with it. My major is Management Information System (MIS) it has both computer and business to it so it fun. Congrats on your engagement hope you guys have good wedding plan.
ReplyDeleteHey Izzy! That is so cool that you are a Psychology major. I have always been so interested in how the brain and people in general function and what causes them to do things in the way that they do. You seem to have such a sweet little life and I would just like to wish you good luck in your upcoming marriage!
ReplyDeleteHello Izzy! I am also graduating in May, and it really is a crazy feeling to be this close. I'm also kind of unsure what my career goals are, but I hope you're able to figure that out! I enjoyed the pictures of your dogs. Dogs are the best, and I think any situation can be improved by adding them.
ReplyDeleteHey Izzy! I am super jealous that you are graduating this May! I wish i can be done with school already. Congratulation on your graduation and your engagement! I love your dogs and it makes me miss mine back in Virginia. Stay strong til the end of the semester and good luck with your future experiences!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on graduating in May! I have never heard of your major before and I was surprised you said it's in the psychology department since it sounds more business college to me. But I guess that just means I really don't know what you study, ha! Congrats also on being engaged! What an exciting time in your life!! Hope your semester is going well!
ReplyDeleteHi Izzy! Congratulations on your engagement! That's super exciting. It's so cool that you like your department so much. It makes it a lot easier when you know the professors really care that you get the most out of your experience here at OU. Your dogs are so adorable. I'm a total sucker for dogs, and I can't wait to get one (or more) for myself.
ReplyDeleteHey, Izzy!
ReplyDeleteYou are so close to the end of the semester and graduating! That is so exciting! Congrats on your engagement too! Your ring is really pretty. I love the pictures of your dogs (well any dogs but yours are especially cute), I hope they are in your wedding. I am a sucker for doggy ring bearers. I hope you have a great rest of the semester and time at college!