Introduction to Freddy Petrolia
My name is Freddy Petrolia and I'm a senior at the University of Oklahoma. I'm currently on track to graduate December 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in Health and Exercise Science. I've been employed at the gym, Koda Crossfit Norman, for roughly 3 years now and I love working there. My hobbies include playing games (board games, card games, sports, etc), watching movies/tv shows/sports, spending time outdoors, and hanging with friends.
My career goals are to apply to the Oklahoma City fire department after I graduate from OU. I was originally Pre-PA coming into OU and all the way up until last semester. I changed my mind when I started looking into what my life would be like after graduation and considering what made me happy. In order to fulfill my goal of becoming a physician's assistant I would likely have to take a year off of school working/shadowing/and studying for the GRE ultimately to get into more schooling that would add to the pile of debt I have already accumulated. I was growing tired of taking classes that didn't interest me and started looking for other careers I could do with my Health and Exercise Science degree. I knew 2 things for certain, I loved my current job as a trainer at Koda Crossfit Norman, and I loved helping others. So I talked to my friend who was a fire fighter for Oklahoma City and I fell in love with the idea of becoming a fire fighter. I would be able to work on a team, help others, be active day to day, and the flexible scheduling would allow me to continue to remain a part of the Koda Crossfit community.
Although I wasn't born in Oklahoma, I've spent my whole life here. I grew up in a small town about 2 hours north of Norman called Hennessey. I graduated Hennessey High School with a whopping 67 other students. Family is really important to me and I've been lucky enough to be blessed with an awesome family. My mom's family is mostly based out of the Oklahoma/Texas area and my dad's family lives up in New Jersey. Since my dad's side of the family lives so far away, most of our vacations consist of trips to the East coast which are always a ton of fun. I recently found out on our last trip that I have a southern accent... I was at a bar with my cousin and her friend and I made the mistake of ordering a "Coors" which I pronounced as "Kewrs" and I didn't live it down for the rest of the trip.
My career goals are to apply to the Oklahoma City fire department after I graduate from OU. I was originally Pre-PA coming into OU and all the way up until last semester. I changed my mind when I started looking into what my life would be like after graduation and considering what made me happy. In order to fulfill my goal of becoming a physician's assistant I would likely have to take a year off of school working/shadowing/and studying for the GRE ultimately to get into more schooling that would add to the pile of debt I have already accumulated. I was growing tired of taking classes that didn't interest me and started looking for other careers I could do with my Health and Exercise Science degree. I knew 2 things for certain, I loved my current job as a trainer at Koda Crossfit Norman, and I loved helping others. So I talked to my friend who was a fire fighter for Oklahoma City and I fell in love with the idea of becoming a fire fighter. I would be able to work on a team, help others, be active day to day, and the flexible scheduling would allow me to continue to remain a part of the Koda Crossfit community.
Although I wasn't born in Oklahoma, I've spent my whole life here. I grew up in a small town about 2 hours north of Norman called Hennessey. I graduated Hennessey High School with a whopping 67 other students. Family is really important to me and I've been lucky enough to be blessed with an awesome family. My mom's family is mostly based out of the Oklahoma/Texas area and my dad's family lives up in New Jersey. Since my dad's side of the family lives so far away, most of our vacations consist of trips to the East coast which are always a ton of fun. I recently found out on our last trip that I have a southern accent... I was at a bar with my cousin and her friend and I made the mistake of ordering a "Coors" which I pronounced as "Kewrs" and I didn't live it down for the rest of the trip.
Hi Freddy!
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favorite board game?? Movie/tv show?? I am very much a favorites based person. I know these are difficult questions but they are necessary.
I graduated with just under 90 people so I feel you on the whole "whopping" part. Was it a big shock to come to OU? Or were you prepared? Cause I WAS NOT.
Do you have any siblings? Sometimes my Texan accent slips out but then I feel awkward going back into my normal human voice so I keep with the accent and I always feel like a country bumpkin.
Hi Freddy!
ReplyDeleteI think that it is really cool that you have decided to become a fire fighter. I have changed my major 3 times since I started college, and I'm graduating this semester with International Studies. I'm super jealous of you for knowing what you want to do and being passionate about it though, because I haven't quite figured out what I want to do yet.
I grew up in Oklahoma as well (Norman, actually) and never ever thought I had a southern accent until I studied abroad, when I was told that although it isn't super prominent, I do actually have a southern accent, and I haven't been able to live it down either so I feel you on that.
Hi Freddy! I think it's awesome that you decided to be a firefighter and you seem like you're really excited about it. It's really cool that you found something you're passionate about and that you love helping others. I love board games and card games too and my favorite one has to be Monopoly. Every year on Christmas, my cousins and I play an intense game of Monopoly and it almost always ends with someone crying. What's your favorite sport? My dad is from England so I grew up watching a lot of soccer. Family is really important to me too and I come from a huge, super tight knit family.
ReplyDeleteHi Freddy! I completely understand that feeling of trying to figure out what would make you happiest as a career. I've changed my career paths a couple of times since coming to OU. It's really neat you want to be a firefighter and I really hope you enjoy it! What's your favourite board and card game? Are you one of those people who are committed to monopoly, the destroyer of friendships haha? :) I'm honestly still getting used to accents here as well, but miscommunications are usually funny. I always make fun with my friends because I pronounce beer as "bear". It was nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHi Freddy,
ReplyDeleteIts really interesting hearing a different perspective about going to school in a different place. I graduated high school in Southern California and my graduating class was 600 people (and that was only one of the three high schools in town). I always wonder how different my experience would have been if I knew everyone in my class. I think its great you found your passion to be a firefighter it’s an amazing and honorable profession. I also recently discovered my passion for Public Health and unfortunately that meant having to take the GRE. Being from the west coast I have only been to the east coast once and I went to Florida but there are so many fascinating places on the east coast that are on my list of places to go!