Welcome!
My name is Ashley Graumann. I am a senior at OU hopefully finishing in Spring
2018 with my bachelor’s degree in psychology. Originally, I was not sure what I
was going to be doing once I graduated with a degree in psychology. The last
thing I wanted to do was apply for graduate school to take more classes.
However, the best class that I took last semester (and overall) was a course in
psychology called Intimate Relationships. I really enjoyed learning about
different intimate relationships that people can and will experience throughout
their lives. Learning about different styles and communication techniques for
partners was very intriguing. The course even inspired me to apply for graduate
school in the spring. I am now wanting to become a relationship counselor.
During
the day, I work at Southmoore High School in Moore as a Paraprofessional in
Special Education. For those that do not know a Paraprofessional is a highly
qualified teacher’s assistant. They work to help Special Education teachers in
their classrooms or can be one-on-one with a special needs student to help them
succeed in school. Since I am in high school one of the biggest issues educators
run into (not just with special needs students) is getting the students to
focus on what they are going to do once they graduate. College isn’t always the
right chose for every student. Not only do educators have to teach state
curriculum but they also have to help their students with life lessons that can
help them succeed in a future career. I have a very high respect for all of our
educators and the major part they play in their students’ lives.
While
I do not have any children of my own, I do have two dogs. They are basically my
fur babies and are very spoiled. My oldest dog is a boxer named Doug, he was a rescue
from Red Dirt Boxer Rescue. When I got him, they were not sure of his age so we
just assumed he was three at the time I got him so now he is seven years old.
He is my sweet boy, even though he is big he is very gentle with kids and other
dogs. My younger dog is a longhaired dachshund named Jax, he was given to me by
a boss that I worked as a personal assistant for. The whole time I worked for
the man Jax preferred me because I was the one who took him to all of his
appointments and puppy training classes. Since I have raised Jax from a puppy he
thinks he runs the household. We have power struggles over who is in charge of
the house.
Doug and Jax sleeping in my bed! (August 2014) Source: Personal photo
Doug and Jax dressed and ready for Sooner football season!! (January 2016) Source: Personal photo
Since I am not very tied down I am
able to travel year around. I have try to have some fun trips planned
throughout the year so I can get a little break from life for some fun. However, since I am trying to focus on getting
my degree finished I only have one leisure trip planned. As I mention in an earlier
post (My Favorite Place) my family is planning a trip to Las Vegas for my
younger brothers 21st birthday. Ethan is the last in our family to
turn 21 and has never been to Las Vegas. We are excited to get to take him and
some friends to celebrate in an amazing city.
If you have any questions feel free to ask!
Hi Ashley! I love your dogs, they are adorable! My favorite part of reading everyone's introductions is getting to see their dogs. I actually have four boxers, one whose name is Jax and he is also seven, I thought it was cool our dogs have the same name! It is really great that you rescued your boxer, I volunteer at an animal shelter and there are so many animals that need loving homes and I am so glad that you were able to save one. I really enjoyed your introduction post, great job!
ReplyDeleteAubryelle
I am so glad you found a field in your major that you really clicked with, Ashley! Maybe you can do a relationships-inspired story project for this class. There are plenty of myths and legends about couples: sometimes the relationship works... but sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes the couples just need some help! When you go to choose the reading for week 3, I would highly recommend the story of Cupid and Psyche: imagine having Venus/Aphrodite herself as your angry mother-in-law! That's what poor Psyche is up against, so they definitely have a hard time as a couple! And that is so cute about your dogs getting into the football spirit: they make a very good couple, with the big Boxer boy and the little Dachshund. Perhaps they will make an appearance in your storytelling this semester!
ReplyDeleteHello, Ashley! First of all, here is an early congratulations on your upcoming graduation. It is always great to see someone who has a class that really clicks with them and I hope that you enjoy grad school and achieve your goal of becoming a relationship counselor. Also, your pups are precious! I love that you adopted, there are so many great dogs in need of a home.
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley, loved reading your post and especially seeing your adorable pictures – your dogs are beautiful! Also, your major and studies sound fascinating! That's incredible that you were inspired to continue on to grad school — you obviously have a passion for what you do. Your job also sounds amazing — educators are so crucial and under-appreciated, and getting to work with high schoolers to figure out their post-high school path is really important (as you said, there's more options than college!). Best of luck with your grad school and counseling plans for the future!
ReplyDeleteAshley, I think it's great that you work with special needs high schoolers. Working in a high school seems stressful enough, but it takes a very patient person to work in Special Education. I am also not too sure what I want to do with my degree (French) when I graduate, but I chose my major because I loved the courses. Also, I have just adopted a dog from a shelter and am excited to bring him home tomorrow! :D Your animals are super cute.
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI am a dog mom too! I have three dogs and only one of them was planned, the other two were rescues. I was almost a psychology as well but I end up focusing on the theoretical and becoming a philosophy major. I am envious of your Vegas trip. I am turning 21 this month and really want to go to Vegas for my birthday.
Hi Ashley! Congratulations on being a senior and applying to grad school! I think it's so great that you waited to apply until you found something that you're really invested in. Your paraprofessional job sounds challenging, and I admire you for doing that work! You're right that educators play a huge role in young people's lives, and it must be an honor for you to be a part of that. That's really inspiring to me! Also, I love the picture of your dogs in jerseys!!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley! First of all, I commend the fact that you are so adamant about helping people and connecting with them emotionally. I am happy for you in that you were able to find a class that truly inspired you and that inspired you to continue on with your education. Graduate school is not a thing to scoff at, and I commend that you are so confident in pursuing your Master's Degree. I wish you and your dogs nothing but the best in the future!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley! Your plans to go into relationship counseling are great — it's awesome that you found something to pursue that you're really interested in. I also think your dogs are precious. I love boxers so much. Enjoy the trip to Vegas! My family and I lived there for a few years, and it's a fun place to be! If you're into aquariums, the Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay is stunning.
ReplyDeleteI love that you are working in Special Education! I am passionate about education, but my weakest point is definitely working with students with special needs. However, it is so important to help these students so that they can have a bright future. I think that some people are naturally inclined to help these students, and people like you are so amazing! That's also cool that you have time to travel! So jealous!!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley!
ReplyDeleteI think your dogs are so cute! I really liked how you included pictures of them in your introduction post, especially the ones with them in the OU jerseys! So adorable. Also congratulations on being a senior and graduating in the spring! I can’t wait to see what else you post to your blog and I hope you are having a great semester so far!
Hi Ashley!
ReplyDeleteThat's very inspiring that your favorite course throughout your years at OU brought you even closer to deciding if graduate school is the next step for you! I have yet to find a course that I truly love. You have two very beautiful dogs! I have a dog of my own except he doesn't play well with others unfortunately. I find the picture of Doug and Jax dressed up very funny and cute! I wonder how you got them to stay still... anyways good luck on finishing up your senior year!
Hi Ashley!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness your dogs are the cutest! I have a short haired dachshund named Dottie and she also thinks she runs the house so I know how that is! Your life seems very exciting and full! I think it's awesome you're a teaching assistant! It's not easy working in any school system, my mom is a third grade teacher so I've heard lots of horror stories, but high school is a totally different level. Props to you! Good luck on all future endeavors!
Hey Ashley! As I was trying to choose who to write my extra blog comments for, I came upon “Introduction to a Dog Mom!” and knew that was the intro for me! 😊 I have two dogs of my own and I am often made fun of for calling them my children. They just don’t understand. I have taken many psychology classes for previous majors and just out of interest for electives. I can see why you chose it. I took the Intimate Relationships course online! I believe it was last semester also or maybe it was my spring session course. I enjoyed it also. I am glad you are doing well in life and have goals for the future! Good luck in the rest of the class!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley! First off, congrats on being a senior! I'm a psychology minor, and Intimate Relationships seems like an awesome class! Thanks, I might look into it for next semester! It's awesome that this class really guided you in what to do with your life! Good luck with everything! Awww, your dogs are soo cute, especially in their little outfits!!
ReplyDeleteHey Ashley, I need one more Psych class and was looking for the Intimate Relationships class but couldn't find it. Do you remember the course number?
DeleteHey Jessica, the class was PSY-4733. It was an intersession class taught by Carvallo. I hope you can find it! It is a really great course.
DeleteAww, that's why I couldn't find it. I need it for next semester. Sadness :( Haha, any other recommendations?
DeleteHi Ashley!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all congratulations on almost getting your degree! I will also be graduating in the spring (hopefully) and am thinking on applying for graduate school as well. I could not agree more about what our educators and have the utmost respect for them. I think it’s very cool that you adopted your dog, they are adorable. Hope you have a great semester!
Hi Ashley! That is so exciting that you are so close to being done with your college degree! I wish I could say that i was getting that close but I still have a few years and then a masters left! It's also so cool that you are majoring in psychology. I think that is a fascinating subject area and I even have a roommate that is majoring in it. She is my best friend so I hear a lot about it from her. Best of luck in the rest of your semester and beyond!
ReplyDeleteHello, Ashley!
ReplyDeleteI have always been interested in psychology, and I actually considering making that my major when I first came to college. The psychology classes that I have taken as prerequisites for medical school have been fascinating, and I am particularly intrigued by the class you just took. I bet Intimate Relationships was incredible to study from a psychological perspective. I wonder about the neurological processes that might be involved with God in comparison to human relationships, so I have to ask if that ever came up in your class! As a Religious Studies major, that area would be quite interesting to me. Also, I love your dogs! I’m a dog person too. Nice to meet you!
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI have a cousin that fosters dogs for Red Dirt Boxer Rescue. And my daughter attends Southmoore. What a small world we live in. My major is also psychology. I was going to take that class on intimate relationships, but I ended up working in a research lab instead. Too bad, I think I would have enjoyed it, but I'm graduating in December so I don't need anymore classes. Your dogs are adorable!
Hi Ashley!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finding out what direction you want to take your life in, that is a very stressful and confusing one to figure out. Also you have very cute dogs. I can imagine your long haired dachshund, Jax, tries to act as the boss. I had friend who had a dachshund growing up and it was the same story.
Hey Ashley, congrats on finishing up undergrad school this spring! It's really awesome that you are wanting to be a relationship counselor and that you have become so passionate about your major. I am still deciding what I want to do with my life but hopefully I'll figure something out by this spring as well. I love your dogs they are so cute. :) Anyways, good luck with the rest of the year!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley, I am also a senior planning on graduating in the spring! It's exciting and terrifying at the same time. I knew the feel of not wanting to do more school, but I have chosen a career that requires a lot of school so I know its worth it. Once you find what you really want to do I'm sure you won't mind taking more classes to learn all about it! I hope all goes well with you this semester and next!
ReplyDeleteHey Ashley! I hope you semester is going well! I am also a senior, who is hopeful to graduate in the spring. You seem like a really passionate person and thats really admirable. Also, I'll your job would be really rewarding and I am sure that you enjoy it. Side note, your dogs are super cool! I would be obsessed like I am sure you are! Haha. But I hope everything pans out with grad school and you have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley!
ReplyDeleteIt’s so cool that you want to be a relationship counselor! I’ve never met anyone who does that before! I have a boxer too and he is such a sweetheart! They’re definitely my favorite breed after seeing how sweet they are with other people and dogs. Anyway, it was nice to meet you and I’m excited to read your stories!
Hey Ashley! I knew as soon as I read the title of your introduction I was going to love it-I am also a mom to some fur babies and they are my children! I love that you found your next step after graduation-I think that being a relationship counselor would be a wonderful profession. I am still trying to figure out what I should do after graduation, but I think being able to help people in any way would be very rewarding! Your dogs are very cute!!
ReplyDeleteHey there Ashley. I am glad I finally get to read your introduction for the class. I am jealous that you are able to have some puppers in your life. My family dog has recently passed and my apartments do not allow pets :(. It is nice to hear that you have a great step in future planning for yourself. Relationship counseling is something that i think would be a very rewarding job. Love the photos you blessed us with haha. Good luck on the few weeks of the semester remaining.
ReplyDeleteHey Ashley,
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to meet you, though it is late in the semester. I think that it is great that you found what you wanted to do after you get your degree. I am a junior and still have not figured that out yet. Big fan of dogs, so I am jealous of you for having two incredibly cute dogs! It is also great that you decided to rescue the boxer, most people do no realize that there are a lot of dogs out there that need to be rescued and they just get a puppy instead. But I hope your final year here is going well and I look forward to reading your stories!
Hi Ashley!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you! Looks like there's a lot of people I still haven't met this late into the semester. It's awesome to see your journey, and see how you decided your future from a class that has inspired you so much. That's great! I absolutely love your dogs. I wish I could bring my dog from home and have him live up here with me, but he's a big dog and my apartment wouldn't be enough to house him. It's great that you have planned trips for yourself, and I am sure you'll have so much fun! I wish you the best of luck with the rest of the semester, and good luck with grad school as well!
Hi Ashley!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised I didn't come across your blog sooner. The dog mom title definitely caught my attention, because I absolutely adore dogs. Doug and Jax are the cutest! I have two dogs also--an Australian Shepherd and a Shih Tzu. I love how you dressed them in football gear! Anyway, that's exciting that you could be graduating next spring. It's coming up quickly. Being a relationship counselor would be very interesting. Good luck!
Hey Ashely!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of Doug and Jax! Your dogs are pretty awesome. I'm a big dog person (although I perfer lap dogs, unless it's a huskey). I too am going to graduating in the spring after a long college career. It's nice of you to want to be a relationship counselor, some people really care about the person their with but need help making the relationship work. Best of luck the rest of this semester and next semester.
Hi Ashely!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing these pictures of your dogs! I am also a huge dog person and I cannot wait to get my own! I love the one of them in OU gear. Did you know if you email that picture to Ryan Broyles he will print it and put it on the wall of his new restaurant/bar on campus corner called The Porch? I sent him a picture of my puppies in OU bandanas!
Hey there, Ashley!
ReplyDeleteI too am a fellow senior that will be graduating in the spring! Congrats on making it this far and finishing up school. I think it awesome that you already have a passion for helping others and that you are dedicated to what you have studied. Your dogs look so cool! I am a big dog person myself, so it is nice to see that you are as well.
Hi, Ashley! I’m glad that you found something that you’re interested in, even if it goes against your initial plans. I don’t know much about psychology but the course of Intimate Relationships does sound interesting. Doug and Jax are absolutely adorable, especially dressed for football season. Hope you enjoy Vegas. I wish you luck for the rest of this semester and your senior year.
ReplyDeleteHello Ashley! Congratulations on almost graduating! I’m hoping I will graduate in the spring as well and I totally feel where you are coming from about graduate school. The thought of taking more classes is dreading to me but I’m sure those extra years are worth it. Hope you find what you truly want to do and have a great rest of the year!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley! I'm a psychology major too! It's so cool that you've found something you want to do with psych. It took me a while to figure it out too because psychology is a such a broad field with so many options. Your dogs are adorable! I wish my dog would let me put sweaters and jersey's on him. Well have fun on your trip with your family and congrats on graduating this spring!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley! It’s really cool how interested you are in psychology. I think learning about these subjects can be helpful to understanding people on a personal level better. Your dogs are extremely. I love what they are wearing in the second picture and the fact that they are posing. Good luck with the rest of your semester and the rest of your senior year.
ReplyDeleteHey Ashley!
ReplyDeleteIts good to finally meet you so late in the semester! Congrats on graduating in the spring and deciding to go to grad school. I graduate in two weeks and it has gone by so fast its insane. Your dogs are adorable and look like they love you a lot. The outfits in the second picture are so fun. Good luck on finals and I hope you had a great semester!
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI loved this because I am also a dog mom and love every minute of it! It sounds like you have a lot going on and are really making moves in life. Great job! You only have one semester left so continue to push through. It was great getting to read a little bit about you! I hope you have a great end to the semester!
Hello Ashley!
ReplyDeleteYour dogs are adorable! I have a long haired dachshund named Sammy, who also considers himself the boss of the house. Your job sounds really interesting. It sounds very exciting to be able to travel so often; I hope that you are able to continue that lifestyle when you finish school. Good luck on your finals!