Introducing Michelle!

Hey everyone! My name is Michelle and I'm the new summer intern for Optimum. I'm going to be writing a variety of blogs over the summer about my experience here, things I find interesting (check back for some simple ways to be environmentally conscious and save some money), and a few updates about Optimum. But, for this blog, I thought that I would properly introduce myself to you all. So, here's a list of the top 11 facts about me (i.e. the first 11 things that popped into my head and I decided to write down).

1. If I had to pick one word to describe myself it would be eclectic.
2. I love adventure
3. I'm in between my sophomore and junior years at Samford University in Birmingham, AL. My major is communication studies, I'm in the Fellows Program, and I absolutely love the professors there, especially in my department--they really care about their students.
4. I'm originally from Northeastern Ohio; I lived there for 18 years until I moved to Alabama to go to school and I'm so glad to be back in Columbus!
5. I have three addresses right now (where I live at school, where I live during the holidays, and where I live for the summer) so I'm always very confused when filling out forms. Hopefully the government doesn't think I'm lying to them, but I really never know which one to put!
6. I'm a pesco-vegetarian.
7. People are always surprised when they find out I was home educated K-12.
8. In case you hadn't noticed yet, I care a lot about the environment, which is actually a pretty recent development. I blame Dr. Borden, my Writing and Rhetoric professor freshman year of college. The woman retired to start a sustainable farm with her husband, which is pretty remarkable if you ask me. I think she's in her 60s now and is in better shape than I am. Probably the nicest person you will ever meet--I visited her class when I was first considering Samford and she took me to her office to talk with me and gave me acai juice. She's a total hippie.
9. I have a lot of social justice causes I'm passionate about, including but not limited to: equality for women, fighting domestic abuse, raising awareness about mental health issues, and stopping genocide in the Sudan. Basically, if someone convinces me that a people group is mistreated or disadvantaged, I get upset and want to do something about it.
10. My last internship was with To Write Love on Her Arms in Florida. Before that I was the research assistant to the legislative director of a policy organization in Ohio.
11. I love books, philosophy, learning about different cultures and religions, and climbing mountains. I do NOT love rock climbing...I have a bad neck so having my arms over my head for that long is just painful. People get confused about this fact.

So, that's me in a nutshell. I love to write (fact #12!) and am really looking forward to updating this blog. If you have questions or comments or just want to say "hi," click on the comment link below. Talk to you soon!