Jacob Moser
Class of 2021 | Mathematics and Spanish | Carpentersville, Illinois
Howdy y’all! My name is Jacob Moser, and I'm from Carpentersville, Illinois, and just finished my junior year studying mathematics and Spanish. Although I am far from Sooner born or bred, I can now say (if you could not already tell from my salutation) that when I die, I’ll be Sooner dead. I can say so because the university has become such a special place to me in the span of three short years. Today, I want to share with you the OU chapter of my story to hopefully help you envision how OU could figure into yours.
Before I dive in, I must address the extraordinary times we are living in. The global COVID-19 outbreak has fundamentally changed every part of our lives including education. As you likely already know, OU transitioned to online classes for the remainder of the spring semester. I have been impressed with the careful risk management the university has done regarding the pandemic and the care they have taken to ensure policy does not produce unintended hardship for members of our community. Specifically, I am glad that my colleagues relying on campus housing for a place to sleep and work were permitted to stay. I was also reminded of the resiliency and creativity of the OU community as my classes – ranging from statistics to German – migrated online and found innovative ways to share knowledge.
OU initially was nowhere near the top of my radar when I began my college search. Admittedly, it took my parents to convince me to apply and even then, I thought my relationship with the school would end there. Things completely changed when I finally visited during the spring break of my senior year. I immediately felt that it factor on campus. Whereas other universities made me feel like I was simply an observer looking from the outside in, OU threw the doors open and ushered me in to not just see, but experience, what my time here could be like. The radiance of possibilities and genuine support systems have only grown since I have arrived on campus.
“As I move into my final year, while I am excited for the bright future that awaits after graduation thanks to the skills and experience that OU has armed me with, I am in no rush to leave Norman simply because it is such a great place to learn and grow." - Jacob Moser
Entering college, I was intending to pursue doctoral studies in mathematics or physics. I was fortunate to participate in OU’s Four-Year Research Engagement program to help connect me with a lab and begin doing research as early as the spring of my freshman year. Flash forward to now, I am on track to earn degrees in mathematics and Spanish and aim to combine my experiences to do private and public strategy work for an international consulting firm after graduation. I have been connected with resources on campus such as The Oklahoma Group, the Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth, and study abroad programs, in addition to external internship opportunities, to confirm and stoke my interest in this line of work. At every step of the way, I have had mentors and opportunities eager to develop me and test my interest in whatever field captures my eye.
Speaking of study abroad, it has by far been the highlight of my time at OU. As much as I love Norman, I would be lying if I said some of my best memories in the past few years haven’t been made exploring new countries and cultures. I have been fortunate to study in both France and Mexico, largely in part to the immense support OU offers to students seeking to go abroad. In France, I had the magical opportunity to discover the culture for the first time with the added nuance of learning about the literary and sociological dimensions of the country from the OU professors guiding the trip. My semester in Mexico was spent at the university’s Puebla study center and was a similar experience. My absolute favorite trip that our center director, Armando, organized for us was a trip we took to Oaxaca for Mexican Independence Day. While we were there, we drove about a half hour outside of the main city to the small town of San Martin Tilcajete where we spent the day painting alebrijes (traditional Mexican wood carvings very reminiscent of the colors and patterns seen in Coco) with a family of artisans known internationally for their craft. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.
As I move into my final year, while I am excited for the bright future that awaits after graduation thanks to the skills and experience that OU has armed me with, I am in no rush to leave Norman simply because it is such a great place to learn and grow.
