Hello My Name Is

Hi Everyone!

First- let me just say that I am really looking forward to learning about all of you!

In the meantime, I am going to briefly introduce myself. My name is Marie and I am just beginning my senior year here at beautiful Clemson University. I plan to graduate in May 2009 with a degree in Psychology and Health Sciences and then attend grad school for my Masters in Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Christian Counseling. Ultimately, I am pursuing National Board recognition and State Licensure so that I can have my own private practice.

I was born at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio on December 15, 1987. I come from a relatively small family (just one brother and my recently divorced mother and father) and they all currently still reside in Columbus. Sadly, I have never had a pet and, though I want one, I fear it would not live very long because I really haven't a clue as to how to take care of them... I think a dog would be nice because I love, love, love to be outside (more than anything in the world) and it seems as though a dog would be a swell companion for outdoor activities.

To give you a little better idea of exactly what it is I enjoy doing, I have compiled a list of my favorite pastimes:

1. running

2. lifting weights

3. pilates

4. reading

5. listening to music and dancing [I, personally, have no musical talent whatsoever in the singing/playing realm but I definitely can appreciate amazing music when I hear it!]

6. watching funny movies (Jim Carrey, Jack Black, Will Ferrell and Chris Farley are definitely some of my comedic heroes)

7. scrapbooking

8. extreme sports [i.e. skydiving, basejumping, hanggliding]

9. Anything and everything outside...stargazing, hiking, laying out to get a tan, walking, camping, kayaking, you name it I will try just about anything once (minus any illegal activity)

10. traveling

This is by no means a totally exhaustive list of the things I love, but it is a good start. The above items are not in any particular order - it would be far too difficult to pick a favorite and I would feel guilty about relegating any of them to the number 10 spot...

To expound just briefly on my love for traveling, I have been to Belgium to study abroad and this past Spring Break I was fortunate enough to go to Egypt on an Educational Tour. Both were absolutely incredible, life-changing experiences and definitely wet my appetite to travel more. As a matter of fact, if I could have one wish it would be to be completely fluent in every language/dialect in the entire world so that there were no language barriers and I could fully interact with every man, woman and child.

On a somewhat less exciting note, I have some food allergies that get in the way of things sometimes: no dairy products and no white flour.

Well, that's me in a nutshell!

I would love to share more and answer any and all questions ya'll might have!

Thanks for reading,

Marie