Hello, my name is Julia Ngo and I am a junior studying Entrepreneurship and Venture Management with a minor in Nonprofit Organizational Studies here at the University of Oklahoma. A fun fact about me is that I have changed my major 5 different times since coming to college, but I have finally sorted out what I want to do now (although I may be adding another major this semester, I'll figure it out after advising).
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| (Personal Photo of Myself and Benji) |
My dream is to open up a pet cafe and a no-kill animal shelter. I have always had a passion for animals, where I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian at 3rd grade. Unfortunately, I am severely allergic to cats and dogs and in college I realized this dream could not be pursued effectively. Therefore, my alternative route to still benefitting animals is by opening up a pet cafe where I will feature animals from local shelters. This will allow them to gain proper socialization as well as increase their chances of getting adopted by enabling people to get to know the pet in a more comfortable setting rather than a cold kennel where most animals are too afraid to show their true selves. Eventually, I hope to open up my own animal shelter and feature my own animals at my own cafe!
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| (Personal Photo of Benji) |
My hobbies include spending time with my dog (he's hypoallergenic, although I still find myself allergic to his saliva), playing video games, eating, and sleeping. I am involved in a couple organizations on campus, with most of my energy devoted to my sorority alpha Kappa Delta Phi (yes, the first "a" is not capitalized on purpose), in which I am currently the Vice President Spring Service of. I work at the Sam Noble Musuem of Natural History's gift shop as well, so if you ever stop by you might see me! OU Students and faculty get a 10% discount by the way, and free admission to the museum, so why not?
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| (Personal Photo of Benji) |
I look forward to the rest of this course with you all. Best of luck to everyone this semester!
Oh, your Benji is adorable, Julia, and I am so glad you have found a major that can lead you to pursue your passion for working with animals. My first job ever as a child was volunteering at the local Humane Society, and I am an animal person too (right now, my husband and I have a gray-and-white cat named Possum). And how great that you work at the Museum! Do you know the person who runs their Twitter account? It is so great; they had the cutest tweet today for back-to-school: Back-to-school Buffalo. I hope this class will be a way for you to expand your animal-storytelling repertoire to include stories about all kinds of animals from all over the world!
ReplyDeleteHello Julia, I'm Kha Tran. Your dog is really cute. I love dogs too. I used to have two dogs back in Vietnam, but sadly, now i don't have any here. By the way, are you also a Vietnamese ? Because your last name Ngo is quite common in Viet Nam. I seen those pets cafes you talking about are very interesting and enjoyable. I am admiring your dream, passion and what you have done until now. Hopefully you can achieve what you want in the future and do well this semester.
ReplyDeleteHi Tran! Yes, I'm also Vietnamese. I can't do the symbols on here, but my Vietnamese name is Phuong Vy so you can call me by either that or just Julia! I'm glad you think pet cafes are interesting, I hope that when I open up mine one day that others will too. Have a good semester as well!
DeleteHi Julia! I love your dog! I have an Australian Shepherd that I really love, but I'm allergic to her. Thank goodness she lives in my husband's horse barn guarding the horses anyway. I changed my major a couple times at the smaller college I went to before OU. I was an accounting major, my last major before coming to OU, but because I couldn't get all my courses online & don't live anywhere near campus, I had to change majors again to Information Studies. Good luck on your goals--a pet cafe seems like a really good thing to have.
ReplyDeleteHi Julia! I am Makenzi and I am a senior Public Relations major. Congrats on graduating this December, it's exciting when you figure out what you really want to do (I too switched my major). I am allergic to dogs as well! I grew up with them, so I somewhat created an immunity to my own dogs, but I had a horrible allergic reaction to one I met in Italy this summer (I know, so random), so that is how we found out about one of my numerous allergies. I hope you are able to fulfill your career dreams and best of luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteHello Julia! I love how much you care for animals despite being allergic to cats and dogs. That is a considerable obstacle, but you're still planning to do what you can to help. I think that's very admirable. As for changing your major a lot, I can understand that because I've been there. It took me a while to decide on what I wanted to do after continuous trial and error. I also think it's super cool that you like video games! I spend way too much time playing them myself. Hope you have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Julia!
ReplyDeleteYour dog Benji is super cute! I love your idea for a pet cafe and a no-kill shelter. I adopted my dog Luna from a shelter when she was 5 years old and she's the best thing that has ever happened to me! I feel very passionately about adopting animals. I think that you should always adopt instead of getting your pets from breeders so I really like your ideas on that no-kill shelter.
Hope you have a great semester!
Julia!!! I had no idea you switched your major so much. It makes me feel better about what I did with my major ha ha. I ended up in the Planned Program route with emphasis on Microbiology since that's what I was for so long. I also got to make up a cool name for my major which allowed me to go with Microbial Pathogenesis (yep I sound cooler than I actually am.) I really hope that you end up getting that pet cafe going when you're out of college and pursing all your dreams. You'll have to tell me where it is too so I that maybe I can look into my adoption options. Have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteHi again Julia, I just commented/read your story. I’ve changed my major around a lot so you're not alone! I was a surgical technologist, then EMT, then looking into nursing school before I joined the Navy - but now I am a microbiology major and I think if I hadn’t considered all those other options I wouldn't be sure of this choice.
ReplyDeleteYour job/dream is so wonderful! I got my dog Angel from a shelter and it was so hard not to take the rest of the animals there home. Benji is so cute, I’m glad your allergies don't give you too much trouble with him!
Hey Julia! I as well have changed my major a few times over my time here at OU. I think that is so great that you love animals and what to help them in anyway that you can! I have a nine-year-old Yorkie that I absolutely adore. I think opening a cafe that is pet friendly is such a unique and fun idea! It was nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHi Julia! My name is Maria and I'm a senior Marketing major but I'm actually graduating in December. I was lucky enough to not change my major at all throughout my time here which definitely helped the whole graduating early thing. I too love animals and think your dog is so cute. I have two German Shepherds and my sister is going to vet school, so I'm constantly surrounded by animals. Hope you have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Julia! Wow! 5 major changes! I think that it is great that you have finally found what you want to major in. Picking a major can be really difficult, so having multiple majors sounds like a good plan. I love what your dream is. I think that it is really admirable and that the animals are lucky to have someone like you on their side. Benji is adorable! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Julia!
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain on changing majors so often (I have just stopped counting how many times I have changed mine). Your major and minor sound super interesting, and I did not know that we offered a minor in Nonprofit Organizational Studies. THAT IS SO COOL THOUGH! And your dream to open a pet café sounds wonderful, a place where I would go to try to do homework but just get distracted by all of the lovely animals :). I really hope this becomes a reality in the future, where would your ideal café be located at? Here in Norman, OKC, or some place else?
Hi Julia! Benji is such a handsome boy! I love my pets so much, and I think the idea of a pet cafe is fascinating! It would be so much fun to visit one and see all of the different animals. I’m sorry you’re allergic to pets. I’m very fortunate that I’m not, but several of my friends and roommates are, which unfortunately prevents me from bringing my cat to live with me. But it's great that that hasn't stopped you from loving animals! I adopted my cat from a shelter, so I think it’s great that you want to help animals get adopted! I hope you’re having a great semester, and good luck with all of your plans!
ReplyDeleteHi Julia,
ReplyDeleteI love animals just as much as you. So that is one fascinating thing about you that I find cool. I also love how you are setting your goals in life with your degree pursuits to not just benefit you, but to also benefit the animals in your community. You seem like a really nice person and I hope your dream of a café comes true.
Julia,
ReplyDeleteYour dream sounds amazing and I think it's really cool that you found a way to pursue it and work around your allergies. I love dogs (cats, not so much) but a pet cafe is a great idea and a great way to socialize animals for adoption. I really hope that you open it up one day, and soon when I graduate and stop paying tuition, I can adopt a dog and actually afford to take care of him. Your dog is totally beautiful by the way!
Changing your major 5 times is a baller move, and I'm glad that you've found what you want to do and wish you all the best!
Hi Julia,
ReplyDeleteI'd never really heard of a pet cafe, but from your description it sounds like a great idea. When I went with my girlfriend to a local animal shelter she was set on getting a dog, but she was so uncomfortable with the dog area of the shelter she changed her mind. Luckily, we were able to adopt a very sweet cat, but I think that going to a pet cafe would've definitely resulted in us getting a dog. I hope you are successful in the future!
Hey Julia! I understand the pain of constantly changing your major, I've changed it so many times, I'm amazed I'll be graduating in a couple months! That's also super cool how you want to work with animals and help them get adopted through the cafe, my first dog was the sweetest thing, I can't imagine how he must have been when he was at the humane society. Good luck with those goals, and good luck with school and finding the best major!
ReplyDeleteHi, Julia! First off, I absolutely love your dog! I also really admire your dream of wanting to work with animals and get them adopted! I am a huge animal lover and I am also a huge advocate of the whole "Adopt, don't shop" movement! I think that people who help animals in need find forever homes have a special magic to them, and the animals definitely will thank you for it! My dog is a rescue, as well as my parents dog, and they are both the sweetest things in the world! Good luck with the rest of your semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Julia! I loved reading about your passion for animals and your desire to help them find good homes. Like you, I am allergic to cats, although I still plan to get one (and several dogs) someday. If you open that pet cafe, I'd love to visit it! It sounds like between your sorority and your job you lead a pretty busy life! I also enjoy playing video games in my spare time. Are there any that you particularly enjoy? I just got my hands on a copy of Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword, and it's been interesting to say the least. I hope that your semester treats you well and that your new and final major is one that you love pursuing.
ReplyDeleteHi Julia! Your dog is so adorable! I love your pet cafe idea. I really think people interacting with dogs in a more fun, comfortable setting will benefit the pets up for adoption and the potential new parents! I have a class at Sam Noble so I may stop by the gift shop and say hello one of these days!
ReplyDeleteHi Julia! I am also minoring in Non-profit organizational studies. Have you taken any of the NPNG classes yet? It would be interesting to hear whether or not you ended up adding that second major! Also, why is the a in alpha not capitalized? I find that very curious and would be interested in hearing more about it.
ReplyDelete- Anna Margret
Hey Julia! Your doggy sure is cute and looks super happy!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that OU offered a major like that but that seems like something that I'm interested in. How do you like it so far? What are you looking at for your second major? I've also changed my major a ton too so you're not alone in that, by the way!
I also wanted to be a vet once but I didn't want to have to deal with putting animals down or the ones that couldn't make it. I would be too sad!
Have a great rest of the semester!
Hey Julia! I'm currently on my third major, so I can relate to your experience. It is such an awesome idea to open a pet cafe! I love animals, especially dogs and cats, and it would be a dream to visit one! Maybe one day I can visit yours! Also, Benji is an adorable dog and looks like a total fluffy stud.
ReplyDelete