Introduction

            Hello. If you’re reading this, you’re probably expecting an introduction about me. I hate to disappoint, but you’re going to get that. The first thing you need to know is that I don’t know how to start an introduction. So let’s just get started.

            Hi, I’m Nate Johnson and I like long walks on the beach. Really though, my parents live in Florida and when I’m visiting I walk about 4 miles every other day. I struggle to get people to go with me because they think my beach walks are too long. I was born in California, and lived there until I was 3. My parents and I lived in Pasadena, but even in the suburbs, crime was nasty. Someone was shot and killed right outside our house! Fortunately, I had no idea that happened until I was an adult, but that was the primary reason my parents decided to move to Norman Oklahoma. I grew up here, and don’t really remember anything about California.

I spent my whole life in Norman. I would walk around with my friends as a kid, so I know a good chunk of the town like the back of my hand. Campus was familiar to me long before freshman year. When it finally came time to apply for college, I was ready to go explore the world and branch out, try something new! But, alas, OU offered great scholarships, so I stayed put. My parents moved to Melbourne Beach Florida after my first semester, which helped give me the out of state experience.

At OU, I am studying aerospace engineering. I want to pursue a career in the space industry, working on designing launch vehicles, but I’m still not sure what specific area I want to work in. I spent a lot of time on the Rocket Team at OU, but all that did was confirm I wanted to work on rockets- I still don’t know what part I want to work on. I don’t even really know where I want to work: ULA, SpaceX, NASA, Aerojet, Blue Origin, Orbital ATK. A lot of people seem to expect me to know what I want to do and where I want to work, but I’m still no closer to knowing myself.

The aerospace department at OU is incredibly interesting and difficult. I can honestly say that I always liked school until my junior year in college, when we finally got to the meaty technical courses. I pulled more unwilling all-nighters that year than I pulled willing all-nighters in high school (my friends and I thought staying up late was the epitome of cool.) At the same time, learning the mathematics of creating supersonic thrust is incredible. I have a love/hate relationship with my major.

I’m also trying to get a minor in computer science. For some people, writing code is a chore, or just a terrible nightmare of a thought. And while I agree that wading through buggy code can make for a terrible Friday night, the feeling of finally getting your code to work is one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever known. I didn’t know I liked coding until my second semester freshman year, when I was required to take a coding class. I wish I had started sooner, but I didn’t decide to pursue the minor until after sophomore year. In order to get the required amount of credits, I had to take two summer classes and one computer science class per semester. It was and is totally worth it.

To finish off, I do enjoy other things besides 2 hour walks on the beach. I don’t read as often as I used to, but I am capable of getting wrapped up in a book. Most recently is Salem’s Lot by Steven King, but really I am just procrastinating finishing the Game of Thrones books. I like hiking and rock climbing; my roommate and I frequently go to the Wichitas and rock climb on the saddest excuse for mountains Oklahoma has to offer. I am no stranger to Netflix, but I do have to limit my binging near the end of the semester, and I enjoy a good movie in theaters (but Moore Warren just hasn’t been the same since Regal bought it.) And lastly, but certainly not least, I love a good video game, and especially one I can enjoy with my friends.

            Well, that’s me folks. I am just as clueless as to how to finish an introduction, so here’s a picture of me and my brother. 

Image info

(Picture of me with my little brother Gabe, taken on my phone)