Hello, everyone! My name is Baylor Boyd. I was born and grew up in Enid, Oklahoma. I am majoring in Classics: Latin and plan on graduating in the the fall of 2020. I am somewhat unsure of exactly what I want to do immediately after leaving OU. Classics provides me a plethora of different career options, but one of my possible plans includes continuing school in order to earn a masters degree, and perhaps even a doctorate. Eventually, though, I wish to teach, whether it be Latin, history, and/or English at the high school level or Classics as a college professor. When I'm not translating Latin prose and poetry, I spend a good chunk of my time working for the University of Oklahoma Softball Team. My official title is Student Manager but I spend the majority of my time catching the pitching staff in the bullpen. Over the past 3 years, I have worked with and befriended some of the best coaches and players in the game of softball, including a few current professional and Olympic athletes. Working for the team has also given me the opportunity to travel all over, to places such as California, Oregon, and Mexico, with trips planned for this upcoming year to Florida and Utah. But my favorite place to go with the team is Oklahoma City, home to the Women's College World Series. In 2107, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the team that won the National Championship.
There I am, back row, third from the right.
(Personal picture taken June 2017)
In the rare event that I have some free time, I typically spend it reading or spending time with friends. I also enjoy watching documentaries, specifically about history. To share a fun fact, I consider myself an amateur vexillologist. For some reason, I have always found flags particularly interesting. That's about it. I think that about covers my brief introduction. If you got this far, thanks for reading.
Hi, Baylor!
ReplyDeleteIt's really cool that you work as a Student Manager for the Softball team! It sounds like a really fun job, especially all the travel. I've always wanted to go to Oregon! Being part of the National Championship team must've been really exciting!
My roommate freshman year was a Letters major, so she was taking really similar classes to your major. It definitely seems like an interesting major, but also a major that keeps you busy. I hope your semester goes well!
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHi Baylor!
Wow, it sounds like you stay pretty busy! I love to travel, so that part of your job sounds awesome! I think it's super cool that you're studying classics. I love teaching and could see myself as a teacher, but I'd probably stick with little kids. It sounds like you really have a love of learning, and becoming a college professor would be a really cool way to continue learning while also teaching others.
Hey Baylor!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all you are getting done here at OU. Although I haven’t touched Latin since I took 6 years of it in elementary and middle school, I remember it taking a ton of time and effort. It’s crazy that you are able to balance that so well with your work with the softball team here! I’m glad that’s been such a cool opportunity for you, I know I enjoyed watching them win the 2017 title from my couch here in town.
Best,
- JD
Hey howdy Baylor. Us Letters majors have to stick together in these writing courses. Stoked that yo have been enjoying Latin so far. We are able to take some wildly interesting course loads with the flexibility of our majors. I am shocked that you have time to work with OU Softball, you must be a pretty quick reader. Here's to one of many semesters left of learning.
ReplyDeleteHey, Baylor!
ReplyDeleteThat's a really neat claim to fame that you're a manager with the softball team! We've got a world-class team and part of the reason they're as good as they are is because of you -- that's awesome! Flags are a pretty niche hobby too, what got you into those? I've only seen that TedTalk where the guy talks about why state flags are so badly designed, but it was a pretty funny presentation. Good luck this semester!
Hi Baylor!
ReplyDeleteIt's very cool you're the student manager of the softball team! They've been on such a run since I have been in school so I can't imagine how fun that has been to experience with the team, I'm jealous. Classics is also such an interesting major. I like english and history classes a lot and as an engineering major I haven't gotten to experience a lot of those in college.
It is so nice to meet a fellow Latinist, Baylor! Maybe you should write a victory ode for the team in Latin, a softball panegyric! Plus that is very cool about flags: I am really interested in emblems, and there are lots of similarities. Have you ever looked at some of the great Latin emblem books of the Renaissance? One of my all-time favorites is this gorgeous series of books by Camerarius; there's a motto, an emblem, a little poem, and an essay: Ingenio Experiar. Latin is such a super-power because of all the beautiful Renaissance Latin books that were never translated into English, probably never will be... but which the Latinists can read! Libros lege; quae legeris, memento :-)
ReplyDeleteBaylor,
ReplyDeleteNice to meet ya. I am always surprised by just how many Letters majors there are, despite how small the department seems. It's pretty awesome that you have an inclination towards latin; that's rare nowadays. This course seems to be right up your alley, so I am curious to see what kind of awesome stories you come up with this semester. Best of luck!
-Lance J.
Hey Baylor,
ReplyDeleteYou have a nice collection of interests you mentioned. I think it is neat that you want to pursue a master's or doctorate degree. The more teachers out there that care, the better off everyone will be. Your job sounds pretty great since you get to travel all over. I wish I had more reasons to travel around and leave Oklahoma more often!
Hey Baylor,
ReplyDeleteIt is super admirable that you want to get a master's or doctorate degree, and I am also excited that you feel called to teach! My mom is a teacher, so I know firsthand that it is not always easy (especially in Oklahoma)! Your job also sounds incredible because of the great travel opportunities! I wish I could do the same! I hope your semester is going well and you have a great day!
Baylor, it was really great getting to know you some through your introduction post. I think it is so cool that we are able to interact even though we are in two separate classes (I'm in Indian Epics). I think it is cool that having an online class like this allows us to do that. Again, it was great getting to know you some and the best of luck to you on your future endeavors.
ReplyDeleteHi Baylor!
ReplyDeleteI loved getting to read your introduction and learn a little bit more about you. It is such a great opportunity that you get to travel with some of our OU sports teams, I can't imagine what it must be like! I really respect how diverse your interests are, too. Teaching is such a difficul job and I really respect your dedication to it. Best of luck in all your future endeavors!
-Moriah C.
Hi Baylor,
ReplyDeleteYour major sounds cool. I am majoring in French, which is fun, excepting for all the condescending "what are you gonna do with that?" questions. I bet you understand. I also think I might like to continue my education and get a doctorate if possible. I just have to come up with the funds. I will probably end up teaching, I specifically want to try teaching English as a foreign language in a francophone country, but since I have family ties in Oklahoma I might end up just teaching french at a high school or something. Sorry to talk so much about myself, I just think we have similar ideas for our futures.
Good luck with the rest of this semester!
Hello, Baylor!
ReplyDeleteI can’t believe I haven’t come across your blog yet! I am actually not familiar with a Classics major, but I did learn what you can do with the major thanks to you! I hope you do end up teaching. I think it is a noble profession, and, quite honestly, we need more good teachers in the US!
Hey Baylor!
ReplyDeleteIt is the last week of class, it is unfortunate that I came across your blog so late. I am glad that I at least got to see your finished work. I wish you luck with finals and the end of the semester!
Hey Baylor,
ReplyDeleteI am grateful to meet you even though it is late in the semester. I know that classics is a difficult degree to complete and I would not know the least bit of latin. I might know some french though. haha. I hope that you have had a good semester and I hope that you do well on your finals. Study hard and keep writing you have a talent for it. Good Luck!
Hey again Baylor,
ReplyDeleteI think it's pretty awesome that you get to do so much with the softball team! I was curious if they gave you anything when the team won the National Championship over the past few years. Also, I'm not sure I've met anyone at OU that is studying classics before. That is pretty unique if you ask me.
Have a good one,
Brady
Hello Baylor,
ReplyDeleteOne of my little cousins is really into softball. OU Women's team are a big inspiration to her. Is really cool that you work with them and that you also get to travel around for your work. That is pretty neat. You should pursue a career in the sports industry. Anyways, I hope that you enjoyed the class as much as I did and good luck with the finals.