Senior Spotlight May 2020 – Bradley Weber
This year we are continuing our tradition of Senior Spotlights! With graduation postponed, it is more important than ever to highlight this spring’s graduating class.
The class of May 2020 is experiencing their last few weeks of college unlike any of those who came before them. It has been a tough time, but the seniors are adapting to new ways of learning and are continuing to celebrate their accomplishments thus far.
Bradley Weber is originally from Florida and says hurricanes are what piqued his interest in meteorology.
Bradley tells us, “The 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons inspired me to pursue meteorology! In 2004, I was affected by 3 of the 4 hurricanes that made landfall that year and in 2005, I was able to experience what it was like to be in the eye of a hurricane during Hurricane Wilma! When I was a child, I would make sure to watch the weather on the news every night, I would grab the yearly hurricane guides from Publix and I even drew myself being a storm chaser when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up in 2nd grade!”
Students come from all over the US and the world to be in the School of Meteorology. Bradley transferred to OU after one year at the University of Central Florida. “Everything I saw and read said that OU has the best meteorology school (which is 100% true!) I also wanted to be somewhere that experiences a wide array of weather and Oklahoma seemed to be the perfect place! Between severe weather and winter weather, the weather never gets boring in Oklahoma!” Bradley said.
A meteorology degree often comes with many tests and tribulations, but nothing a little hard work and dedication can’t overcome. “The largest thing I overcame was my classes. I really had to learn how to manage my time and create good study habits. The classes are very difficult, but putting in hard work and seeing it pay off is very rewarding!” Bradley told us.
Along with the hours of study time, there was a lot more Bradley was able to be a part of at OU. Some of his favorite things were being involved in student organizations. He said, “I was able to be a part of many organizations such as the Oklahoma Weather Lab where I was the Friday evening shift leader and helped create the Weekend Weather Podcast, the Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society, OU Nightly and Weather Friends! The sports teams at OU are pretty great too!”
Though the future for many May graduates has been altered, Bradley has a plan and a positive outlook! “I’m currently deciding between 2 graduate school programs! If I accept one of the programs, it is an online program so I’m able to actually work on the side so I’ve also been applying for some jobs as well! The other is more traditional where I would get my masters and be able to do research and be a TA!” he said.