Hello, readers and fellow writers! I am new to the University of Kentucky Odyssey community. I go by "Megan," but I will also go by "Meg" or really anything else, as long as it's not insulting. I've been called everything from "Blondie" to "Winnie." This listicle will serve as an introduction of me to all of you wonderful people. After reading this, feel free to tell me some things about yourselves! :)

1. First and foremost, I am a disciple of Jesus.

I choose not to call myself a "Christian," as Jesus' first 12 followers did not call themselves "Christians," but rather "disciples." So, I have decided to follow suit. I have been raised by two wonderful God-fearing parents and have been part of a God-fearing church all of my life. My relationship with Jesus is dynamic and is my foundation.

2. I am a University of Kentucky alumna.

I graduated from UK with a Bachelor of Public Health in December 2016. I am continuing my education in the Big Blue Nation currently in the College of Education, and next fall, I hope to begin my legal education at UK. My allegiance will always be to UK, no matter where I go. I have precious memories of UK, and I am beyond thankful of all of the opportunities and lessons UK has afforded me.

3. I want a career in law and/or the government.

But especially law. My first big legal career goal is to become an attorney representing those in eastern Kentucky. I eventually want to become a Kentucky Supreme Court Justice, and even United States Supreme Court Justice. My legal interests include environmental law, health law, personal injury law, criminal law, civil rights law, energy law, medical law, and public health law.

4. That's a lot of legal interests! Why a public health degree?

Well, I fell in love with public health before I ever fell in love with law. I'll be happy to fill you in if you're not sure what public health is. I am the biggest public health cheerleader you'll ever meet, and you'll find me referring to myself as "your friendly neighborhood public health professional." The disciplines of public health and law are tightly interlaced, and my utmost passion is loving others. I feel by integrating the two professions in my own future practice, it would allow me to help the most people in the most efficient way possible.

5. Why do I specifically want to represent eastern Kentuckians?

Those in this region of Appalachia live in a third world country of sorts where poverty, soaring cancer rates, and collapsing infrastructure abound. And this region is at UK's back door, in our very own America the Beautiful. I want to intervene for this people through providing legal counsel and representation, as well as driving policy change where it's needed. Plus, I have an Appalachian heritage, so these issues literally hit home for me.

6. I love writing, in case you can't already tell!

While I am a scientist by discipline and budding legal scholar, writing was my first love. I had an article published in Louisville's Courier-Journal at age eight, and I was a news writer on my high school's newspaper for two years. My first professional writing project explored how the progression of global warming is affecting the migratory pattern of the Anopheles mosquito and ultimately the global distribution of malaria. I've recently taken a shining to legal research and writing about it through a political science, pre-law class.

7. What are my public health interests?

While I enjoy learning about health and medical care delivery systems, epidemiology, and biostatistics, my passions are in environmental health and health behavior. More specifically, I want to investigate as a public health scientist and as a lawyer what physical, natural environmental factors are harming eastern Kentuckians, and I want to investigate what factors are promoting or inhibiting certain health behaviors in this population. Ultimately, I want to help this population live to their fullest potential for whatever time they have left on this Earth. I want to help them experience excellent health, and not just experience an absence of disease.

8. Remember how I implied I have so many nicknames? "Miss America" has been one of them.

I am very patriotic, and I come from a military-strong family. Most of my family is/has been Army, but there have been Marines, sailors, and airmen. I have a ferocious love for country. Part of the reason why I want to be a lawyer, Supreme Court Justice, and political activist is to, in a sense, "uphold and defend the Constitution," just like so much of my family has. This is my way of being a public servant.

9. I know, it's only rock and roll, but I like it.

While I do listen to some modern music, Bluegrass, and Gregorian chants (don't judge me), rock and roll from the 1950s to the 1980s is my specialty. It really is. I was brought up with it, I have done lots of personal research on artists, song inspirations, and the history and sociology behind the music, and I have taken three classes on rock and roll. While I have a wide breadth of knowledge of rock and roll from the 1950s to the 1980s, I dare ya to ask me any question about the Beatles or Lynyrd Skynyrd.

10. I'm a real life Elle Woods.

I love everything pink and sparkly. I genuinely love the law. I have a teacup Chihuahua named Esther Shelby. While I don't have a Harvard Law professor as a husband, I do have sweet, supportive boyfriend whose intelligence is second to none. And, finally, I'm legally blonde.

Tune in for more next week! Tell me some things about yourself in the "comments" section! Capitol Barbie out!