Normal vs Abnormal

What is normal? Webster defines it as conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern. It can also be defined as a well-paved road many people have taken. On the other hand, you may be wondering what is the definition of abnormal? Me. I am the definition of abnormal. I had the choice to finish my college career in four years and jump into the real world. Instead, I jumped onto a plane to study for a year on the other side of the world in Taiwan. 

How did this happen? Why would anyone want to do that? Other people do that so you can’t really be abnormal. 

Let me start from the beginning. 

I came into this world as 郴小義 (chēn xiǎoyì) born in China with a line on my birth certificate that would change my life: birth parents unknown. Little did I know the world had something big in mind for me. I was adopted by two loving and amazing parents. I became who I am now Linzi Maddox. After that my life took off, and I became a big sister. My sister and I grew up on a sailboat, Catalina 440, learning how to trim sails and make new friends everywhere we anchored. Five years and 44+ countries later we landed in Washington State to make room for a little brother. The adventures continued on land from learning how to do long division to driving an excavator. A sailing trip around South America and a little thing called COVID-19 happened my senior year. Quarantine gave me pause to think about college.

While picking out colleges I was faced with two options: get my bachelor's in four years or get a dual degree in five years by joining the Interdisciplinary Global Program with one year of study/interning in a foreign country. Knowing my history I chose the latter without hesitation. 

In my fourth year of college, motivated by wanting to learn Mandarin to get back to my roots and make new friends I was off to Taiwan. This blog is to share my experiences and a digital journey for me to look back on when I am older. 

Anything can happen with the road ahead of me, but isn’t that the best part of living an abnormal life? If I am not abnormal,  I am definitely not normal. Perhaps, I am simply where I am meant to be.

Introduction

Hi, my name is Linzi Maddox, a student from Washington State. 

I'm pursuing Business Management and Comparative Culture Studies Dual Major, Marketing Certificate, and Chinese Minor at Northern Arizona University

I am in my fourth year at Northern Arizona University dual degree in Business Management and Comparative Culture Studies with an emphasis in Asia as well as a Marketing Certificate and a Chinese Minor. I am involved in Peer Jacks Mentor as a mentor and the Chinese Culture Club as the president. These experiences have helped me further develop my leadership, communication, and technical skills. I have always been passionate about teamwork, thinking outside of the box, and being hard-working. I aspire to combine my passion and my skills to be a business leader who is a bridge between the United States and other foreign countries.