Meet Laurhyn Griebel

Chaos is an appropriate theme for my life. I live mostly in organized chaos but definitely have times when my life is just chaotic. I don't like to stay in one place or do the same thing for too long. I strive for greatness and do not settle for less. I have worked many different jobs over the years and traveled to more than 15 countries. I usually work at least two jobs at a time and am used to having a chronically busy schedule. I currently coach competitive gymnastics, scribe for a spine surgeon, and am a travel agent. Coaching gymnastics has been the one consistent job that I have found in each place I have lived. I have worked in 4 different gyms and have coached for over 10 years.

I have one male cat, Euri. His name has a double meaning -- it is short for Uranus but the spelling comes from "Europe" because I was in Europe when I responded to a Facebook post stating that I would take him as a kitten. I got my first kitten when I was in college. Her name was Jupiter when I got her, and I liked the name, so I kept it. I got a second kitten later during college and named her Saturn. I had Jupiter and Saturn for a few years but had to let them be outdoor cats when moving from SC to IN. I lost them and now just have my sweet boy, Euri. I had a running joke about having as many cats as planets in our solar system, yes, at the same time... but it was just a joke.

I play volleyball on an adult co-ed team, which helps keep me active. I enjoy hanging out with friends and family and playing card/board games. My favorite way to travel is by cruise. I would love to be able to cruise every year. It is the best way to travel because you can see many different places in the same trip while having the same home base for all your belongings, and there are so many fun activities on board.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Middle Level Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina. I taught 6th grade math for two years in South Carolina and taught 8th grade science for four years in Indiana. Being a (previous) middle school teacher already tells you I'm crazy. I left education because teaching was no longer fulfilling enough. I am not someone who continuously complains about my situation without changing it. I seeked a career change and decided to go into healthcare, which was actually my original intention when beginning my Bachelor's degree.

I am currently in a post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at the University of Louisville, thanks to the support and encouragement of Laura Hamann and Dr. Rachel Washburn. It has been wonderful getting to know and learn from/with those two amazing women. They helped me not shy away from being ambitious and reinforced my interest in research. I love the foundation that the CHAOS lab was created upon. After successful completion of the post-bac pre-med program, I will be granted assured admission to medical school at U of L. I believe God has shown me this path and I am excited for this next journey. I am so fascinated by the human body and am proud to be a life-long learner.