This is My Story

This is my story...chances are it’s your story too. I’m from somewhere, I’ve done some things, and I’m going somewhere. Don’t we all wish life was this simple; that we could open the “Manual of Life,” turn to a certain page to find out what to do next. In reality, this book doesn’t exist, and we’re all just trying to figure it out as we go, that’s half the fun, the other half is pure frustration. It’s in those moments of frustration when we just want to scream that we need to remember to be kind. We’re all writing our own stories, walking our own paths, and trying to find the place where we belong.

If there were three lessons I’d like to impart on my fellow travelers it’s these; Be humble, if we had it all figured out we wouldn’t be here trying to figure it out, but never forget where you came from, good or bad. Secondly, be intentional, we’re here for a reason and it’s important that we stay focused, and in the moment when we feel our mind drifting off, or we notice ourselves becoming distracted. Finally, be authentic, there is only one you, and one of the hardest things we have to do in this life is to figure out who that is, who we want to become, and where we’re going.

I guess it’s fair that I tell you some things about me. I’m from Chicago born and raised. I received a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Southern Illinois University. I received a commission in the Army and deployed twice to Iraq. I left the Army and worked for a couple of the largest privately-owned companies in the United States. Now I’m here at Southern Utah University following my dream to become a helicopter pilot.

Life and career paths aren’t always the straight line we plan them out to be, and that’s okay. What’s not okay, is thinking we have to do this alone when we’re part of a much larger community, and sometimes that’s the hardest lesson to learn.