OH YEA!

I have been going through the application process for "Teach for America" the last few weeks. Yesterday, I submitted my transcripts from Iowa State. With my transcript I had to fill out a "transcript key". This was a semester by semester description of my official transcript. It is intended to give some insight into what classes you took during your college career. As I filled in each semester class by class I realized how fast time flies.

I can remember some of my first experiences in classes at Iowa State. My introductory English class with Ghinwa Alameen, and a guy that sat next to me known as Chuck Sample. At the time I had deemed that his name fit well because he was in fact a pretty solid sample of a tool. Now I realize that he was probably not so bad. At the time I was probably the bigger d-bag. Young, insecure and rooted in my high school ways. I have sense become a lot more personable and confident.

As I entered in the data I realized just how little I stopped to smell the coffee. I don't think graduating early was a bad thing, and too often it takes people too long to sift through the BS of their Bachelor's, but I probably could have let myself enjoy school a bit more. I always liked class, but I didn't really start having fun until I began playing rugby. I met a lot of good guys, was competitive, and actually got out and socialized with new people. If I would have started playing as a freshman I probably wouldn't have graduated early. This is a good example of how things often work themselves out in a pretty good way.

The biggest thing I take away from looking back is the fact that most of the time you never really know where you can head. Four years I ago, maybe even four months ago, I would have never said that I would be in Mountain View, California working at a grocery store. That being said, here I am enjoying the weird twist life has taken. Many people can get caught up in the uncertainty of life. I have this problem as well. I deal with it by being optimistic. Uncertainty is opportunity. While bad things can and will happen there is always something to be gained. Something to learn. Opportunity to turn hardship into success.

I look at myself four years ago and see the gains I have made in that amount of time. I think about myself four years from now and I am excited to see where I will be.