Personality is the result of experiences in nature. Every facet of the universe interacts with us to shape who we are along with how we see ourselves. The expression of self image is difficult, yet I feel able to describe myself in a single brief sentence. I am diverse and I am adaptable. Involving myself in diverse activities has made me adaptable. It is my hope that this assortment of abilities will enable me to change in times of trial. My priorities create a fool-proof plan to live successfully. I blame my current state on events that happened before I can even remember.
At the age of 20, a young woman by the name of Patricia lived in exciting times. She had been married for two years to a 23 year old airline mechanic who went by the name of Glenn Gunner. She traveled all over the United States and even had the opportunity to see Hawaii on her honeymoon. Yet one could only say these freshly wedded youngsters where semi-content like a puppy handed a fresh slice of bacon.
As a result, I was created in a cliché, love story sort of fashion.
It is hard for me to understand why a prosperous couple in their early 20s would intentionally conceive such a barrier in their lives. Mom always told me that she wanted someone to help around the house and Dad used to say, “think about it, you’ll be out of my hair by the time I’m 45.” However, after 20 years of living with my parents, I know that I came to be because their number one priority was family.
When all else fails, I remain confident of my families support. Every thing stands still when they need me. As non-typical as this may sound, I will have a family before or during my career. My fiancée Caitlin and our two pet gerbils would agree that failure is impossible when you are a part of a close nit family.
Though family is my number one priority, I have been fortunate enough to gain a plethora of experiences outside of my kindred. At the beginning of middle school I started attending a clogging dance class that my mom taught and fell in love with it immediately. I quickly realized that abstract hobbies can gain a lot of negative attention from other boys. Yet as time passed I became conscious that sticking out among my friends gave me a good feeling. This is not to mention that being different will filter out superficial relationships and leave primarily true friends at your side.
The confidence that clogging gave me in middle school allowed me to pursue theater and music in high school. I was able to incorporate clogging into shows and understanding the science behind what makes music sound good gave me an appreciation for the overall feel of a musical. Upon entering the stage I always thought to myself, “this is what I’m meant for.”
As it turns out theater wasn’t what I was referring to. I lived and still live for the feeling I get when presenting information to an audience, whether informative or entertaining.
Along with the ability to easily communicate, being around stages throughout my adolescence offered me many technical skills. I became curious about how my voice was projected over an audience or how stage lights changed with the mood of a show. Inevitably, I discovered the power of behind the scenes lighting and sound engineering.
My dad is also to blame for my love of the technical though his inspiration was more geared toward science and mechanics. When you are the son of an airline mechanic getting your oil changed or having a muffler replaced is considered a waste of money. “Pull it in the garage”, dad would say before we put on our work clothes and lay under the vehicle for hours. As a result I am enthralled with engineering and science, especially the earth, environmental, and meteorological sciences.
When it was time for me to leave home for college I realized that my studies needed to reflect all of my interests. Sure, theater would have been fun and environmental sciences would have provided job security and a fruitful life but the course loads where too specific. I needed a major that satisfied my longing to create content and be in front of audiences while keeping in touch with my technical side. Communications was the only route I found fitting and I haven’t second guessed that notion to date.
Since the beginning of my pursuit of an undergraduate degree I have refined my academics to TV and Digital Film with an added minor in the Earth Sciences. The radio station on campus has become my base camp during the day where I can produce audio content, run my morning show, fix broken equipment or simply socialize with people who share my passion for broadcast. I have acquired the position of chief engineer which comes with the perk of having a private office at the station. As contradictory as it may sound, radio has opened my eyes to the future of broadcast and how I may play a role in that future.
I am at a point of convergence in my life where my skills and attributes are beginning to focus on specific goals for my future. Web design may prove to be the zip-tie that holds all of my interests together. I am in the process of learning how to put ideas for film, radio, broadcast, science (particularly weather), and engineering into practical applications on the Internet. My first pet project: an on-line creative outlet and portfolio called earlybirdradio.com. What really excites me is my latest web development called atmotag.com. It’s an interactive way for people to express and tag weather events that they have encountered in an on-line community of weather enthusiasts. Though both of these websites are in a sort of pre-alpha stage I feel that they may be the first real compasses in my profession life.
Whether or not Atmotag becomes a multi-million user product that changes the way people see the weather is of no concern to me for I have options. I am versatile and diverse. I feel that I can be productive using any of my skills in many job markets. Yet if all else fails in this brutal world I will be sheltered by the loved ones around me.
