Wealth of Experiences

As I was speeding through town Friday in the passenger seat of a carpet cleaning truck, I began thinking about the myriad of experiences I’ve had already at the age of 18, including the somewhat unique one I was in the middle of right then.  I’ve worked few jobs, but all of them are crazy.

I’ve been a farmhand, a fencing coach, a termporary janitor, a carpet cleaner, and I’ve worked at unofficial jobs as an advertiser, a radio station DJ, a morning show host, a radio station assistant manager, and tech support guy for numerous classes and organizations.

I’ve been a fencing president and have refereeing qualifications.  I speak a second language, Spanish, and I’ve used it to hold hour long conversations with native speaking friends as well as to interface with ENL students while trying to get underclassmen photos taken for the yearbook.

I have friends ranging from singer dancers to engineers to theatre techies, I know people who smoke, drink, have four children and a girlfriend, who pay alimony, who’ve been addicted to drugs, who’ve had children commit suicide.  I know people who lead the marching band, I know a guy who has a masters degree in environmental engineering.  I have several friends who happen to be gay.

I’ve taken a taxi in downtown Miami by myself.  I’ve competed in three national fencing tournaments.  I’ve been sent to leadership conferences.  I’ve travelled around the United Kingdom as a student ambassador.  I have had three friends, one of them a fairly good one, travel to Spain for total immersion in the Spanish language.  I have at least four friends in the UK.  I know twenty odd people who grew up in St. Louis and now are intersperesed around the States.

I know and have trained with a former Olympic fencer.  I’ve had a refreeing exam administered by a referee who is known worldwide.  I’ve fenced the number 2 junior men’s foil fencer in the world and scored at least a point on him.  I have a best friend in San Francisco.  I’ve had an aunt die.  I’ve been to California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and more states.  I’ve been to Canada.  I’ve seen Niagra Falls.  I’ve almost died in a Taco Bell in Denver.

I’ve been close to death after hitting a dog in my car.  I’ve lost courage.  I’ve backed into a tractor.  I know what a “volunteer” is in terms of farming.  I’ve worked with a Mennonite woman, a Navyman, other students, a former engineer who’s an organic farmer.  I know what an heirloom tomato is.  I’ve tossed straw around.  I know what a potato bug looks like and how dangerous they are.  I know how to dig tomatoes.  I know that you can eat lamb’s quarter (it’s a weed and tastes a little like broccoli.

I’ve read Dante, Nietzche, Rowling, Stackpole, Zahn, Jacques, Lewis, Tolkein, and more.  I’ve seen many many movies.  I’ve travelled to Wisconsin with one of my best friends to referee a collegiate tournament at the age of 17.  I’ve fenced for four years.  I’ve won awards for my film making, I’ve used professional software enough that I’m comfortable with it. I’ve pioneered some radio-tv ideas like Director’s Commentary, DVD menus, and the use of LiveType and Motion with the assistance of another one of my best friends.  I’ve taken 5 AP tests and not scored less than 3 on any of them.  I’ve helped launch a projectile through a flaming hoop.  I’ve gone to many school plays and performances.  I’ve subbed for the eStadium crew.

I have friends of all colours, genders, and sexual preferences.  I have friends at ages raging from 5 at the daycare I volunteer at to 50 odd years old at my fencing club.  I’ve worked with very professional people, won a full ride scholarship, have friends who have written music, have friends whose goals in life are merely to get by.  I have friends who graduated in the top ten people of my class and friends who graduated in the bottom percent.  I have a website and two blogs.

I have had 3 different computers.  I’ve had 3 different iPods.  I’ve lived computer wise off a 2GB flash drive.  I’ve dug in the dirt, hauled nasty hoses, and given fencing lessons for money.  I’ve submitted entries to graphic design contests, I’ve mixed music, I’ve produced videos. I’ve written stories, songs, and poems.  I’ve been a listener for many years, I’ve been told I present myself as much older, and I’ve acted like I’m 6 when I was 16 and probably vice-versa.

I’ve had my dog be put to sleep while I tried not to watch.  I’ve gone to several movie premieres.  I’ve been to Ohio, Illinois, and all over Indiana without my parents since I was 15.  I went to the iPhone product launch.  I have shirts from the Leopard launch and the Ars Technica WWDC party in 2008, both gifts from friends.  I went to the Star Wars Celebration III.  I’ve been to Disney World and I’ve walked the streets in downtown Miami with a group of barely college aged pals and two adults.

In short, I’ve done some crazy stuff up to now.

And I’m only 18.

I can only imagine what will happen, what I’ll do, and most of all, who I’ll meet in the future.

Thanks everyone who helped shape this list of experiences, and especially Will, Kerby, Ed, Josh, and Andrew for shoving me farther and accompanying me on these many adventures.  If you can think of anything I haven’t listed or still need to do, please, please tell me.