Non-Graduate Experiences?
Only naiveté ignores the value of experiences outside the graduate program. This page rejects that naiveté. This page highlights the personal and academic experiences that I bring to my student affairs practice. It is the undergraduate fraternity political experiences, the orientation leader/coordinator/intern experiences, the campus event planning experiences, and the relationships I have made along the way; Nothing I have done, I have done alone.
High School
Imagine a laser pointer pointing out from your outstretched arm. Imagine it runs into something a mile away. Now, move your arm just an inch in any direction. A mile away the laser jumps wildly in the direction of your movement. Now, instead of a laser pointer, imagine you’re holding a lamp without a lampshade. Moving your arm an inch makes no noticeable difference on where the light lands. I am not sure if high school is a laser pointer or an unbridled lightbulb, but I cannot suggest I do not see any light left radiating from before 2010. For my want or not, my high school experiences continue to shape who I am.
I attended Tomah High School (2006-2010) in Tomah, Wisconsin. Greatschools.com gives Tomah High School a 3/10 rating, US News & World Report ranks it as the 223rd best public school in Wisconsin (7,801 nationally). I took every AP course offered (6), was voted “Most likely to own an Art Gallery” (replacing ‘most artistic’), and participated as both a junior and senior class officer. My involvement was broad and random – service, academics, theater, business, athletic training, and even varsity bowling. My first two years were dedicated to wood shop and drafting/auto-cad courses (I thought I would be an architect), while my last two years were science-oriented (I though I would be a surgeon). On most days I got to school by 6am and left by 9pm. If I was not at school I was probably at work. I had three jobs through high school (pizza chef, bowling alley attendant, McDonalds food service).
Undergrad
Turning down an $80k scholarship to a private Jesuit college (Marquette University) because I still couldn’t afford it was very much the energy I took to Minnesota State University, Mankato. But, I did not attend Minnesota State just because I could afford it, there were cheaper closer schools. I chose Minnesota State because they provided one of the oldest nationally accredited athletic training programs in the country… and I could afford it. Hilariously, I am not an athletic trainer.
First came my involvement in the Residence Hall Association (RHA) as the National Communications Coordinator (working with MACURH & NACURH) as a first year student. At the end of my first year I was elected as RHA President and as a student senator to the Minnesota State Student Association (MSSA; student government) and in the summer between my first and second year, I became an orientation leader. My sophomore year I also joined Lambda Chi Alpha, quickly becoming the chapter Vice President. As a sophomore senator I worked with the Mankato city council to negotiate the passage of a student fee to provide free public transportation to all students; I returned to orientation. Junior year, I took my student government involvement further becoming Vice President, while navigating both chapter recruitment chairman and fraternity educator roles. Between my third and fourth year, I led an orientation team. By my first senior year (2013-2014), I slowed down a bit, regathered myself and set the groundwork for my final year, while also serving as an orientation intern. As a fifth year senior I returned to student government as a senator and as student fee committee chairperson, I served as student homecoming events chairperson, and I served as fraternity ritualism chair and hosted a regional fraternity conference. By 2015, the point was clear, I was in school for my involvement as much as I was in school for my classes.
Undergraduate Academic Works.
As someone who graduated with a 3.80 GPA on 187 credits, I experienced a lot of different undergraduate courses. Here are some of my most notable papers that demonstrate the energy I brought to my previous studies. While the ideas continue to impact me, in many cases my opinions on the matters of these artifacts have changes.
It’s not worth making this up.
Life isn’t always predictable. Here are some of those fun photos. Afterall, you did make it to the bottom of a page, hidden at the bottom of a page. You deserve a little treat.
4-day Delay
With thousands of miles under my belt, I had almost never had travel issues. And then, a storm shutdown ATL sending a ripple through Delta’s air service. I was stranded in Providence, RI for four days longer than my initial 3-day trip.
Big Horn, Wyoming
As part of a 5,200 mile roadtrip. My fraternity little bro and I camped in Big Horn park in Wyoming. We had driven MN-AZ through CO, and then AZ-MN through Yellowstone.
Flying
A fraternity brother/aviation student enjoyed taking us up for rides. One day his instructor told him to turn off one of the two engines and begin a mock emergency descent. I trust my brothers, and I trust pilots, I REALLY trust my pilot brothers.
Reno Balloon Festival
When Dylan and I were still dating, I used some airline miles to fly out to Reno, NV, where he was working. We attended the Great Reno Balloon Festival together.
St. Maartin Airport
While taking a course on the cruise industry, as a recreation minor, we stopped in St. Maartin, home of one of a beach that is RIGHT next to an airport.
Roadtrips
There’s only so many times you can drive between IN and AR before you stop at this random roadside attraction. It is a HUGE chair!