I’m sure you’re all wondering why I’ve gathered you here today

Just Life

2 years into college with 2 weeks (11 days) until my 21st birthday I have finally come through on the promise to start a blog. This last week I made the trek to visit little ol’ Alturas and realized some of you might read it. I can see enough of you in my life are interested (and I’m sure my mother is tired of getting all the questions about me) so this is my solution. I plan on adding when I can to keep all of you up to date and eventually for me. When I get out of this colligate obstacle course in a few years I want something to look back at find out what happened!

Year’s of hard work went into preparing for the ominous abyss every high school kid dreads but aspires for. College was the goal that you stubble for, but the funny part is that for most of it… YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU’RE GOING! It’s the deepest fear that us “promising collegiate” kids have, we won’t find it. Or even worse, if we do they don’t find us. After talking with a family friend (who is on staff at a university in Nashville), he gave me some direction and cleared up a lot. I narrowed it down to the two Music Industry Studies programs belonging to the RIAA in the SoCal area: Cal State Pomona and Cal State Northridge. When talking to the head of the program he directed me more towards a broader and encompassing option in the CTVA major. He described the multimedia production major that would have sound classes, editing classes, and that more creative option. It was a better major for me then the one I wanted! I followed through with CSUN and made it here in one piece.

Freshman year was a crazy experience with a lot of freedoms and responsibilities. I went crazy for my major, enjoyed my freed up schedule, meeting all the new people, making a name for myself in the little things I did, and I joined one of the fraternal organizations on campus. Tau Omega Rho (TOP) rushed me based on our mutual values. Our focus on athletics, academics, leadership, and being just an all around swell guy. They formed the founding chapter at CSUN five years ago and are a local fraternity based on three founding principles: Courage, Integrity, and Excellence. I rose up quick and became an Executive Member after just my second semester as Recruitment Chair. I knew what guys were looking for, I had vision, and a creative edge so I took the position and ran with it. That next year I was responsible for recruiting 11 members the first semester and 13 in the spring. (The average is 10 and 5.) This next year I’m going to focus less on the fraternity and more on another outlet. I haven’t decided yet but the vast amount that Northridge has to offer makes it easy to just experience something different and refreshing.

I am living with 3 other guys in an apartment right off campus. No, I still do not have a car in LA and I am one of the few. I have plenty of friends that are more than willing to get me anywhere, which is a blessing, but it does make things quite difficult at times. Both of my jobs are through the University Student Union (USU). The Union is an auxiliary to the campus that provides survives for students, hosts student government, and is responsible for multiple community outreaches. I am personally involved in survives and outreach. During the school year I hold a part time job through the Computer Labs, down in the USU on campus and in the Satellite Student Union (SSU). It is a part time job giving me 20 hours with service industry training, IT training, and other general job trainings that they provide. In all honesty, the USU has been the greatest asset I have received in how to act in a job setting and preparing for the work place. It is a multimillion dollar cooperation and it is invaluable how they are teaching every employee the inter workings of a fine tuned business. I am currently working on the wireless printing video for the lab so they can “utilize my major and skills.” A job that aspires to help you grow is priceless. The other job I hold is during the summer that I am starting this Monday the 16th. I get to work with the most genuine people. You know exactly when they are telling the truth, and when they are flat out lying. These guys always have 100 times more energy then you but you kick it out because you have to. That’s right, I’m a camp councilor! As funny as it sounds now, I don’t know what my tune will be in a week. Really though, the other staff are great, I’m receiving about 30 hours (along with about 10 from the lab still), and the program itself is great. It’s a day camp called Sunny Days (http://usu.csun.edu/sunnydays/halfday.htm). I am a Half-Day Councilor meaning I get 10 more hours of sleep than the other guys! I love it already and the pay isn’t that bad. Work is going to take up a majority of my summer but I am excited for the “break.” For those of you that asked, yes, I am in a relationship… We have been friends for about a year. Met in a class, ended up she was able to hold a conversation for more than 10 minutes, had an opinion on her, and she has a cute smile, what’s not to like? Anyways, we’ve been dating for about 3 months now but it is a fitting college relationship. She’s a best friend that happens to be a pretty girl and I’m sorta kinda into. But that’s all.

Cooking and I have a complex relationship. I think it’s the best thing in the world sometimes… but then I have the other things. I have to actually plan, and BUY food. Then I get to eat the food, but it take twice as long to clean! The whole process just is a mess, literally. Through all odds, I have become an amazing chef (ask anyone that has eaten anything of mine) and I am quite proud of that. Last week was a pork shoulder, cheesy garlic mashed potatoes, garlic french bread, seasoned corn and a spinach salad to boot. I’ve gotten cooking supplies from various friends and with people moving out I got quite lucky with some Cuisine Art pans. So for all of you that asked if I was starving… NO, in fact quite the opposite!

Not to say I’ve gotten fat by any means. The brand new 2 million energy self sustaining gym with everything from basketball courts, to an indoor soccer arena, and an eighty foot rock wall in our lobby is a great friend of mine. And I get my full tuition money from it furshure. I am involved in most every intramural on campus through TOP. Basketball & Volleyball (both semesters), Ultimate Frisbee, Soccer, and Football just to name a few. Not to mention all the other tournaments and competitions throughout the year for the other greek organizations. I have kept myself pretty well so all you relatives I am health as well.

After going on this big trip home I got to reconnect with an old friend. It was great to be able to relate on endless issues and mutual struggles. I found that ally, and with someone to lean on it’s just as awesome to know they can find support in me as well. Even with an abundance of years difference, we have that close friendship that just kind of happened. It’s just another addition that he has the wisdom to ‘impart’ as well haha.

This is as good a place as any to end it as my fist entry. It took me all night but I’m pretty sure this is you being caught up. If there is anything you want to know or are curious about let me know. I don’t quite know what the format of this will be… Heck, maybe it will end up with cooking experiences or the latest intramural game. Read what you want but don’t come whining to me if you spent your whole day reading it. I’ll try to make them as entertaining as possible. Multimedia majors have a few tricks up their sleeves ;)