Chapter 19

 The Mountain is Steep:

Much steeper than I thought

 

A week ago I packed my bags and headed to Chapel Hill for an opportunity of a lifetime. I was becoming a UNC Football Manager, which is something that the few have ever had the chance to do. I was super excited about the position, but I was a little skeptical about the time commitment.

When I arrived on Saturday, July 27^th I began my journey as a college football manager.

Most people probably don’t realize how much effort is put in behind the scene at any college sport. In fact, it was an eye opening experience for me because I really have never appreciated how much time people work each day for very little pay. Cooks, hotel maids, teachers, and a manager are just a few of the career fields that were created to serve others.

A manger has many responsibilities outside of helping set up for practice. For instance, during the first couple of days we sorted and issued clothing for each of the players. This task was by no means strenuous on the body, but mentally exhausting.  I was able to learn how to fold a shirt in a retail fold, which I didn’t even know existed. The manager job required me to be on my feet for almost 12 hours. I am not one to back down from hard work, but during summer football camp, the life of a manager is pretty grueling.

While we were working I would hear stories about past managers, and how of an awesome time they had. I heard stories about the bowl game experience. Then, I heard stories of people only seeing their family a few times a year, and only attending one Christmas in three years. Those words hurt. They hurt because my family has been the reason that I have been successful and the reason that I am in the position I am in. The rings, the clothes, and all of the rest of the gear sounded so nice, but none of it could match Christmas with my family.  After hearing all of the meat behind the job it made me really reconsider the job I had taken.

I began thinking almost every second after I heard news that I probably wouldn’t be home for Christmas.  Then I got to thinking about the time that I would spend with the team during practice, games, and travel.  My GPA was something that kept crossing my mind. I still haven’t marked getting into business school off my goals. Now, I am not saying that the manager position would have lowered my GPA, but I was just worried that it would be very difficult to maintain a decent GPA, be a manager, and still live the college life that I love. When I speak about the mountain that was steeper than I thought, I am talking about college. College is an uphill climb the whole way. There are no down hills, no breaks, and no short cuts. It’s something that is a learning process and each day will bring a new challenge.

So, after dinner tonight I called my parents. I had already been texting them with the emotions that I was feeling. They of course allowed me to make the decision, but they were able to steer me in the correct direction.

After I got off the phone with my parents, I decided that it would be in my best interest to quit the manager position. I decided this solely on my goal to be accepted into the business school, and to apply to a very competitive program called GLOBE.

I am disappointed in myself that I didn’t see this once in a lifetime experience through, but I also know that there was a reason for being a manager for only six days. Maybe it was to learn how to fold clothes properly, or maybe it was just for me to have that short lived experience. College is about the journey, no matter the task. It is not about just moving in or graduating, but it’s about the climb to the podium.

I may have fallen down, but I will be back on my feet shortly, climbing till I can’t climb no more.

 

 

Chapter 18

                                                                        Chapter 18:

The Summer of New Things

After finishing my first year of college I became very relaxed, and almost too relaxed. It has been well over a month since I last wrote and have a lot to catch you up on.

I knew that my summer would be cut short because of the manager job that I had accepted. So my goal for the summer was to get as much done in the little time that I had. And some of the events that I had planned I had never done before. My summer was based around three main events. 1. Beach trip with my cousin to Granny Kat’s house, which was a trip that I will forever cherish. 2. Work the Roy Williams Basketball camp, an experience that is worthy of a paragraph or two. 3. Go on a mission trip to New Jersey to restore houses that were ruined during Super Storm Sandy. However, I hadn’t planned to meet a girl, and they always seem to throw a curve in my life.

I already shared some things from the beach trip, but I wanted to share a few more. Grannies are the best. I mean it’s simple as that. In fact I could sit and talk to my grandmas for hours and learn so much about life. I also got to spend the time with my cousin, which gave us some ultimate bonding time. The beach trip to Granny’s house was something I will forever remember because of the laughs we shared. There was rarely a dull moment with the three of us. My cousin and I departed on mother’s day, and we decided to leave Granny numerous funny cards throughout the house to express our love. The notes were filled with humor and she is still finding some of them till this day.

The week I spent working for Roy Williams Basketball Camp was an unforgettable experience. I had always heard of how great the Carolina Basketball family is, but I had never actually experienced it. As an observer, you can see that for some reason everything comes together in a beautiful way. When people think Carolina Basketball a few words come to mind, classy and tradition. For a very long time the cooperation of coaches, players, and managers have created an atmosphere of compassion towards one another, which has helped maintain the Carolina way. For the short time I was able to work the UNC staff I felt at home. I made friendships that will never be forgotten, and gained connections that will definitely benefit me in the near future.

If you have never been on a mission trip, I encourage you to plan one right away. My church decided months ago that we would be teaming up to help with Super Storm Sandy in New Jersey. When my father informed me of the trip, I immediately told him I wanted to go! As I look back on the week that I spent in NJ, the blessing I received from the trip is much different than I expected. I expected to lead someone to Christ, or maybe tell my testimony to a crowd of people. God had a different plan for Austin Helms in NJ. He taught me new skills. I learned how to put up insulation, how to use a nail gun, and how to lay sheetrock. I also bonded with people from my church that I had never spoken with. No matter if you believe in Jesus or not, a mission trip is a way to help people in need. The victims of Super Storm Sandy will continue to have issues for at least a few more years. However, it’s not the number of people you help; it’s the thought of helping at least one.

If you ask me how we met I can’t give you a long drawn out story like most people can. I just have to say Facebook. It all started in 10^th grade when I asked for her number, and we began texting. After I was rejected numerous times during my 10^th grade year, I gave up.

Well that was of course until she agreed to meet me in person this March. I can remember March 30^th like it was yesterday. My 1990 Mazda B2600i and I made our way to this long awaited date. If you are unaware of what a B2600i is, I would encourage you to look it up. It is not by any means a car that you want to impress a lady with. However, I warned her of my truck and told her not to be shocked when I pulled up.

The ring of the doorbell seemed to last forever. Then she came busting through the door, walked past me and almost jumped in my car. I stood in complete shock. Shocked because I had never met her and shocked because I had never seen anyone that excited to get in my truck. I meandered back to my truck and said, “it’s nice to meet you, are you sure you’re ok to ride in this truck?” She looked at me wide eyed, and with the biggest smile and off we went.

The relationship that we have has taught me more things that I could have ever imagined. She taught me how to horseback ride and how to slow down in life. She was reading my goals one day and told me that I should live day by day. As I thought about her advice it became clear. My goals are mostly about who I want to be, not who I am. Even though they are very ambitious, I want to enjoy every moment before I reach the goals. I will begin to live this new philosophy, in hope that I will look back with no regrets.

Humans have a different time scale than God. We are made to want things on our timing, and often become very impatient when things don’t appear when we are ready. I have learned however that God is the time keeper. His timing is always perfect whether you like it or not. Sometimes people and opportunities show up when you’re ready, and sometimes they don’t, but when they do you must cherish the moments.

I have a few tips for your first summer during college:

1.      Plan a few things, but leave room for the unexpected

2.      Make new friendships, no matter what you drive

3.      You only regret the things you don’t do (if its legal)

4.      Each day is a blessing, each person has a story, and each life has a purpose.

 

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Semester Two:

“Its in the distance”

May 2013

It was around this time last year that the so called “senioritis” was beginning to sink in. I was ready to graduate, leave everything behind, and simply I wanted to start fresh. If you can recall, or maybe you are experiencing it at the moment, “senioritis” gives you an enormous amount of laziness. During the final stretch of my senior year I was having a blast, as I am sure most of you did. The reason for reminiscing is because in a matter of one year, you will find that using the ole “senioritis” trick, doesn’t work well with college professors. I realize I am not a senior anymore, but for some odd reason I had the same “senioritis” feeling. Maybe it was the 20 hour load that was finally beginning to put a toll on me, or maybe I was just ready to be home. Whatever it was, I had to get rid of it as soon as possible because I had 6 exams to take in a matter of 7 days!

The month of April was a month of academic rigor for me. I realized that my schedule the first semester didn’t compare to my 20 hour course load that I had this semester. I was not only taking more courses than the semester before, but I was taking more difficult classes. Three of the courses that I was in were business school prerequisites, which also didn’t help with the cause. As I scanned over the calendar at the beginning of April, it felt as if I would never make it. I could see the finish line, but I didn’t know if I had enough fuel left in the tank to make it there. However, as you can tell I made it! I not only made it, but I made it with two new opportunities on my plate.

I have mentioned before, and I will probably mention a thousand more times, college is full of opportunities, and each day is a new day for a new opportunity. If you can carry that attitude around with you during your college career, you will watch many doors open. Many doors have been slammed and opened for me in this short year at Chapel Hill, but on the last day of class, the doors of the Taj Mahal opened up. I received a call from the assistant equipment manager for the Carolina Football team. He called to inform me that I needed to come into his office for a bit to discuss some things.

Just to fill you in:

Earlier that week I was playing basketball with some buddies, and one of them asked me if I had any friends who would want to become a football manager. He mentioned that they were looking for one or two guys to come on staff for next season. I kind of just stopped and looked at him. Took a deep breath, and said, “And why didn’t you ask me? I would love to do something like that!!” For some reason or another he thought that maybe I wasn’t a big football fan or that he didn’t think I would be interested. I informed him that I would love to have a chance to work as a manager, and if he could get me hooked up that would be great! Within 24 hours, I was sitting in an office in Kenan Memorial Stadium having an interview.

Ok, back to the real world!

As I headed to the office at Kenan Memorial for the second interview, I had this weird feeling that I was actually going to get the position. I had already told my dad about the first interview and all of the perks I was informed about if I got the position. The equipment manager that interviewed told me that a manager is just like a varsity athlete, but you don’t play. If I was to receive the job I would travel, eat, sleep, practice, and receive everything thing that the team did. And since I would be working I would actually be getting paid. As I told my dad this I could feel him grinning through the phone. Was it the two free tickets to every game that made him so excited???

When I entered his office, it was as simple as it gets. “Austin, we liked your interview, and we would like to bring you on staff for next year!” Woah…what? Everything seemed crazy. I felt like I had been given a dream job. In a lot of ways it is a dream job to many crazy Tar Heel fans like me. After I hopped off the white chariot of a daze I was in; I signed a few papers, and became a Carolina Football Manager. I don’t tell you this to show you what all I have done, but I tell you this because every person, at every university in the world has a dream, and when you unload your bags on move in day is when your path to pursuing your dream begins. I don’t believe I ever had the specific dream of working with the Carolina Football Team, but I have always had the dream of working with “a” Carolina team.

When I found out that I had received the job I knew I had to quit my other job at The Daily Tar Heel. I wasn’t really excited about quitting The Daily Tar Heel because I enjoyed the job so much, and I was finally getting used to how everything worked. However, there was no way that I could do both jobs, and I figured that I could sell ads for the next thirty years.

If you ever have to quit a job for any reason I just have a quick tip. Always, always be a man/woman about the situation. Look your boss in the eye, tell the truth, shake hands and really thank them for the opportunity that they gave you. It will really say something about your character, and you never know if you will need them for a reference in the future.

I ended up gaining a dream job and quitting the best college newspaper in the same day. I called my dad to tell him the news and he was the first to congratulate me. We had a brief conversation and hung up. It wasn’t thirty seconds after a conversation and he had called back. He called back just to tell me how proud he was of me. I don’t know if he realizes it or not, but those are the moments that really mean something to me.

The other opportunity seemed to be another dream job of mine. I received a job to work for the Roy Williams Basketball Camp over the summer. I will be working as an RA (residential advisor) for the campers. My first year college experience felt like an enormous amount of blessings. I really didn’t know how to handle it all because I feel like I owe so much back. It wasn’t until I was talking to one of my friends back home that it all made perfect since. She told me, “Jesus said I’ve made you rich in opportunity so that you may be generous on every occasion.”

I guess I am overly blessed with opportunities, but one thing that I am not blessed with is genuineness. Final exams are a time that I really didn’t enjoy first semester because it feels like the only thing you do is sleep, study, eat, and study more.  

Since I was taking 20 hours, that meant I had to take a total of six exams. I knew that each of the six exams would be extremely difficult and I knew I needed to spend equal amount of time on each. It is very difficult to divide your time evenly between exams because they are all spread throughout the week. Your hardest subject might have its exam on the first day, or it could be on the last. Final exam week can create a ton of stress for a lot of college students because most of the time final exams count for a majority of your grade. After completing my second semester of exams I have found that the stress does absolutely nothing. Really, stop stressing if you are because in about two weeks, that exam grade won’t even be on your mind. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t study, but I am just telling you that you shouldn’t neglect your health just because you think that studying as much as possible will benefit you.

I realize that I don’t hold 4.0 GPA status, but during exams I have peace. Here are few things I do during exams that help eleveate some of the unwanted stress:

1.      Make a study plan, write down what you are going to study, and when you are going to study each day. Do this at least a week in advance, it will allow you time to add to the schedule.

2.      Stay active. I love to play basketball or run. Don’t forget that staying physically active during exams can be beneficial to your exam scores.

3.      SLEEP. I know it sounds redundant, but take naps. You will be able to remember much more if you take the time to sleep. I have yet to pull an all-nighter for an exam, and I passed with flying colors

My grades for my second semester in college were not as high standing as they were the first semester. As you continue your college career you will become accepting of grades that you thought you would never accept. And that is perfectly ok. Learn to not stress out about grades because there are better things to worry about.

My first year is over and it’s really hard to fathom. As I went back and read the first chapter, I read what I thought was amazing. “I don’t think I realize it yet, but my life is going to be transformed into something that I can’t imagine.” At the time I realized something, but I didn’t know what. I had faith deep down inside of me that couldn’t have been more right. My first year was definitely something that I couldn’t imagine. I never imagined meeting Hubert Davis, becoming the “bananaman”, or even making the Dean’s List first semester. But what I did imagine was that I knew that God had his hand on me and I knew if He was a part of my life, it would be nothing short of spectacular.

The Class of 2016 just moved one more year closer to graduation. As I sit on the beach with my Granny Kat, I can see it. I can see the upcoming years like a boat in the distance. It looks really far away and you can’t make out type of boat it is, but you know it’s there. Someone is guiding it, while the other is just along for the ride. As my boat nears the shore, I know there will be plenty of more opportunities to scoop on board, plenty of sharks that will get in the way, but in the end, my Guider, will lead me to the finish line.

 

 

 

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Planning your future:

“Working Backwards”

April 2013

 

Two weeks. I have two weeks until my first year of college will conclude. Since I seem to over analyze things, I also realize that I only have three more years left at what I believe is the greatest university in the nation. As I sat reflected on this past year, I was wondering if I missed out on anything. I began to write down new things I have done while in college, and the list continued to pile up. It was actually a hilarious experience because some of the stuff I still can’t believe I did. “Dressed up as Tinkerbelle for Halloween, tried out for the cheerleading team…etc.” If your attending college, or will be attending in the future, I encourage you to do so. My plan is to continue the list until I graduate. If you haven’t experienced many new things, the list will encourage you to branch out. Remember, every day is a new day for a new opportunity!

The number one goal, well I hope the number one goal of each college student, is to land a job after graduation. The pressure of getting a job has not hit me just yet, but I do realize that in about two and a half years it will be a major priority for me. I am not worried about getting a job when I graduate, but what I am worried about is “what” kind of job I will get. Will I like my job? Will I love my job? These questions are so crucial because who wants to have a miserable job?

I mentioned before that I have read many books on how people become successful, and all of the books share one simple trait. The people in them set their goals early. The goals they set for themselves were small, and each put them closer to their overall goal. However, they each had a twist to how they set their goals. (Just a side note- if you think that setting goals is silly, and if you believe that everything will work its way out itself, you are wrong.) The most interesting “goal-setting” tactic I have read is where one sets his/her goal backwards. For example, in ten years where do you want to be? Write it down, and when I mean write it down, I mean it! Get a piece of paper write now and begin the process. One’s goal needs to be very specific, down to what color you want you’re your house to be (nah, I’m just kidding, but have fun with it).  It is very difficult to think of where you want to be in ten years because everyone’s goals change overtime. However, take a minute to actually think about where you want to be. What do you enjoy? Really what do you enjoy? Do you really want to go to medical school just because it pays more? Do you find the outdoors enjoyable? What kind of careers go with that? Too many times you see people working just because “it makes good money.” It’s hard not to want to go after the money, but in reality, money doesn’t buy happiness. If you enjoy what you do, you will find happiness.  I actually watched a video a couple of months ago that really opened my eyes to this thought of, “what would you do if money wasn’t an option.” I have attached the link to the end of the chapter, and would recommend you watch it. It’s an eye opener. So take your time with creating that “mountain top goal.” If you are having trouble thinking of a goal, pray about it, consult with friends and relatives, and if all else fails search the internet. My number one advice would be to make sure that the goal isn’t primarily based on money, but based on a passion you have.

After you have manufactured the top of your ladder; it’s time to work backwards. When I was creating my goals, it was difficult to think that far in the future. Mainly because I had this voice in the back of my head telling me that I could never do that, or that my “ladder” seemed too hard to climb. I am not positive, but I am sure that most successful people have to fight those negative thoughts they have about their own goals. Persevere through the goal making process, and I guarantee that it will all pay off in the end.  In ten years, you will look back at the list, and you will get to see what you accomplished, and of course what you didn’t accomplish. This is all a part of the process of becoming a successful.  Your goal sheet may be long and detailed in some sections, and short in others. The sections that seem a little slim will give you places to add new goals that you will gain over time. Even though I believe that things happen, and other doors are opened to change one’s goals, this goal sheet will give you guidance. When or if another door opens, you’ll be able to carry this determination you have gained to your new goal.

Everyone dreams, it’s that simple. However, most dreams die in one’s sleep. My challenge to you is to not be a “dreamer” but be a “dream-doer.” I know it sounds a little cliché, but chase your dreams. Would you rather look back in ten years, and wish you would’ve planned out a tentative life plan, or do you just want to follow the norm? Don’t go for the job that pays the big bucks or the job that seems easy; go for the job that fulfills the dream. If you would’ve asked me 10 years ago what my dream was, I would’ve probably responded with, “I want to play in the NBA, or I want to be a dump-truck man.” I know that I will never play in the NBA, and I don’t plan on working as a “dump-truck man, but I think that 8-year old Austin had some wisdom. What if I became a basketball coach? What if my job wasn’t all about suit and ties, but more about getting dirty? These are things to think about, and to tell you the truth I have no idea where I will be in 10 years. However, by planning these next ten years in great detail, I will have a better chance of fulfilling my dream!

Please watch this video, it will inspire you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgmf0xTwsgE

 

My 10 Year Goals

 

Year 10 (Age 28)

o   “Buddy’s Car Wash”- my “self-service” car wash, will be stretched from the East-West Coast. The company will be different than any other “self-service” car wash because it will be managed and ran by high school students who have the dream of becoming an entrepreneur. I will teach the student(s) how to run and manage a small town business. I will manage each car wash by hiring teams in each of the states that Buddy’s Car Wash is located in.

o   Coaching a basketball team either for my child or at a college or institution

o   Attend my 10 year high school reunion

Year 9 (Age 27)

o   Becoming the father to at least one child (depending on the marriage situation)

o   Continue to expand the company (10-15 car washes)

Year 8 (Age 26)

o   Graduate with a MBA

o   Begin searching for a coaching job

o   Build teams where the car washes are located

Year 7 (Age 25)

o   Full-Time “Buddy’s Car Wash”

o   Buy my first home

Year 6 (Age 24)

o   Begin a MBA Program- preferably with UNC

o   Plant the first “Buddy’s Car Wash”

Year 5 (Age 23)

o   Begin my first job- Disney

o   Open a retirement fund (gotta get that out of the way!)

o   Rent my first apartment

o   Begin planning “Buddy’s Car Wash, create a marketing plan, find locations that will be the best fit

o   Explore the different types of car washes (make it awesome)

o   Purchase my first vehicle (preferably electric)

o   Attend my 5-year reunion

Year 4 (Age 22)

o   Run a marathon

o   Make the Dean’s list at least 3 times in my college career

o   Apply to multiple jobs, have options

o   Graduate College

o   Take a trip to Atlantis after graduation

o   Read your journal

o   Publish this book

o   Give book talks

o   Drive across country

o   10,000 blog views

o   Keep building that resume

Year 3 (Age 21)

o   Continue to edit college book

o   Study Abroad

o   Internship with Disney

o   Find a publish company for the book

o   8,000 blog views

o   Keep building your resume

o   Work for Carolina Basketball Camp

Year 2 (Age 20)

o   Apply to business school

o   Be accepted into business school

o   Become a basketball manager

o   Continue to edit my college book

o   Begin to contact Disney about an internship for the next year

o   Apply to a study abroad program

o   Keep building your resume

o   Work for Carolina Basketball Camp

Year 1 (Age 19)

o   Begin to edit your college book

o   Go on a mission trip

o   Work for Carolina Basketball Camp

o   Meet with a local “self-service” car wash man

o   Make a tentative 10-year goal sheet

o   Begin to build a resume

o   Practice interviews

 

**As you can tell my goals don’t mention getting married because I believe that is something that can’t be planned. Love will find me someday. **

My 10-year goal sheet will continue to change, but as of now these are my goals. I will continue to prepare myself, so that I may reach them. My goals might not make since to you, but they are not supposed to, as yours wouldn’t make since to me. After you finish your goals, hang them up, don’t forget about them, and read them at least once a month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Let’s Get Real:

“To change without changing”

 

In the process of writing this book I have been posting each chapter on a blog so that my family, friends, and past teachers can feel connected with my college experience. I also decided to make business cards and hand them out during my tours with the Admissions Ambassador program. I thought that this would be a great way for students to connect with me before I even graduate college. This has also helped benefit the process of in which I have written this book. My mom, who has probably been the biggest help of all in the process, is always willing to give her opinion about each chapter. Even though I value my mom’s opinion; I feel like sometimes that she has to be somewhat too nice to me, so when I get advice from non-family members I really take it to heart.

After the Duke game I headed home for Spring Break, to kick back, make a few bucks, and throw my parents a surprise 25^th wedding anniversary party. Spring Break is a great time to get caught up on sleep, go on a trip, or in my case go back home and spend time with your family. I guess all of the college breaks are like that, but it seems as if each new one is different. Like I mentioned, a number of different people have been reading my blog, and most of those people are from back home. During spring break my preacher called me from my hometown church to explain that he had read my blog in its entirety. We spoke for about twenty minutes about my blog postings, and he gave me some really intriguing insights. He told me that he enjoyed reading about all of my experiences, and even mentioned a few stories from his college days. However, he presented me with a challenge. He asked me to get real with the reader. To get more personal with what is going on in my life as a college student. For a minute I was confused because I feel as if I have been pouring my thoughts and heart into this book. And then he asked me a very important question, “What have you not succeeded at?” I didn’t know what to think, primarily because I really hadn’t thought about it. My plan for this book was to explain how to become a successful college student, but what I didn’t realize was that I hadn’t really elaborated on the times or the parts of my experience that hadn’t been successful. The only part that I had explained was how I was dealing with homesickness. After concluding our conversation I began to ponder about what I was leaving out, and realized I have a lot to share. So if you don’t mind, sit back, get a cola, and enjoy this chapter J.

As I write about the negatives or failures I have had while in college, I don’t want you to be scared about attending college. A wise man once said,  “….I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” –Michael Jordan

When you begin college you will soon learn that it will challenge you mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually. In my opinion at least of one of those traits will be challenged at any given time during your entire life.

Anyone can tell you that college will challenge you mentally. However, no one can tell you how it will challenge you. Most are challenged by either their course load or the feeling of homesickness. The meaning behind the title of “to change without changing” is that college will make you a different person, but you should never change who you are. What I mean by change is that I have seen my life change in a blink of an eye. I mentioned before that my aunt passed away with cancer right before I moved in to my dorm in August. My aunt was the backbone of our family. She was the center and the home of “fun times.” If we were to have a cookout with our families, we went to Tina’s, if I was bored on the weekend, we went to Tina’s. Tina was so special to my family, and I am so thankful that God allowed her to spend her years entertaining my crazy family. When I came home for the first time in the fall, I found myself thinking about going to Tina’s to hang out. Life is full of change, and it is so hard sometimes. Coming home to my house is another story. During the conversation with my preacher, he shared that he believes that you can never come back home. He explained that home will never be the same again. Yes, home is where the heart is, but it will never be the same. You are no longer that little boy running through the hallways. That was a tough pill to swallow. Every experience is different, but it feels as if I walked off of the stage on June 8^th 2012, and stepped into a college classroom. It goes that fast, and your life changes just as fast.  

The academics in college can challenge you in ways that the high school classroom never did. In a college class you are surrounded by people who are just as smart as or smarter than you. The college course load has been at times hard to handle for me. I find myself getting less sleep, and having less fun when I have to study for exams. It is never fun to spend a Friday or Saturday night studying. But, you have to accept it in order to be successful. I will say that coming to college has made me a better student, but I haven’t made better grades while in college. In high school I never made a B, so coming to UNC I thought I could continue that path. After a few failed exams, I soon learned that probably wouldn’t happen. The point at which you begin to accept B’s is hard. At least for me I wasn’t used to making that kind of grade and got really down on myself. For instance, this semester I have not been doing well in my Italian class. I continually call my mom and tell her how hard it is, and how I feel like I will never make it through the class. By being the great mom that she is, she helps me get through it and some of my stress goes away. When she finally asked me what my grade was in the class, I told her it was in the B to B+ category. She said, “What?!! Austin, do you know that I have been praying for you because I thought you were failing?” I didn’t realize that was how bad my attitude had gotten about the class. I honestly have not enjoyed that class because I know that the best I can make is a B+. In some college classes, you will try your hardest, and still make a B. I learned very quickly that a B is not a bad grade in college. The stress that you give yourself is actually worse than any grade you could ever receive.

In November, I became an uncle which has continued to change my life. Since then I have watched my nephew Luke grow and it has been quite an experience. When you see the happiness a family can have with a little miracle, it really gives you hope about your future. When I come home I get to see my nephew, and it is always nice seeing him smile. However, I don’t get to see him every day like I would like too. Every time that I get to see him, he looks different. Luke is a lot like my life, everyday something is changing. My sister and her husband, just recently bought their first home, and it just happens to be right behind the house I grew up in. The next time that I return home I will be able to have a good meal, see my nephew, and share a few laughs in a radius of about 100 feet.

How could college challenge you physically? In a recent article I read, it said that most college students gain on average a half a pound a week. This is obtained by overeating, drinking, and lack of exercise. It was hard for me to believe this statistic, but the article explained that in an average dorm room people have all of their needs. For example, its only two steps to the fridge, three to the bed, and one to the desk. In your dorm, you do much less walking than you do inside your house. I have gained a little bit of weight while in college, which is surprising to me because I thought I wouldn’t gain any. I figured I could workout, and eat the right amounts each day. However, sometimes homework and studying takes priority over working out. The physical aspect can actually affect your mental outlook. My advice would be to try and do something active at least five times a week. This is because working out is a huge stress reliever, and when I am not active I am less productive and feel a little depressed.

Different people deal with the social pressures of college in a variety of ways. As you know from reading a previous chapter that I don’t believe in drinking. If you are coming to college to go partying every weekend, you are coming for the wrong reasons. I have changed socially in the way that I go about meeting new people. When I was in high school I felt like I was there to please other people. So, I would never do some of the things I really wanted to do. Please don’t get me wrong, I loved every minute of high school, but in high school you are sometimes bullied or looked down upon if you do something different. For instance, I would have never dressed up like Tinkerbelle or been a Banana Man in high school. For some reason or another, college has given me a since of boldness, or maybe I had it all along.

My spiritual life has never been tested like it has been tested in these last few months. I haven’t had anyone challenge my faith in a public setting yet, but I have had to work with my personal faith. I am a Christian, and God is my number one. However, sometimes I think it would be hard for anyone to realize that. Some people have heard me cuss, be negative to others, and seen me miss church on multiple occasions. During the first semester I actually found myself attending church on a pretty regular basis, but as time began to progress, the time at church began to diminish. I was more worried about basketball games, tests, and sleep. Even though all of those are important, nothing is more important than God. Since I am on my own now, it seems as if I have figure that continued to realize what God has done for my family and I. Even though I have realized these things I still haven’t made it to church like I used to or worked on my relationship with Christ like I would have hoped. In my opinion, I have fallen into a comfort zone. If you are unfamiliar with the term “comfort zone” that is just went you are in peace with your life. No one should ever be in their comfort zone because there is always room for improvement in one’s life. I am truly disappointed in myself for not attending church on the Sundays where I just slept in. I knew committing myself to church would be very difficult, but I didn’t know that it would be this difficult. Even though I have not been going to church on a regular basis, I still read my daily devotional every morning. I would advise you to do so as well. There will be times when you fall into your comfort zone, and feel like you can’t get out, and by having that devotional it can help pull you out.

After rereading this chapter it’s amazing to look back on all that has changed in my life in a short amount of time. I lost a hero, became an uncle, gained a few pounds, and have evolved into a young adult. By reflecting on my college experience it has given me encouragement about my future, and hope when times get tough. To be honest, there are times that I feel like I will never make it across the stage again. When I got to thinking why this might be, I came upon this conclusion. In high school, I knew I was going to college after graduation, but after college graduation I have no idea. There is so much uncertainty about my future, and that is why I have doubt. I have doubt, however I also have faith in my future because I know the man behind it all has already done some miraculous things so far.  

 

 

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Duke vs. UNC

“The Greatest Rivalry in Sports”

March 9, 2013

If you’re not a basketball fan, I am sure that you are sick of me talking about basketball all of the time. If you are one of those people, just give this a chapter a chance and you might be transformed into a college basketball fan.

There are a few rivalries in sports that stick out to most people: The Yankees and the Socks, the Lakers and the Celtics, and in my opinion the greatest of all the Devils and the Heels. The Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels began this fierce rivalry in 1920. Since then it has been a rivalry that has produced a plethora of hall of famers, multiple national championships, and has been witness to some of the greatest basketball games of all time.

As you already know I grew up hating the sight of Duke. Some of my parent’s friends even called it “brainwashing.” The word Duke has never been a word that has evoked any positive connotation in our house, and if we knew someone who cheered for Duke they were scratched off of our friends list (just kidding). The Helms house bleeds Carolina Blue. It can not only be seen in our wardrobes, but anytime that the Heels are on TV, our house shuts down. My dad used to recite Woody Durham’s famous quote to us (Woody is a famous announcer for UNC Basketball). “Go where you go, and do what you do, when the Tar Heels are in trouble.” I didn’t hear those words much, but when I did, I knew my dad meant business. For some reason, the Helms household actually thought they had an impact on the game. This all might seem odd, but I just wanted to explain how I was brought into this life. Loving the Tar Heels, and hating the Devils, it’s just my way of life.

When I was a small child I always dreamed of going to a UNC vs. Duke game. I can still remember asking my dad if we could go, and he would always explain to me how hard it was to get a ticket. I was very young at the time, so I didn’t take it very well. However, now I understand fully what he was talking about. The UNC vs. Duke game isn’t like any other game, it’s completely different. The atmosphere of this game is something that can’t be touched, and that atmosphere comes with a high price tag.

When I arrived at UNC I knew that I would at least have the opportunity to go to one Duke game because the university gives a priority to seniors. So arriving on campus as a freshman I never dreamed of going to the big game. However, as I mentioned in an earlier chapter I got involved. One of the clubs that I joined was Carolina Fever. In short, Carolina Fever is a club for students to join together and attend sporting events. Since basketball tickets are in such high demand at UNC; the top 150 people with the most points in Carolina Fever get basketball tickets.  For example, if you were to go to a volleyball game in the fall, you would earn three points. After I figured out how to earn tickets I began to attend as many sporting events as possible in hope I would get Duke Tickets. During fall break I even made my dad take me back early so I could go to a soccer game. I wanted the ticket so bad!!

During the season I was fortunate enough to earn tickets for all of the basketball games, but I was still unsure if I was going to get the Duke ticket. As you can guess, I should have never worried, I got the Duke Ticket!! As a freshman I got the Duke Ticket. I not only got a Duke Ticket, but I got a phase 1 ticket, which meant I would be one of the first students to enter the Dean Dome. I really couldn’t believe that I got a ticket because I remember my dad saying how hard it was to get a ticket. I was finally going to get to live out my dream!

The date was March 9^th, 2013, spring break had begun, and it was time for the UNC vs. Duke game. When the game is held at UNC it is a little different than when it is held 8 miles down the road at Cameron Indoor. Firstly, the tickets at Cameron are much harder to get because their arena is so much smaller. Also the students at Duke have to camp out in order to get a ticket. UNC uses a lottery system if you are not in the top 150 of Carolina Fever. Since we didn’t have to camp out to get our tickets we could show up a few hours before the doors opened. The UNC athletic association also makes sure that people don’t campout to be first in line. They do this by randomizing the line. For instance, if there are 500 people in line and they call number 300, number 300 would go first. The system can work for you or against you; it all depends on the number that is called.  

Since I had a phase 1 ticket I had to get to the Dean Dome a little early so that I would be in line for the randomization. A couple of buddies of mine and I arrived at the Dome at 3:15. The randomization was scheduled for 4:00. I was given number 259, and I was hoping that my number or close to my number would be called. I have never been a lucky person. I once won the lottery though; I bought a $1 ticket and won $1. That was the first and last lottery ticket I bought.  I have never had great luck, so I figured someone right behind me would be called and I would have to go to the back of the line.

I was wrong….

When 4:00pm came up the security guard began to make his way down the line. He kept saying a number, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. He kept approaching my group and kept repeating the same number. Finally, he got close enough and I made out the number. He said “number 252,” wait….. He just said what? I was 259 remember. I took a breath, looked at one of the guys I came with and we just started yelling. I was going to be the eighth person in line. That meant that I was going to be on the front row of the UNC vs. Duke game. I was not only attending the UNC vs. Duke game as a freshman, but I was going to be posted up on the front row. Did I mention that the #bananaman was still alive? Oh yeah, the banana would be on the front row. College Gameday, ESPN primetime, Dickey V baby, all of it began to sink in. The people in front of us were also realizing how lucky we just got. One of the guys kept saying, “senior year, senior year!” I looked at him and said “freshman year, freshman year!”  We high fived, shared a laugh and paraded to the front of line.

When we finally passed all of the 200+ students that were in front of us, we all got on our cell phones and began to call our friends and relatives. It was if we had won the real lottery! In that moment I was quite possibly the happiest I had ever been. This was something I could only dream about. I actually texted my mom and said, “A dream is only a dream, until you make it a reality.” I know that I was very fortunate to make it to the front row, but the text just seemed appropriate. The phone calls, texts and tweets took up a majority of our time in line because we were all in shock. I even tweeted Dick Vitale and told him that if he had the chance he should come see the #bananaman in the student section.

The wait took a long time, but it was well worth it. If we were to win the game it was going to be a huge upset. Duke was ranked 3^rd in the nation, and we were unranked. However, my Heels were on a 6 game win streak and the Tar Heel faithful had hope. When the security guards finally let us in at 6:30 we came busting in. I was actually stopped by a security guard who told me to slow down. She didn’t have any idea how long I had waited for this moment. The banana and I scooted down to the risers, and we claimed our spot on the front row!

The experience I had at on the front row got better as time progressed. We were informed by some of the security guards that we needed to behave while in the risers. They said that the courtside seats in front of us cost in the range of $50,000. For real though, the security guard dropped the 50G on us. I stood in disbelief and he reassured us that if we got out of hand that they could have us removed. I took his advice and continued to absorb everything.

Since this was my first experience of the rivalry in person I was in heaven; especially when all of the celebrities walked out. There were so many famous people in the building that I couldn’t even find them all. Just to name a few, Andy Roddick, Brooklyn Decker, Mitch Kupchak, Merril Hoge, and Andrew Wiggins were in the audience. Andrew Wiggins, the number one recruit for the class of 2013, was sitting about five people to the left of me. I’m not going to lie, that was pretty exciting. Dick Vitale made his way over to the student section and I got to shake his hand. The electricity before the game is something that I will never forget.

The game on the other hand was not as electric. The Heels didn’t play up to potential. We didn’t make the shots that we usually make, and the Devils made all of their shots and then some. We were down 18 at halftime and it wasn’t looking bright for us. All I kept saying to myself was, “go where you go, and do what you do,” but I realized I couldn’t do that because I was in the Dome. I hope my dad understood that I could go where I go.

The Heels came out much better in the second half, scoring a little better and playing defense on a slightly higher level. But, it was Duke’s night. They were feeling it. Sharpshooter, Seth Curry didn’t miss his shot, and the Tar Heel big men couldn’t handle the size or the athleticism of Mason Plumlee. When the final buzzer rang, the score was 69-53 in favor of Duke.

The score might have been in a favor of Duke on that Saturday night, but I still felt like a winner. I had experienced something that some just dream about, and something that was probably a once and a lifetime opportunity. If we would have won the game, I probably could have written a totally different book on the subject. However, the experience was all I needed.

I hope that you, the reader gain something from this. Maybe you aren’t a UNC fan, or maybe you are not a basketball fan at all, but everyone has a dream. Since I was a small child I wanted to go to a UNC vs. Duke game, and I finally got to experience it. No, I didn’t know when it was going to come, or how it was going to come, but I made that dream a reality. Living out a dream is hard to explain. It’s something that is surreal in every way. When you finally get to experience the reality of a dream, take it all in. Scream, yell, and get pumped because you made it happen. You might have had a little luck on the way, but you took the small steps to get to where you are. Keep working hard, keep studying, because one day it will all pay off!

 

Chapter 13

Becoming a Veteran:

“Just Call Me Kobe”

February 2013

 

When I was in first grade I was a diehard LA Laker fan. I can still remember the Shaquille O’Neal jersey my parents bought me for Christmas. I wore that purple jersey everywhere. Since I lived in North Carolina and I was only in first grade I figured that I would never get to see my favorite team play. However it just so happened that I became really good friends with a season ticket holder of what used to be the Charlotte Hornets. During first grade Chris Baker and I became really good friends, and he eventually learned how much I loved the Lakers. So, as you may have guessed he invited me to go watch the Lakers in Charlotte with him. I don’t think I realized it then, but going to a Lakers game is a huge deal. Especially for basketball fans, and it just so happened that this Lakers team had three hall of famers. The legendary Phil Jackson, the face of the franchise, Kobe Bryant, and my favorite player of all time Shaq, all were suited up and in front of me that night. We arrived at the game a little early so I was able to watch the players’ warm-up from our lower deck seats. For a first grader the gigantic basketball players didn’t seem like real humans; they were giants! As my dream of watching a Lakers game became a reality I began to take it all in. I can still remember the day like it was yesterday. I remember being amazed by the huge TV screen and I even missed Shaq dunking it because I was just so infatuated by the entire arena. Even though I did miss some key parts of the game; I got to see the most important part.

The game was tight the entire game and no one could really claim a substantial lead. It was one of those games where the last person to have the ball was going to win. And it just so happened that the Lakers had the ball with 20 seconds left on the clock, and everyone knew who was going to take the shot. The Hornets were up one and the Charlotte faithful were on their feet.  As time fell, the ball was placed into the veteran’s hand, Kobe Bryant. Kobe dribbled a few seconds, made his move, drained a shot from the corner and the buzzer sounded. Since I was surrounded by ticked off Hornets fans, I had to celebrate discreetly. The Lakers game is one of my most treasured childhood memories.

You might be wondering why in the world I would share something like that, but I feel as if Kobe and I have a little in common. No, I don’t have the rings, the fame, or the basketball ability, but I am slowly becoming a veteran of this thing called college. Even though my classes are more difficult and I am much busier than I was first semester; it feels as if I am becoming a great college student. My study skills have seemed to improve, I am reading more than ever, and I feel like every day seems to zoom by.  I hope I am not getting over confident, but I just want to express to you that the college experience gets easier. At times, like how I was just a few weeks ago, you’ll want to give up, but you have to realize that you can make it through the adversity.

The spring semester allows you to see college in a different way, and you have to remember to continue to search for opportunities because with a new semester comes new opportunities. If you’re at a college basketball school you will have the opportunity to attend basketball games. Attending basketball games at UNC has been an incredible experience. It has been an incredible experience because I have waited so long to have the opportunity to come to these games, and because I am now called “The Banana Man.” I know what you’re thinking. This Austin guy, he’s weird, he’s crazy, and why would he dress up as a banana at a UNC basketball game? A banana has no correlation with the Tar Heels and it’s not even the same color, why would anyone do that. Trust me, I have been asked those same questions a thousand times, and my answer is still the same. Why not? Or sometimes I tell them I want to get on TV so that my parents can see me. I see it as another opportunity to do something that I have never done. It seems like a silly opportunity, but it’s not every day that you get to wait in line for hours in the freezing cold just to dress up like a banana. By being at every home game dress like a banana I have gained plenty of ESPN time, the title of “The Banana Man” around campus, and an experience that has made my college experience even more worthwhile. I am finding that the more that I step out of my comfort zone; the more doors that are opened. I have learned some valuable lessons by being “The Banana Man” over this short time.

1.      Sometimes you have to wait in line, but when that door opens, you better be ready.

2.      When you’re studies become overwhelming, take a break.

3.      When the Tar Heels make a shot, Go Bananas!

It is very important to be involved with the college environment. If you are not a college basketball fanatic like me, it is still a crucial part of the experience. I felt like I hit on this enough in a past chapter, but I really want to hammer home all of the positive experiences I have had with getting involved on campus.

My second semester is already proving to be harder than the first and I know I will have to work harder this semester than I did in the last. However, the time is flying by and the first exam season is already here. I might not make the game winning shots like Kobe does, but I have a feeling that when I walk out of this place in four years; I’ll look back on my experiences and give them a place in my Hall of Fame.