Chapter 31

Summer 2014 (July)
"Start Living"

FYI: Summers as a college student are much different than they were in high school.

In high school, most students' summers start at the end of May or beginning of June, which usually sends them to the beach for a little while, some might work a summer job, and off season practices for sports.

Now in my second summer as a college student I've learned they're much different. The school year ends at the beginning of May, giving students almost three months off. These three months are in my opinion the most critical. During the school year students are in a routine going to class, hanging out, etc.. But when the summer comes you have to find your own way. There is no structure during these three months. You can be lazy, by living at the expense of your parents and dread the real world that will soon hit, or you can start living your life. What I mean by "living your life" is these summer months can be used as a test run for your future. For example, get an internship, or shadow someone in the field you would like to enter. Internships are more long term and require more time, but most are paid. Shadowing is volunteer work but you can learn a tremendous amount.

My favorite part of summer is traveling, which is different than vacation. Vacation in my opinion is going somewhere to relax, catch some rays, buying some cool things, etc. Traveling is much more. Traveling means having a goal. Going places you have never been, asking yourself if you could live there, and really trying to get immersed into the culture. Don't get me wrong, you can relax when you travel, but it's not vacation. I'll take vacations when I'm older, unless it's the family beach trip 😊

From the previous chapter you learned that I worked for a bank in London on a shadowing/internship experience, and I also got to travel. Post-graduation I would like to be an entrepreneur with a flexible schedule, so I'm practicing that now. It's much easier and cheaper to try things out now than later.

Today, July 12, 2014, I'm writing this chapter in California. The first chapter that hasn't been written in North Carolina. I'm sitting in the San Francisco Airport at gate 23 waiting on my red eye flight to Charlotte, and I couldn't think of a better way to conclude one of the best traveling experiences I've ever had.

For the longest time I have dreamed of moving to California. No reason why, I just have always wanted too. I had never been there before this trip, and thought if I was ever going to go, it had to be while I was I'm college. My dad was my partner for the trip and I couldn't think of a better travel partner.

I'm a planner as you have probably figured out, but this trip I didn't want to plan as much. I just wanted to go with the flow. We had a few goals on the trip; we wanted to visit Los Angeles, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Santa Barbara, the Pacific Coast Highway, and
San Francisco. Since we were going to be in California for a week, we knew it would leave some extra time for spontaneous stops along the way.

Our adventure began at LAX where we picked up the rental car and entered the land of $4 gas. We spent the first 2 days in LA visiting almost all tourist areas and Six Flags Magic Mtn. Day 3 was spent at Santa Barbara, which was my favorite part of the trip. It had a small town feel to it, but was much larger than my small town. Day 4 was spent driving the Pacific coast highway, which in my opinion is the prettiest road in the world. We probably stopped every 30-45 min to take pictures because the views were so breathtaking. The trip from Santa Barbara to San Fran was supposed to take close to 6 hrs, it took us 12. The stops were well worth it! We saw elephant seals, the 18th hole at Pebble Beach (site for the US Open), and drove on the side of a cliff for hours!

Just outside of San Francisco is the city of Palo Alto, which is where Stanford University is located. I've always bled Carolina blue, but I've had a dream of being a Cardinal under my sleeve for quite some time. Stanford is known for its prestigious academics, and amazing architecture of its campus. I’m intrigued by both, especially it's graduate business school. After walking around the campus, I convinced my dad to let me go by the business school for just a few minutes.
I approached the business school  in complete awe and felt a pull or a feeling of I was in the right place. Like I'd be coming back. It was different, it was special. Maybe it was God speaking to me or maybe not. But I do know God can make a dream a reality if you let him.

We left Palo Alto and spent our last days in San Francisco. One of our church friends had actually moved to San Francisco and invited us to stay with him and his family. This was beyond awesome for my dad and I. It gave us time to fellowship with someone from back home, it gave us advice on where and where not to go, and it just so happens that he works at Twitter! And yes, we got to tour and eat in the Twitter building.

When you plan, you know where you're going, when you go with the flow and let go, God places people into your life that are truly special. My dad and I will forever be grateful for that family and my dad assured them they can stay at our house anytime at his "Bed and Breakfast, where you make both"

San Francisco was beautiful like the rest of California, and we learned that July is much different than July back home. It was 62 degrees one day with wind gusts that made it feel like 50, definitely not the North Carolina July I'm so fond of.

My dad and I both have favorite parts of the trip, but I do have to say there wasn't one part I didn't like. Spending moments with someone you love, and seeing sights you've never seen are things you'll never forget. If you plan on traveling in the future here are some tips:
1. Travel with someone you love, you'll make memories that'll last a lifetime
2. Take too many pictures
3. Take back roads in strange places, even if you get lost
4. Try and eat at non-chain restaurants, if you're from the east coast you have to go to In N Out!
5. Scream, yell, and open your eyes on scary roller coasters

I came to a realization right before I dove into my first wave in the Pacific Ocean. My goals are great, but I have to stop planning for tomorrow and start living for today because that's where I'll find the most satisfaction.

                                                                    

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Summer Break 2014

Pictures don’t do it justice

For the longest time I have listened to other people tell me about their travels around the world. Listening to their stories and looking at their pictures made me want to travel myself. During my sophomore year when I was making my “I will” list I decided I was tired of hearing, “Oh it is so beautiful, or that place isn’t what I thought it was going to be.” I wanted to travel. I wanted to see for myself this world that I was missing.

In preparation for my goals of traveling I had to get my passport, which I advise you to get as soon as possible. The first place that was on my travel bucket list was Europe, and it just so happened that my roommate from my sophomore year lived just outside London. Throughout our entire sophomore year I told him that I would be visiting him, but I don’t think he actually believed me until I hopped on the plane.

The entire experience was new to me. I had never ridden on a plane by myself, experienced jet lag, I had never traveled east of North Carolina, and this was my first trip out of the US. However, that all changed on May 12 when I boarded the US Air flight to Heathrow Airport in England. 

I had planned out the trip months before so I could make my 2 week stay as beneficial as possible. During the first week I toured most of Southwest England, including Weybridge, Windsor, Wimbledon, Bath, Stonehenge and towards the end of the week we did an entire walking tour of London. The second week involved my roommate and I doing a shadowing at a bank his father worked at. The shadowing involved us commuting into work by train and the tube, which took about an hour. It involved us working with different departments, shadowing meetings, and also they gave me a mock interview. Even though I don’t think I want to enter the field of banking, I loved the entire experience and the international internship experience will definitely be something I can talk about in future interviews.

When I returned home I kept getting asked the same question, “What was your favorite part?” To this day I still don’t know the answer because I enjoyed the entire trip. I loved every trip we took, even the smallest ones to Tesco (grocery store, similar to Wal-Mart). Each place we went I was amazed by the beauty. Then the thought came, “I have to keep traveling, I am missing so much.” Don’t get me wrong, the sunset in Chapel Hill is beautiful, but the sunset in London is spectacular.

By the end of my stay I began to understand the British accents better and I was even using some of the lingo (Tube for subway, Toilet for bathroom). I found that the food wasn’t much different than America other than the fact that they don’t use any high fructose corn syrup, which explained the skinner people. The reason the trip was such a success was due to getting to stay with my roommate’s family. Without them I would’ve been lost, hungry, and probably broke. On one of the last days I told them that I couldn’t have imagined my first trip abroad being any better than it actually turned out.

I have been back in the states for about two weeks and my summer is just getting started. Soon I will head back to Chapel Hill to work my second summer at Roy Williams Basketball camp. Then I have a few trips planned to the beach, and a trip to California, where I have always wanted to visit.

My advice to you, wherever you are in life, college, married, or a senior citizen, don’t ever stop traveling and seeing the world. Pictures don’t do it justice. Pictures can’t do it justice. For years I looked and heard about traveling, but not until this past year did I truly experience the first person view. And yes, it’s much better.

Chapter 29: It just keeps getting better- "Brotherhood"

Chapter 29:

It just keeps getting better:

Brotherhood

May 2014

 

Each year during the last Admissions Ambassador’s meeting some of the senior ambassadors stand up and give a “senior moment.” The moment gives them time to reflect on their four years as an ambassador and a student. They use this time to share advice and funny stories to the other ambassadors in the room. By far, this is my favorite time of the year because for each “senior moment” I feel like I learn something new. The “senior moment” that really stood out to me came from a girl that asked a simple question. If you could give each semester a word or a phrase what would it be?

She told us that someone had asked her the question just a few days before the meeting, and she found enjoyment when reflecting back on each semester. Even though I haven’t been in college for eight semesters, I figured I could give it a try for the four semesters I have been here.

Semester 1 (freshman) – Tried everything

Semester 2 (freshman) – Banana Man

Semester 3 (sophomore) – B-School

Semester 4 (sophomore) – Brotherhood

The first three semesters probably made since to most of you, but the last one, “brotherhood” is something that I haven’t had much time to talk about.

This past year I was lucky enough to live with five of the best guys I have ever met. However, one of the guys didn’t live with us second semester because of an internship program through his major. Anyways, since I had met the guys during my freshman year I knew that this year would be one I would never forget.

Our suite was definitely a diverse group, but that didn’t have any effect on our relationships. Each of us had a different major, each did different things outside of the suite, but when we were all together we made some awesome memories. Just to give you a taste of the intellect I was surrounded by, my roommate is a biomedical engineer major, and half of his coursework looked like a foreign language to me. Another one of my suitemates is a chemistry major, and one day when I was feeling extra inquisitive I asked about his lab research. Before telling me all about his research he asked me, “Do you really want to know? (with a slight chuckle)” At the time I truly wanted to know,  but as he began speaking of proteins, and something about enzymes, I understood his questioning. After his ten minute explanation I told him that it sounded very interesting, but I didn’t understand anything he had just told me.

The main difference I found between the living arrangements as a freshman in a hall style dorm and sophomore year in a suite was how well you get to know the other people you live with. Since we all enjoyed doing different things, I found myself doing different things with each of them. For example, with one of the guys I had a running record of our 1v1 basketball games, and I finished the year with 7 wins and 8 losses (disappointing I know). With another one of the guys I went out to eat for breakfast on a few Friday mornings throughout the year. I could go on and on about the experiences that I had with my suitemates, but in short, in the two semesters I lived with them I feel like I gained a new family.

On one of the last nights that we were in the suite we all sat around and talked about the stories/memories of the past year. The more we talked, the more we laughed. It was in that moment of storytelling that I felt like I was truly in a brotherhood.  If you ever live in a suite full of your friends, make sure you set aside a night to reminisce on the past year. Looking back at all of the memorable nights we had together that was by far the best one.

It’s kind of crazy to think that my college career is halfway over. The hard part is over they say, but I think their wrong. When I was leaving the dorm the other day I felt something that I didn’t feel the year before. I felt like I was leaving something behind. I would no longer be a suitemate with these guys that I created all of these memories with and I would no longer be nagging them to clean the bathroom, which they are probably grateful for.

I believe academically that the “hard part” is over, but I believe that the next two years will be bittersweet. Each year in college you make relationships; you will form brotherhoods, and that’s something that will be hard to walk away from. The friendships I have made in college are much different than they were in high school. In high school most of your friendships are on the surface level, in college you have the opportunity to make lifelong friends. I am not saying that high school friends aren’t special or real, but in college, living with people creates a bond that high school can’t even touch.

Sophomore year ended with a high five to my Italian professor as I completed my last Italian course ever (well for now). As I walked out of my Italian final, I did what I did last year. I called my number one fan. “Mom, your son is a junior” the simple response my mom heard as she answered the phone. When you finish each year of your college journey, don’t be afraid to celebrate with someone. The simple phone call to my mom is my way of crossing the finish line, and in two more years the phone call will be a little more emotional.

After calling my mom after my last exam, I packed my bags and waited on my Granny Kat to pick me up for the 2^nd annual beach trip. The ride to the beach was long awaited, and filled with advice from Granny, “Plant your garden in the ground and wear socks when it's cold,” and laughs.  Over the years I have found that Granny’s jokes just keep getting better, and I know for a fact these next two years in college won’t disappoint.

 

Chapter 28:

Quick Updates:

Where am I now?

It has been some time since I have given you an actual update on where I am in my college journey. For starters, college continues to fly by; I am currently one month away from being halfway through with this journey.

Even if I am on semester number four, classes are still classes. This semester I am taking my last round of general education requirements, which means after this semester I will strictly be taking business courses for my major. When I came to UNC, I never thought that the non-business courses would actually be beneficial for my future. For example, when I began taking Italian for my language credit I thought that the class would be the death of me. The first class was extremely difficult, the second just as hard, but for some reason in the third and final class the material is finally clicking. By having to take classes outside of my major, the academics of college have pushed me to new limits.

I have not only pushed myself academically while in college, but also physically. I believe that in order to have a successful college career you must maintain balance. By maintaining balance in my college career I am able to have less stress. One way to relieve this stress is to keep active. The great thing about college is that there are a multitude of resources that help students keep an active lifestyle. During one of my runs through campus, something inspiring popped into my head. The thought was that each step I took was taking me one step closer to where I wanted to be. Sometimes I don’t know where I am going with my college journey, but I do know that I am taking a step in the right direction. So, challenging your body not only helps you maintain body weight, but also gives you some new outlooks on life.

It might be also noteworthy that I have still not found the “wifey.” I am learning that I mustn’t be impatient because that really isn’t going to solve anything. I do believe that in God’s timing, Mrs. Helms will come walking my way.

Since I have been in college for almost two years, I feel as if I have a favorite part. Friendships, it’s that simple. The friendships that I have made in college are something that I will forever cherish. These friendships are built through living with the same people for an entire year, laughing at each other, and taking “suite” dinners for special occasions. This past Friday, March 28^th, I experienced an unforgettable night with my suitemates. The night involved going out to eat at a local Mexican restaurant. At the restaurant we had a fake birthday celebration (they surprised me, my birthday isn’t until June), two of my suitemates sharing a Churro (they shared it Lady and Tramp style), and being tricked into entering an adult sex shop (the name was Cherry Pie, we believed that they sold dessert). In thirty years from now I will reminisce about college and the name La Hacienda will most definitely put a smile to my face. I will remember it because these friendships will last a lifetime.

As the halfway mark nears, I can only imagine the excitement of the next two years. Opportunities, hard classes/exams, new friends, and new memories all await me. I will keep running this race called college because I know that each step is a step toward my future.

 

My fake birthday celebration

 

Chapter 27- Live for the Moment

Chapter 27

Live for the Moment:

“There Snow Excuse This Time”

February 2014

I have become quite fond of this time of the year; spring is just around the corner, the IM basketball season has begun, and “The Game.” Since 1920, the UNC-Duke Game has been one of the most anticipated match-ups of the season. The rivalry only separated by only eight miles, has created some of the most memorable basketball games in the history of the game. When I came to Carolina I was well aware of the rivalry and had grown up watching the Heels beat the Devils on many occasions. However, all of the victories I had experienced were through television or radio.

            Since arriving on campus, we (Carolina) hadn’t beaten Duke in football or basketball. I was beginning to think that I had brought some sort of bad luck to the program. My UNC-Duke record as a student before February 20 was (0-4); we had two losses in football and two in basketball. However, for some reason this year felt different.

            The original game was scheduled to be played on February 12. However, at noon on game day, snow began to fall across the entire state of North Carolina. Chapel Hill, in the matter of hours became a winter wonderland. All classes after 1PM were canceled and the energy on the campus was electric. News came around 4PM that the game was still going to be played and the Dookies would be arriving shortly, or so we thought. The Dean Dome was preparing for what could have been the most hype game in college basketball ever. Since snow continued to fall, the season ticket holders were not going to be able to make the game. So, the University sent another email out shortly after the 4PM email, which explained that students would be allowed to enter the game to fill the empty seats. The energy of the campus continued to increase. The thought of a student filled Dean Dome was unfathomable. We all thought it would be a reality, until the news came at 5:30PM.

The Dookies, yes the Dookies, said that their bus couldn’t make it to the game.

The energy that the day had created evaporated in just a few seconds. It seemed as if all Carolina fans (students or not) let the world know what they thought about the Dookies. Every social media site totally blew up with posts, tweets, and pictures. If you were a Duke fan when the decision came out you probably stayed off of Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook because it was downright brutal.

The postponement was a disappointment to us all, but it also gave our Heels time to increase their win streak to 7 games. The game was rescheduled for February 20^th, exactly eight days from the original date, keep that number in mind. Duke was also able to gain some more momentum, ranking #5 in the nation, while we stood unranked.

When the day finally came there was no snow, no rain, but sunshine. This year I would be entering the Duke game as a manager, all suited up, for what would become a night I will never forget.  Although the Dean Dome was not completely filled with students, it was filled and it was filled with electricity. In the Pit (center-part of campus), hung a sign that said “There snow excuse this time.”

Without further a due, the ball was in the air, and the game had begun. The game had lived up to all of my expectations. The crowd was live the entire game, and by live I mean that the only time that the 21,750 fans sat down was during timeouts and halftime. Later, my parents told me that when they were watching the game on TV, it felt as if the screen was shaking.

We (Carolina) were losing almost the entire game, but every time Duke made a run, we had a run of our own. The entire game reminded me of a tennis match; Coach Williams would make a decision and then a counter-move by Coach K. Even though I missed a few minutes of the second half due to my manager duties, I caught the last few crucial minutes. These crucial minutes were fueled by a raging comeback, which eventually gave us the lead.

It would make since for me to give you the play-by-play of the last two minutes, but I think you know how the game turned out. Instead of recapping the last minutes, I want to emphasize the meaning of “living in the moment.”

As the clock hit zero and my Heels secured the victory, something special happened. In the matter of seconds the Dean Dome floor was filled with fans from all ages. Screaming, jumping, fist-pumping were all being played out before my eyes, and then I joined them. I took off my “manager tag” and happily put on my “student tag,” for this moment was special. We had won the game 74-66, which ironically was an eight point advantage.

Rushing the court after a win against your arch rival is a surreal experience. I was chest bumping with people I had never met, screaming until I couldn’t scream anymore, and felt as if I was in a dream. For a few brief minutes, I gave life on that court, everything I had; I was living in the moment.

I have found in my 19 years of existence that it’s not often that we as humans get to experience situations like the one I experienced. Our (and my) lives are too predictable. We go to grade school for 12 years, some of us go to college, and most of us will have families, get a job… and so on. This cycle has become a part of our culture. However, what if we lived for “the moment” every day? What if, people (including myself) woke up every morning with an upbeat and positive attitude to storm the court called life? The answer is simple. We would become better and we would experience life in a different, much more enjoyable way.

If I wake up in the morning (Feb 26), I will remember “the moment” of rushing the floor at the Duke game. The picture on my phone will most likely send chills up my arm because I can still feel the Dean Dome shaking. But, tomorrow won’t be February 20^th, it’s a new day, it’s time is ticking away, and it’s time to live for a new moment.

 

Ian, Me, Kellan (Post Court-Rush)

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Milestones for Both

“Semester 4”

January 2014

During winter break I had time to brainstorm new ideas for chapters, eat plenty of food, and anxiously await the business school admission.

When I began to brainstorm new ideas for chapters in my book I found that all of the chapters only voiced my opinion. So, in my search for new opinions I decided to interview a senior, dental hygiene major.

The interview gave me some new insight and also reiterated some of the ideas that I have already learned/written.  During the interview I learned that the interviewee would be the first member of her family to graduate college. So to say that this is just another college graduate would be a huge understatement, but a milestone that the interviewee will forever cherish.

Here are some of the questions that I asked during the interview:

1.      If you could go back, what would you have changed?

“I would have been involved in more UNC clubs or activities”

 

2.      What has been the most difficult thing for you to overcome while in college?

“Accepting the fact that I cannot make perfect grades as I did in high school. The course load I took at UNC my freshman year included many sciences and was a lot more challenging than I had expected. I thought the first C I received was going to kill me, but I quickly learned that sometimes a B or a C is the best I can do and that is fine.”

 

3.      What advice would you offer about making the decision about your degree or career?

“Shadow your job of interest, take classes in that subject, visit offices, talk to employees, and get as much information about your career of interest to see if it is something you would enjoy.”

 

4.      How did or do you deal with homesickness?

“Phones calls and visits home are the best cure when feeling homesick; Letters in the mail and surprise packages aren’t too bad either”

 

5.      Why party or why not? Or how did you deal with the social aspect of college?

“Whatever you feel comfortable doing; Partying is what you make it, there are many aspects to it; If it’s something you are interested in, then go to a few parties with your friends and see if you enjoy it; If you can still manage your school work while relaxing on the weekends and going to a couple parties, but staying out of trouble then I see no problem; The problem arises when grades begin to slip and students are getting into trouble.”

 

6.      What has been the best thing about your college experience at UNC or what will you remember the most?

“The friendships I have made in college are some of the best I have ever had; I will miss living with my roommates and hanging out with all of my UNC friends the most; Whether it is tailgating for a football game, going out to eat, studying in the library together, or watching a basketball game, those experiences bring memories and friendships that last a lifetime.”

After rereading the answers from the interviewee, it became apparent that there were very few regrets, and college is all about living in the moment. From freshman year to senior year one must take college as an opportunity like no other. No matter if you are a first generation college student or not make the most of your college experience, each and every day.

During my life I have had the opportunity to reach a few milestones such as: driving a car for the first time alone, being accepted into my dream college, graduating high school, beginning college, and on January 15, 2014 a new milestone was reached.

I can still remember the day after deciding to attend UNC. (March 2012)

After school I went to visit my mom in her classroom and for some reason I got on the computer and began to research the Kenan Flagler Business School. When I applied to UNC I didn’t realize that the undergraduate business program was so prestigious. At the time the website said that the program was the 5^th best business school in the nation. The more I explored the more I fell in love. The programs, the classes, the faculty all caught my eye. Then I saw the admission requirements: Average GPA- 3.56, 50% acceptance rate. The requirements scared me for a moment, but I knew it was going to be reachable, yet challenging.

For almost two years, I stared at “Be accepted into Kenan-Flagler Business School” on my goal list.  

The day of January 15^th, was such a long day. The business school had informed us that the admission decision would be available on the 15^th, but never specified a time. So, I waited, along with the hundreds of the other students.

Finally at 4:18 PM, “We are delighted to offer you admission...” was all I needed to send me into a whirlwind of excitement. As soon as I heard I called my parents, friends, relatives, past teachers, and maybe even people that didn’t care. I had reached a milestone. Through the two years of hard work I relied on my faith in Jesus Christ, and the support from my friends and family.  

No longer will I have stare at an empty check box on my goal list, but a nice, milestone bearing check mark.

 

   

 

 

 

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

What a difference a year can make:

“Suit to Suit”

 

It only takes a few seconds for the Dean E. Smith Center to become a nightmare for the opposing team. Fans from all levels of the stadium, row A to row ZZ (supposedly where they sell oxygen), stand and create an atmosphere like no other.

As my time as a Tar Heel fan, I have experienced this feeling in about every way possible. I’ve been in the upper deck, lower deck, in the student section dressed as a banana, and now as a JV Basketball Manager.

My view now as a manager is quite different. No longer am I waiting hours on end outside in the cold, rain, or snow, and I am definitely not throwing the banana suit on anymore. Even though I loved “jumping around” in the student section before every jump ball; this feeling of being a manager is much sweeter.

The JV team at Carolina is a tradition that was started by Coach Dean Smith. We play surrounding division three colleges, community colleges and some prep schools. The team is meant to give students the opportunity to play at the next level while attending a prestigious university. If selected to the JV team, you have two years of eligibility, and some earn the spot as a walk-on with the varsity team.  I am also given two years of eligibility as a JV manager in hopes to one day work with the varsity team.

As a JV manager we take on a variety of responsibilities. We help with practices and JV/Varsity games. We take on roles such as towel boys, water boys/girls, and we also set up the locker rooms for the opposing teams. For every varsity game two of the guy managers have to wipe the floor. The wiping part of the job is probably one of my favorites because of the fact I get to run on the Smith Center floor. Yes, I am wiping up sweat, but in a way it’s a dream come true for me. I will never have the opportunity to put on a jersey as a Tar Heel basketball player, but that was never my purpose. I guess my dream as a seven year old was a little too much to ask; however, I love every second of my job

It’s crazy what a difference a year can make. This year I wasn’t polishing up the banana suit, but I was suit shopping. One of the requirements to be a manager is to dress up for the games in a suit and tie. This is another aspect of the job that I am completely fond of. Who doesn’t like looking “fresh?” Even though I did love slipping on the banana suit; the blue and yellow tie feels much more comfortable and most definitely more fashionable.

I have been working with the team for a few months now, which has made time pass by much more quickly. This past semester was a bit harder than I had expected, but I survived! I also finished the business application process and will find out in a few weeks if I have been accepted or not. Just thinking about January 15, 2014 makes me nervous, but I must have faith. God has delivered more in this year than I ever could’ve imagined, and I must continue to believe.

Where ever you are in your walk/journey keep dreaming and keep pushing your limits. I still find it hard to believe how my role has changed. I was on a College GameDay commercial, but now I make the ways to the tv screen by me darting across the floor to wipe a slick spot.

I do remember observing some of the managers last year wishing I could be in their shoes.

So, I dreamed, I believed, and I became. It all started with a dream.

And don’t forget, just because I am sporting a new suit this year doesn’t mean my Carolina fandom has gone away. I’m just a bit more modest in the way I show my spirit!