How I'm ME...

There is a definite advantage to growing up as the baby of the family; it always seemed like no matter what I did, I could never go wrong.  Granted my mom is a softy, however, I have always been very observant, so when you have an older sister that had a knack for getting in trouble, I would always pay attention to know what not to do.  It did not take long for me to figure out if I was able to add a little boyish charm to any situation that potentially would get me into trouble; my mom had a hard time “truly” being mad at her baby boy.  I have grown up in a very close family, some would say probably too close because of we share all aspects of our lives, but that is just how I was raised; family comes first.  I have two parents that are very supportive and still madly in love with one another.  Growing up as a kid, I can remember my parents holding hands, giving each other a kiss before work, or cuddling on the couch; I think that is why today I am the same way with my wife.  I think it is very important to show my affection towards her.

I lived in Scottsdale, Arizona for the first ten years of my life in a successful blue-collar family.  At that time, my dad worked with his brother, who owned the most successful residential home building business in Arizona and my mom’s side of the family owned one of the more successful tile and marble companies.  My family motto was definitely, “work hard to play hard” and that we did.  My dad taught me how to get my hands dirty and the value of a hard days work.  It was those moments when it was just him and me that, at the time I did not realize it, but he would always be teaching me how to do things correctly, not taking short cuts.  His famous saying was, “if your going to do something, do it right, and do it the first time.”  I would have to credit my dad for instilling in me a good work ethic, finding enjoyment in hands-on work, and as my wife definitely knows, being a perfectionist. 

Like all perfect dreams, they do not last forever, by the summer of age ten, my uncle’s business went under to a series of poor business decisions, as a result, my family and I moved to the Northwest, specifically, Issaquah, Washington.  Prior to leaving Arizona, I can remember my parents sitting my sister and me down, and explaining to us what had happened and discussing as a family what we should all do.  I imagine that they already decided to move and manipulated my sister and I to thinking moving was a great idea.  However, the fact that my parents made the decision but alluded to this as a family decision and included the whole family.  After leaving Arizona, my dad never seemed to have a hard time finding work, however, I think he always was trying to get back the life style that we once had.  Although certain times of my upbringing were a little rough in regards to money, my parents always found a way to provide for my sister and me.  It was the first time I experienced what it was like to go from upper class to lower/middle class and get served a big dish of humble pie.  Even though my parents always taught me the value of a dollar and the meaning of hard work, there is no substitute for hands-on experience.  From 1991 to 1996, I lived in five different cities in Washington (Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond, Bainbridge Island, and Poulsbo) and then, Salem, Oregon.  Moving so much as a little kid really allowed me to build upon my social skills and as a result made me a very out going child.  I never had a hard time making friends in a new city.  When we finally made moved to Oregon, my parents told my sister and I that this would be the last city we were going to live in until college because they did not want to move us out of our high schools once we started.

I received my education from Leslie Middle School, South Salem High School, and Willamette University.  Until I reached Willamette, my education, even in Washington, was primarily a white dominated community with very little diversity, in terms of ethnicities.  Even in high school, I never put much thought to the lack of exposure from the communities I grew up in.  Sports have always been a milestone in my life, since the moment I was able to walk; I have been in competitive sports.  Moving all those times, beginning introduced to new places, schools, and friends, the one constant throughout my life, was athletics.  It has always been my leaning post and taught me sportsmanship, fair play, mental toughness, and one of the only outlets that gave me exposure to different ethnicities and races.  Growing up in predominately white communities did not seem weird because I was always around kids of all cultures.  It was not until I reached the campus at Willamette did I realize how much of a sheltered life I had lived.  Becoming part of the WU community, I was immersed into the most diverse community I had experienced.  This offered me an opportunity to get to know people from all around the US and Japan.  It was the first time I realized how my friends, regardless of ethnicity or race, were greatly influenced by where they were raised.  For instance, my black friends from California are very adamant to let you know what city they grew up in because that directly correlated to their upbringing and personalities.  God forbid you mistakenly tell one of them they are from the Bay area, when they are really from Orange County.  My college experience is what has sparked my passion to becoming culturally diverse.

 

After I was accepted into Willamette and I found out how much school was going to cost me, I did a quick financial outlook on my four-year future and decided to join the Oregon National Guard to help pay for school.  Granted at the time, I jumped in with both feet not knowing what I was getting into, only to be sent off to war two years later, but that decision is something I would have never changed.  In 2003 to 2004, I was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in efforts to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Much of that year is a big blur, but I learned a lot about myself during that year.  The culture shock I received overseas was like my Willamette experience on steroids.  Although it was a bit scary and overwhelming, it was an opportunity of a lifetime to meet people from around the world and become family, as your mutual goals were survival.  I learned how to deal with the emotional and mental strains “war” forces on a person experience.  Once I returned home and got back into my “normal routine”, I remember my first observation with my friends was how much I had grown up and matured because of my experience, I found myself to be more responsible and protective.  I have never given any thought to this correlation, but it was the summer of 2004 when I met my wife at Willamette.  She has probably had some of the most significant influence in my life, because she motivates me to be the best person I can be and I put her happiness and needs before mine.  My love for her has been the ultimate sacrifice thus far in my life, and the only way I can top that is when we eventually have children of our own.