How this all came to be - July 17, 2022

I graduated highschool in 2008, and went to the University of Toledo in Ohio for a degree in Musical Theatre. After about a semester and a half, I decided that it was not where I needed to be in my life, and I dropped out. I started working a series of jobs in kitchens, and fell in love with the lifestyle. Within the next several years I found myself in management, and realized that in a kitchen was where I was meant to be for the rest of my life. I even found myself on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars a couple of times with my confections. I knew, back in 2010, that my #1 goal in life was to open a Bakery and Cafe in the mountains of Colorado.

Coming back to college for a degree was something I thought I would never do. I was already running kitchens without a degree, so what was the point? Plus, I thought school was just not “for me,” and that any of the things I wanted to do with my life, I could do without. So, what was the point of spending the fortune, wasting the time, the energy … the blood, sweat, and tears? Unfortunately though, when seeking out an investor to open my Bakery - initially as a food truck - I found myself stuck in a difficult spot with a massive hurdle to overcome. No one would take me seriously - regardless of how perfect my business plan was - without a business degree to back myself up. So eventually I gave up, and I gave in, and I registered for classes.

I originally registered in the Hospitality Administration program at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, of which I came to describe as a Business Degree, with a Culinary focus. It was going to be perfect. I was going to obtain all certificates and my degree in about two years, and then refocus on getting that business loan that I had been dreaming of for over a decade. My first semester though, my English Composition class changed EVERYTHING.

In this class, I had the chance to re-encounter an old love that I had so long ago forgotten about. Writing. Everytime I had a new assignment, I would spend the entire day pouring over my computer - overflowing with inspiration. It is important to note here, that I came back to school mid global pandemic. It was in the midst of Covid and all of its shut downs that I found myself in these “virtual” classrooms. I was starting to realize I had a huge decision to make ; continue down this restaurant path that I had started so long ago, and worked so hard for - or to completely change my life, and my major. As Covid numbers grew higher, and open restaurants grew smaller - and my writing continued to flourish - I knew what I had to do.

So I started taking as many Creative Writing classes as I possibly could, knowing that writing was where I needed to be spending my time. Soon though, I found myself in a couple of general studies classes that gave me an even further perspective of what I wanted to do with this newfound goal. In my American History 101 class, I was asked to write about how I view the “American Identity.” This prompt got me really thinking about American Ideologies, and how massively corrupt our government is. Directly after this class I started taking Political Science, and learning exactly how the government really functions, and all of the things that are insanely wrong with it. This happened to be at the same time as the Roe overthrow. Learning how and why the Supreme Court is supposed to function ; versus seeing the way that it actually IS - lit a fire under me.

The timing of this class helped solidify my new life goals - but in a slightly different capacity than I had previously anticipated. While I still plan on taking every creative writing class available, and I have several different fictional pieces I am still currently working on ; I am now registered for the fall at Arizona State University in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication - with a double minor in English and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. I plan to take these degrees to become a Journalist and use my voice to write about what is currently happening in the world, and the injustices of the day. I want to deliver the hard truths to the public, and discover the facts behind the lies that we are told.

I plan to use this blog as a platform for many things. Including, (but not limited to,) the issues that we are facing as a country today - and my opinions and ideas about them from a journalistic perspective. However, it will not always be so serious. Sometimes I may just post a new recipe, and photos of the delicious pastries I have created - or maybe about my Girlfriend and I’s most recent road trip - or maybe even a DIY entry on how to install your own window. On this website, in addition to this blog, you can also find many of the Academic and Creative pieces I have been working on, as well as a small photography portfolio - that will eventually be made available for sale. Stay tuned for that!

Until then,

Peace. Love.

And I’ll catch you next time on,

What’s Happening in the World Today.