Hello! I’m currently a graduate student at Texas Tech University, in the final stages of pursuing my Masters in Electrical Engineering. It’s been a crazy ride so far. In describing myself up to this point of my life, it’s important to note that school has been a constant in each season I’ve experienced and gone through. Therefore, a good portion of this About Me section will detail my academic experiences. Also, I’m making it a point to not go back and edit previous portions of this. In other words, I want this section to read as if I were right in front of you, in-person, so as to be transparent and even vulnerable.
You may think it weird that the first thing I associate myself with is school, rather than talking about how my biggest, overarching association in my life is my faith in Jesus Christ. My reason for that is simple. I literally just finished doing a bunch of homework, and then randomly realized that I need to provide an About Me section of my blog here on the WR website. Wanted to clear that up, and be real with you.
My past is worth touching on before going in to who I am today. Growing up I was very independent and shy. A textbook definition of introverted, which I still am today at times. I had an unhealthy fear of various social interactions, due to my shyness. My thoughts would easily drift to how I thought others perceived me, and I did everything I could to be considered “cool”. I have distinct memories of riding the bus to high school, freshman year, and walking through the cafeteria to the band hall to put my trumpet away for the day. The cafeteria was the place to hang out before classes began at 7:30a. As I entered the cafeteria, every muscle in my body would tense up. My neck would stiffen, and my legs began feeling heavier and heavier. All of my brain power went in to trying my absolute hardest not to trip and fall, because of course that would have been the end of me. It’s a wonder I even made it to the band hall each morning. By the end of high school it got better and better, but this fear continued to loom. The fear of others thinking ill of me, and finding out how scared I was underneath the surface. It was also during high school that I experienced for the first time what it means to follow Christ. I became deeply involved within my youth group at Windwood Presbyterian Church in Houston, mostly through media. An adult volunteer helped in getting me involved with running sound for the youth band each Sunday morning. Little did I know that that would become the anchor of me consistently attending church, and discovering more and more what being a Christian really means.
Coming to college changed everything. Fall 2008 marked one of the largest season changes in my life. Moving from Houston, TX, the fourth largest city in America, to dot-on-the-map Lubbock, TX was daunting, but yet also something I wanted. Texas Tech (TTU) was far enough, but at the same time not too far, from home. I went from having some very close friends (most of whom were from band), to having none. It was the start of a new chapter of my life, a new canvas waiting to be drawn on. My Mom drove up with me as I made the move. After helping me settle into the dorms for a couple days, and stocking me full of living essentials, she flew back to Houston from Lubbock. I remember dropping her off at the airport, and as I drove away a plethora of emotion hit me. As I turned back onto the main road leaving the airport, I was tuned in to the Air1 radio station and the song “This Is Your Life” by Switchfoot came on. I lost it, and began to cry. If you’re familiar with the song, then you may know why. One of the main lyrics reads: “This is your life, are you who you want to be?”. I couldn’t help but think that God was speaking to me through that song. This was my life now, living in Lubbock away from family, in a completely new environment without friends. The Bible exhorts us to live as Christ did when he was on the Earth. I knew that I not only wanted to be more like Christ, but also that I was designed and intended to be like Christ. Being made in His image. So the question, are you who you want to be, resounded within me with incredible power. It shook me to the core.
[Quick break from my main train of thought. If you’re still reading up to this point, I just realized this is becoming more and more of my testimony, rather than a brief About Me section. I suppose I should share that I’ve been clinically diagnosed with ADD. Read ahead with that in mind.]
Ultimately, over these past seven years God has been pulling me further and further out of my shell, showing me how to be an effective follower, and eventually calling me to leadership. I fully believe that the best leaders are also the best followers. Through my involvement in the University and Media Ministry at FBC Lubbock, the Lord has developed so much within me. Not only that, but declaring my major to be Electrical Engineering reminded me of something I heard at a summer concert I attended in 2009 (Rock the Desert). It’s this: We should attempt something so great, that it be doomed to fail lest God be in it. It may not be the most theologically correct saying, but it’s honestly how I would describe my being an engineer.
So, all that said. I love love love anything audio related. By definition, an audiophile would be a good way to describe me. Spending time at church and assisting with maintenance and the installation of new A/V systems excites me. I’ve also had the privilege of leading a University community group for the past couple of years. This especially has contributed to my maturity as a Christ-follower: leading others in Biblical interpretation and application. Again, good followers make good leaders. Another thing I love is being outdoors. (I must admit, saying that sounds so much like a cliche. So much so, that saying it’s a cliche is a cliche in and of itself) It’s true, though, something inside of me comes alive while being outside, especially while traveling. Gadgets, I love me some neat gadgets. Probably more than I should, but anything electronic that does something remotely cool is my thing. I’m definitely a spender, not a saver. While I wouldn’t say I’m a pack-rat, I must admit that I tend to acquire lots of things. My room is jam-packed with a lot of different stuff. Stuff I don’t need. Stuff I’m actually excited about getting rid of as I gear up for the Race. It’s still an interesting fact about me though, that I tend to acquire instead of get rid of. Certain tasks make me super OCD; one of which is cleaning. I don’t always clean, but when I do watch out. It’s about to be sparkly clean. Let’s see, I’m just listing random things about myself as they come to mind. My desire for reading is relatively low, yet I have a pretty good mini-library of books. Ironic, I know. There are times when I need to just be alone. Nothing bad has happened, I just need alone time away from other humans. Many people, mostly extroverts, don’t understand this. This current season of my life (July 2015) is characterized by stress due to taking summer school, because I know that I need to graduate by December, because I’m pumped to be going on the World Race come January. My expectation is that God will continue with what he has began in my life, and see it to its completion. I stand on that promise. My prayer is that the Lord will do some serious heart-surgery while I’m on the Race, and even starting now as I prepare for the Race. I recognize that there are many things that need to be uprooted from my life. As well as things that need to be pruned, so they continue to bear fruit and bring glory to the King.
I think that about wraps it all up. If you’ve read all the way up to this point, congratulations. You deserve a gold medal, because I know it wasn’t easy. Stay tuned to my future blogs to hear more about what God is doing in and through me.
