Plate Glass Window

Been awhile since the last post, here’s what’s been going on…

I ended up selling all my furniture, appliances, pots, plates, etc (even a broken sleeping bag, booyea) through craigslist and did fairly well.  For me, moving at the end of March made the most sense even though I don’t have to physically report anywhere until May.  My lease was up on March 30^th and my TExES test is on April 25^th so I figured I’d quit work, move, and save myself another months’ rent and a flight from Missoula to Texas (which are nowhere near cheap). 

The drive down was very uneventful, which is a great thing.  I took off on March 30^th after I passed final inspection for my apartment.  I stopped in Billings that night with a good friend for another ‘goodbye’ send-off.  The next day I took off to Denver, where I stayed Tuesday night.   Not only did my Denver adoptive family provide me with enough toll money to make it through, they even packed me a full day’s worth of meals to make the last 880 mile trek of the trip.  I literally only spent money on gas and coffee the last day.  I took off from Denver at 5 am and made it to Dallas around 6:30 pm. 

Between then and now…

The last few weeks have been refreshing.  My biggest duties have been pulling shrubs from my folks’ yard, burning brush at the pasture, working my folk’s garage sale, and other odds and ends.  I was looking forward to some menial labor as I thought it would be a good catalyst for me to refocus on something other than the corporate gig.  I was right.  I spend all day outside working with my hands and get no phone calls or emails.  For those out there that are in the professional arena, if you can afford a month or two off before TFA gets cranking, I highly recommend it.  Come to East Texas, hunt a hog or two.

It’s really good to be back home.  I’ve seen more family in the last two weeks than I have in the last three years.  I get to go fishing at PaPaw’s every weekend and get home cooking just about every night.  Not to mention all the bluebonnets.  God Bless Texas!

Now I’ve started my pre-institute work and have begun studying for my test on the 25^th.  So far I’m enjoying it.  I watched “All The President’s Men” last weekend with my aunt and remember telling her how I hope I can be as passionate about something as much as Wood-Stein were in their pursuits.  TFA is the answer.  I’m eating it up.  I’ll keep you posted on my progress through the pre-institute requirements and the TExES test.  Also, I’m taking the Rosetta Stone Spanish series.  I figure if Michael Phelps can learn a new language while winning gold medals and smoking pot, then surely I can learn a new language too.

First off: Ignore the title.  In no way am I referring to my former company (Fred for short) as some sort of Grisham- like firm, or with any bad connotation that that term might possess.  I just thought it was a simple title.

I started with Fred literally right after graduating college.  I spent New Year’s 2006 driving to Minnesota to get my first taste of the ‘real world’ and northern climates.  I was part of a rotational/development program in Minnesota that was designed to prepare me for a sales career within the company.  I received my first assignment in the fall of 2006 and moved to Montana to acquire a vacant sales territory.   K, there it is in a nutshell.

The important thing that’s missing from the nutshell is the incredible people I’ve been blessed to have worked with and the principles, values, and history of the company itself.  They have proven themselves time and time again, including the reaction to my recent announcement.  I know most folks join TFA straight out of college, but if you’re like me and join three years after graduation, consider this:  If the company you’re working for blows you off or diminishes what you’re doing, then maybe their values don’t align with yours and you shouldn’t be working there anyway.  Telling a company like that should be pretty easy to do – ‘kiss off, folks.’  On the other hand, if they understand why you’re doing what you’re doing, the farewell can be a great thing.  The last few weeks for me have been ideal.  I’ve had conversations with many of the folks that have had a significant impact on my career and got to say my goodbyes on my terms.  Furthermore, it only goes to prove that the company’s values align with mine, and I’ve never been prouder to have been a member of the Fred family.

To those at Fred who know this site exists, you are the ones who made it home.  Thank you!

Now that everything’s out in the open, I guess there are a few basics to cover before I start posting on the day-to-day stuff.    

Leaving Montana is tough.  I know my mother would be upset if she ever heard me refer to somewhere other than Texas as “home,” but it has honestly been as much of a home to me as College Station was at one time.  The last two and half years in Missoula have been great.  No I’m not leaving a lot of friends, not even a handful (still working on my social skills), but a few dear friends that have meant the world to me and have ultimately made Missoula home.  (Maki and Winz, thanks for letting me be your third wheel).  If you’ve never been to Montana, stop what you’re doing and pack your bags.  There is no place like it and I’ve been truly blessed to have had the chance to call it home for the last few years.

I told my little brother (Big Brothers Big Sisters brother, not blood brother) last Friday that I’d be leaving Montana.  I tried to explain it in a way that he would understand, but I’m not sure that he would have thought any differently if I told him I was leaving to hunt kangaroos in Australia or to join the drug cartel in Columbia.   I only hope he’ll remember one day when he is older and understand why I had to go.

Admittedly, I am getting used to saying goodbye and I’m getting good at it - all of which bothers me a little.  I know I’ll have to do so again in two years.  All in all, it’s ok.  I think there is a calling for everyone out there and I need to follow mine even if it keeps me jumping around.  However necessary they may be, goodbyes are still a bummer. 

March 30^th is my last day in Montana.  Cheers.

Ok, it’s now doubly official.  Not only have I notified my company of my decision to join the Corps but I have created a TeachForUS blog and posted it on Facebook.  As much as it pains me to say, I suppose nothing is official anymore unless it’s posted on Facebook, right?   Neil Postman would surely have a heart attack after hearing this notion.   Anyhow, for those that I haven’t had the chance to talk to, I’ve decided to leave the business world for a few years to pursue an opportunity with Teach for America.  This has been something I’ve wanted to do for years and there’s no better time than now.  I’ll be teaching (hopefully math) this fall somewhere in the Rio Grande Valley.