Chapter 1: The Planning Stage

Winter Quarter 2005

I vividly recall the feelings that were running through my mind. I was nervous, unprepared, and perhaps the worst of all, unsure. It almost made me nauseous to think I could be so unsure. Here’s me, the guy who has all the answers; he knows what to say, when to say it. The man who has planned and prepared for where he wants to be in life 10, 20, even 30 years from now. He knows that he wants to retire by the age of 45 and go scavenge the corners of the world in his luxury Yacht with his hard earned millions tucked away in some profitable investments. That’s me. That’s who I am. But at this stage of my life my psychic abilities and confident outlook had abandoned me. I knew what I wanted when I turned 45, but I had yet to figure out a path that could potentially lead me there.

First step, get accepted to a four-year university that can prepare me to become successful. Easy enough, right? Not so fast! My academic path at Bellevue Community College helped me explore several academic disciplines. It provided me a platform where I could learn about my interests and aptitudes, and then seek out an academic major which would allow me the opportunity to put my interests and skills at work. My discovery came fairly quick, which lead me to pursue a business degree (hard to imagine that this was a time when I was seriously contemplating majoring in Chemistry or Biology and thereafter, possibly going the Med school route. I can gladly say that I selected the right major. I can’t picture myself living the life of a chemistry geek). I enjoyed my Accounting, Statistics and Economic classes at BCC so much that I couldn’t imagine myself being anything else but a business student. I was determined, I was focused. Best of all, I had found something I enjoyed learning.

But that wasn’t the problem. Now that I was nearing the end of my tenure as a student at BCC, it was time for me to find a new home. A new home in the form of a four-year university which would allow me to further my education and provide me a reputable platform on which I could proudly stand upon graduation and market myself to the world. I desired an atmosphere which would inspire learning, while giving me the opportunity to challenge myself intellectually by taking rigorous courses; and, complementing that with a social and cultural network that included students, faculty, and alumni. I wanted a school which was perfect! Was I asking too much? I didn’t think so. There must be a school out there which can fill my needs. There must be a program somewhere which has all these elements and more.

So it dawned on me. This entire time I was fretting about which academic major, or even, which career to pursue with almost childish ignorance towards the importance of the program and the school where I would get such an education.

Bonus: Guess Who?

A guy walks into a post office one day and sees a middle-aged, balding man standing at the counter methodically placing "Love" stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. He then takes out a perfume bottle and starts spraying the scent all over them.

His curiosity getting the better of him, he approaches the balding man and asks him what he's doing. The man says, "I'm sending out 1,000 Valentine cards signed, 'Guess who?'"

"But why?" asks the man.

"I'm a divorce lawyer," the man replies.