I AM THE ECLECTIC. AN AMALGAM OF MAN.
I exist, holistically, comprised of many parts. Right down from being mixed with black and white, to being both wise and young; sometimes conflicting. I have learned very early that there is no single way of being. No single way of doing things. The universe is filled with far too much variety and the world is, in itself, the greatest exercise in diversity there is. We are all just small parts in a grander picture. A picture so large, that it is hard to step outside yourself to see it. But I still try, as I believe we all should. This world is more than just me. And it is more than just you. This world is more than anyone ever really believes it to be. There is always more that one can know. More that one could understand. More for all of us to reach for. This life is a never ending journey towards enlightenment. I pray that you never stop walking as I do. Take steps with me as we navigate our path to greatness.
My Soul
Presently, I am 23 years old, but I still feel 20. Every year I believe I am dying, but I'm really not. Aging just has that effect on me.
I have been a philosopher for 13 years. It all started when I was ten years old. I was raised a Christian up until that point, when I was introduced to a new and profoundly moving concept. That my God, the Christian God, was not the only recognized God in the world. All of my preconceived certainties were shattered at that moment. It is, in truth, the most shaping moment of my life. I was irrevocably changed for the better, though in my later teen years I tried to fight against it. But that resistance died in me as did all of my ability to be anything other than what I perceived to be "good". You could say that, in the moment when I thought I had begun to lose God, I had instead found one that was truly my own, and that is beautiful.
That single moment sparked an insatiable hunger for knowledge and understanding as well. With all certainty robbed from me, and a world of immense uncertainty laid out before me, I set out to find some truths for myself. While those I found were few and far between, they were precious to me. I hold on to them still. One truth I've found is that love has immeasurable power. It is the sole key to saving this world. Another is that true goodness should be done for its own sake. Not for personal gain, not for recognition, but because it is proper that good should be done. The last I have found is that it is impossible to find true understanding without living objectively. You would have to live apart from everything that made you human to truly see with eyes unclouded by personal biases. A feat that any person with a soul would shirk away from. These are not universal truths, but they are mine.
This thirst for knowledge carried me throughout my life, made me a better person, and ultimately caused me to want to be a teacher. I couldn't think of anything I would want to do more than to teach other children as I had been taught. And I, like Aristotle before me, have much knowledge and wisdom to impart. I hope that I might one day be the reason why some child grows up to be a better person. To have just one child come back to me later and tell me that I changed their life. That I made them better. That would be the most fulfilling moment of my life, right after the moment my own fifth grade teacher did the same for me.
I never thanked my teacher for what she did. I never knew to thank her. She probably has no idea the affect she had on me. But I hope she knows that I'm grateful. Everything that comes after this is me paying it forward.
I have been a philosopher for 13 years. It all started when I was ten years old. I was raised a Christian up until that point, when I was introduced to a new and profoundly moving concept. That my God, the Christian God, was not the only recognized God in the world. All of my preconceived certainties were shattered at that moment. It is, in truth, the most shaping moment of my life. I was irrevocably changed for the better, though in my later teen years I tried to fight against it. But that resistance died in me as did all of my ability to be anything other than what I perceived to be "good". You could say that, in the moment when I thought I had begun to lose God, I had instead found one that was truly my own, and that is beautiful.
That single moment sparked an insatiable hunger for knowledge and understanding as well. With all certainty robbed from me, and a world of immense uncertainty laid out before me, I set out to find some truths for myself. While those I found were few and far between, they were precious to me. I hold on to them still. One truth I've found is that love has immeasurable power. It is the sole key to saving this world. Another is that true goodness should be done for its own sake. Not for personal gain, not for recognition, but because it is proper that good should be done. The last I have found is that it is impossible to find true understanding without living objectively. You would have to live apart from everything that made you human to truly see with eyes unclouded by personal biases. A feat that any person with a soul would shirk away from. These are not universal truths, but they are mine.
This thirst for knowledge carried me throughout my life, made me a better person, and ultimately caused me to want to be a teacher. I couldn't think of anything I would want to do more than to teach other children as I had been taught. And I, like Aristotle before me, have much knowledge and wisdom to impart. I hope that I might one day be the reason why some child grows up to be a better person. To have just one child come back to me later and tell me that I changed their life. That I made them better. That would be the most fulfilling moment of my life, right after the moment my own fifth grade teacher did the same for me.
I never thanked my teacher for what she did. I never knew to thank her. She probably has no idea the affect she had on me. But I hope she knows that I'm grateful. Everything that comes after this is me paying it forward.
My Life
I was born at my home in Sealy, Texas. I resided within the lone star state until I was six years old and my family fled to Tampa, Florida in order to escape my father. I have lived here ever since, but return periodically to visit those I love. I graduated from Spoto High School in 2008. I took a year off of school, returned to Texas, and began working there to afford a car. Once I had saved up enough I returned to Florida, ready to begin my college career with a new vehicle to aid me. I attended Hillsborough Community College, Brandon Campus, for 4 years of my life. They were some of the best I've had. I got involved with Student Government as well as a few other clubs on campus including the Phi Theta Kappa chapter (Alpha Lambda Alpha) located there. Alpha Lambda Alpha was actually recognized as Regional Executive Chapter of all of Florida during my tenure as an officer. We won several other awards and commendations over the years as well. My greatest love, however, was for Student Government. I made a number of great friends there, and had many great experiences. My involvement in SGA has been my best experience in a school to date. It helped me grow a lot. (And the perks weren't bad either).
I have a girlfriend whom I love dearly, and a life that I live fully. I enjoy a variety of things. I enjoy reading (classics, fantasy, high-fantasy, sci-fi, religious), watching TV (Dexter, Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Arrow, Suits, Vampire Diaries, Law & Order, just to name a few), thinking reflectively, eating, playing video games (rpgs, jrpgs, free roam, mmos, shooters), hanging out with friends, making up stories (I try my hand at making up my own version of every kind of story I find interesting), knowing, and loving my love, of course.
I have a girlfriend whom I love dearly, and a life that I live fully. I enjoy a variety of things. I enjoy reading (classics, fantasy, high-fantasy, sci-fi, religious), watching TV (Dexter, Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Arrow, Suits, Vampire Diaries, Law & Order, just to name a few), thinking reflectively, eating, playing video games (rpgs, jrpgs, free roam, mmos, shooters), hanging out with friends, making up stories (I try my hand at making up my own version of every kind of story I find interesting), knowing, and loving my love, of course.
My Hope
I would like to do a few things:
-One day I hope to change education in this country for the better. I want to de-corporatize the education system and free it up to be about real learning. Not for the "future of America's economic competitiveness", but for the love and joy one attains from exploring their educational interests, whatever they might be. Whether I will have to be President or Secretary of Education to make this happen, I'm not sure yet. But as Sam Cooke once sang: A Change Is Gonna Come.
-I would like to write books and become an author. I have a wealth of stories that I've made up, but have yet to fully put to paper. One day, when I'm set in my routine, I hope to pen a few of these ideas. I have stories ranging from my own re-envisioning of God, to pseudo-Asian gangsters taking over a fictional city, to super-powered teenage heroes & villains springing up all over the world. If my imagination is half as good as I think it is, I should have some best sellers on my hands.
-I hope (once I make a name for myself as an author) to get some artistic individuals to work with me in creating some cartoon/anime story ideas I have tucked away. I would love to make the very first real American anime. (If you don't count Avatar: The Last Airbender that is).
-Other hopes & dreams I dabble with are: the opening of a nightclub with my friends as business partners, starting a community center/possible charter school that focuses on helping young boys grow to be good men (it would have a theme of knighthood & chivalry).
-And of course, I want to teach!
-One day I hope to change education in this country for the better. I want to de-corporatize the education system and free it up to be about real learning. Not for the "future of America's economic competitiveness", but for the love and joy one attains from exploring their educational interests, whatever they might be. Whether I will have to be President or Secretary of Education to make this happen, I'm not sure yet. But as Sam Cooke once sang: A Change Is Gonna Come.
-I would like to write books and become an author. I have a wealth of stories that I've made up, but have yet to fully put to paper. One day, when I'm set in my routine, I hope to pen a few of these ideas. I have stories ranging from my own re-envisioning of God, to pseudo-Asian gangsters taking over a fictional city, to super-powered teenage heroes & villains springing up all over the world. If my imagination is half as good as I think it is, I should have some best sellers on my hands.
-I hope (once I make a name for myself as an author) to get some artistic individuals to work with me in creating some cartoon/anime story ideas I have tucked away. I would love to make the very first real American anime. (If you don't count Avatar: The Last Airbender that is).
-Other hopes & dreams I dabble with are: the opening of a nightclub with my friends as business partners, starting a community center/possible charter school that focuses on helping young boys grow to be good men (it would have a theme of knighthood & chivalry).
-And of course, I want to teach!