Off Topic: Summer Time

I know...for the three of you that actually read this blog, you are surprised at the time of day of this post, as well as the fact that this makes three consecutive days with a post. The truth is, I have decided to begin a new column. This will be some heavy stuff, stick with it and give me some time...read on, I want you to. So welcome to:

Off Topic:

I'll be very honest with all my readers tonight. For those of you who have known me well for the past four years, you know this story. For those of you that have known me in different sections of my patchwork college career along the way...I'll fill in the blanks for you.

Two years at Syracuse University was a great time. I met many people that even only sharing time for two short years, will be a part of my life for many years to come. The truth is, I wasn't sure what my purpose was at that point. I was a film major...and it seemed like a great idea. Little did I know that it wouldn't really lead anywhere. That's when I decided it was time for a change.

I ended up back in the town I grew up (for the most part), Orchard Park, NY. It seemed like a good idea to work 40 hrs a week, make some money, and try to squeeze in a full semester of school. Sure, it was at Erie Community College, but still a challenge to a guy that was used to just going to school and filling in the blanks with having a good time....okay...great time.

So life started to suck with the new time schedule...and I missed everyone from Syracuse. Plus, I needed to try to fit back into Orchard Park, NY. I was that guy that went to school for two years and didn't make it. I grew apart from a lot of my friends, but for the ones that stuck with me (you know who you are), they were the only force that got me through it all.

This continued for three whole semesters....seriously. I felt like...this was it. I would be stuck in a Pizzeria/Restaurant my whole life. At that point...letting everyone down...letting your family down...friends...is it worth living?

That was when something woke me up. To this day, I honestly don't know what it was. I can't pinpoint a single event that really changed my attitude. I truly believe it was the culmination of everything that had fallen apart since I graduated high school. Everyone I knew would be getting ready to move on to a "real" job in less than a year. I was starting to hate my job. I was starting to really hate ECC. It was time for a change.

That's when I ended up at the University at Buffalo. Problem solved. Here I am now, writing this article knowing that maybe 5 people will read it...but it doesn't matter. I want this article on my resume. I feel that it is a testament of everything I have went through in the roller coaster that has become my college career. Public Relations/Journalism is my new calling...and you damn well know I can do it. I'm staring down the barrel of at least another year, maybe year and a half of college...but I'll see you in the big time.

Which finally leads me to the new column:

Off Topic:

I'm sure you get by now that this column, which will pop up every few weeks when I feel strongly about something, is straight from the heart. This is me, and how events in sports and other things are affecting my life. So now that you know my story...time for the first "off" topic:

How I wasted my Summer of 2006

Okay, sorry for the tease...It'll be up tomorrow...hope by the end of this column I got your attention...check back by dinner tomorrow for the first edition.