I’m writing because my mother told me to. I’m admitting it for two reasons. One, my mother continues a long tradition of mothers knowing best.* Two, it works as a pretty nifty framing device. After years of trying to trace the origin of anything I’ve accomplished back to myself, I think it’s time I threw […]

And it still hasn’t completely sunk in. After leaving Austin for the summer for my internship with ConocoPhillips (which turned out to be AWESOME), I was anxious to get back and start the year with my team. I’m coming back to hear about all the amazing stories and experiences that the 2012 team had now […]

“It wasn’t necessary to win for the story to be great, it was only necessary to sacrifice everything.” – Donald Miller, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life Based on choices I have made in the past, you could easily predict the trajectory of my life. I normally […]

So today was the first day of classes for fall 2012 and I FINALLY realized that it is our ride year. I know that it should have hit me at tribute or when we had our first meeting for the fall but until today I still thought it was summer and I could just relax. […]

Day 89: Epilogue, Austin TX Today was the first day of class of my last year in college. What an experience it has been. From considering leaving this great university after my first semester, switching my major three times, being involved in 5 different student organizations, experiencing relationships, and living in 4 different buildings in […]

I’m constantly amazed by the capacity for good in people; it just blows me away. I think that in modern culture it’s become a little too popular to give attention to the foolish, hurtful actions of a few. I love Texas4000 because we ride to show people that men and women care for one another, […]

Although as team we have not received our bikes, Kelly Likos and I both already cycle. We know each other not only from Texas 4000, but from the Texas Cycling club as well. While working at the Tribute event–a gala honoring the return of last year’s riders– we decided to ride together Monday morning. For […]

So, today was the first day of the last year of undergrad for me. I was strangely nonchalant about the inevitable arrival of this day. I’ve been through 17 years of first days of school (yes, I am a super senior). It’s not that I’ve grown oddly immune to the excitement, but as days blend […]

Today I start my 17th first day of school, and while its hard to say that this is the most exciting start, it is definitely among the top few. This year I officially start training, fundraising, learning and planning for the Texas 4000 mission of spreading hope knowledge and charity. I can’t wait to start […]

This what I said when asked to speak at Homecoming Bash. ______________________________________ So I got an email from Kathryn Flowers, asking me to speak tonight. I’m not too sure if she remembers this, but she is actually one of the alumni who interviewed me all those months ago. I can now confidently say, that when […]