History
History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme - Mark Twain
Fighting Poverty
For the past 10 years I have had the privilege of organizing a music enrichment program for the Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas. Throughout this time, I have done a ton of independent research on how to maximize learning potential. It can be challenging teaching kids to play instruments & teaching teenagers to write & compose music. But, that’s not even the heart of the issue. What I really found myself faced with was ‘how do I use a fun activity like learning an instrument to help kids change their mindset to start making their way out of the grip of poverty. My work to help Arkansas children find creative paths out of poverty has endowed me with a burning passion to continue this effort. I plan to stay closely associated with the programs I have created. I am excited for all of the useful inventions I will take part in as a web developer. But this is the most important thing I will create: a way out of poverty. For a decade I've watched people scratch their heads at the struggle & throw millions of dollars into a churning abyss while I tried & failed over & again until I started getting it right. Now, I continue in a different role as consultant, financial, & technical supporter. When one kid makes it out, another one sees & starts to follow, others will follow these followers. Then, we have a movement. Imagine those who were once a drain on our local resources building back into them. Imagine the spiritual wealth of a city that has figured out how to turn the tide. Building software is like magic because it extends the reach of one's desire. When that desire is to make our community a better place the impact will be a vivid inspiration!
My life as a musician
Learning to play the guitar pulled me from a deep despair as a teen. It was the first thing that I gained mastery over. Music has remained a staple in my life. It is the lense that I use to model my learning. Writing a song is an interesting work. The materials are quite abstract, much like software engineering. Giving structure to abstraction is a skill that I am ever refining. And, it continues to be very rewarding. Life is filled with so many undefined feelings and sensations. Software design uses this to tap into resources that can only be felt... much like music. My life as a musician hasn't paid much, but has given me many skills. Leadership and teamwork have been at the forefront of my experience. I also gleaned a great deal of experience in event coordination. I learned how to market my ideas. If I love something, why wouldn't everyone else? I had to figure out how to articulate them in a way that others could feel the emotions that I feel. This is difficult, but so rewarding. To convince someone to open up to sharing your joy is an extraordinary feat!
Building a work ethic
Just out of High School, I was curious how building songs would relate to building a house. So, I applied as a carpenter's assistant. For the next four years I practiced sweating, bleeding, and eventually... I began to learn the trade. Carpentry is an interesting mix of mathematics, problem solving, and sheer grit. I find many similarities to software development. I watched old men destroy their bodies and just laugh it off passing invaluable wisdom through crass stories and thick country accents. I learned a great deal about life. But, most of all, I learned how to work... hard... and long... until there is a structure that someone can call a home.