Christian List

Rough Narrative

July 11, 2008

First off, I don’t know why the paragraphs are spaced they way they are. I’m having trouble fixing that.

Well, this song was meant to be all about me so I guess I will take it more in depth. I really don't remember too much about my life in New Jersey, well ok maybe I do. I lived in a lake town with five main beaches in three square kilometers. I have a ton of excellent memories from there, some including block parties, Memorial Day parades, and days at the beach. I loved that town, but my family moved to Saco, Maine when I was nine. I loved Maine and would move back there to raise a family, but who knows where life will take me. I decided to come down here for college because I thought a drastic change in scenery was just what the doctor ordered.

I found Eckerd College at the Boston College Fair and instantly decided that Eckerd was the right place for me. I was involved in almost more than I could handle when I started school; I was involved in ECOS (student council), as a student senator, Eckerd College Search and Rescue, Concert Choir, Ultimate Frisbee, and a full boat of classes. Needless to say, it took time to adjust to my new life and my grades suffered a little. At the end of my first semester my GPA was a solid 1.91. Opps! In order to keep my scholarship I returned from winter break early to attend a winter term course and boosted my grade. By the end of the year I realized that nothing is more important than school.

I transferred to USF St. Pete for the opportunity to obtain a full boat from the Coast Guard, but no luck yet. For the past two years I have been trying to join the U.S. Coast Guard. I have had my share of setbacks though. I have had knee problems in the past and right before my medical exam I injured it in a long boarding incident; I hate that long board. I failed the exam due to an x-ray, not the actual physical tests they had me do. The doctor noticed, at that time, I couldn't fully extend my leg. I was told that I would never be in the military. Since then I have seen many doctors, including the former orthopedic surgeon for the naval academy, to try to obtain a medical waiver. I have my letters now saying that I am fit for military activity and hopefully I will be cleared soon. My goal in life is to be a rescue swimmer (aviation survival technician).

Sustainability in regards to the coast guard and I, would be my ability to keep myself healthy and fit. Sports that include pivoting and a high level of running are forever cut from my life. I decided to stop these sports in order to save my knees; a birth defect where my knee caps are positioned slightly off center have caused dislocation problems in the past. In order to sustain a healthy lifestyle, fit for the coast guard, I must take care and be mindful of physical activities I take part in. Along with being mindful of my faults, I go to the gym, as if I am already in the coast guard. I do this so when I enter I have a solid foundation and the ability to exceed what is expected of me. According to the minimum coast guard boot camp requirements, I have graduated. In order to sustain the goals of the coast guard I must take part and be mindful of activities that will allow me to continue this endeavor for the rest of my CG career.

Since January, I have been working for a new and upcoming club downtown called Vintage Ultra lounge. I applied there as a bartender, but I have been working my way up from a cocktail assistant since I started. I have definitely learned what it takes to sustain a new business, so I think, during its first curtail months. A new and upcoming business could never run out of volunteers because frankly the business is usually too broke to pay you. When you are in a position where you would like to move up in a company, volunteering is a great way to get ahead; your bosses will love you in return. My bosses really know how to run their business on a tight budget. For instance, Banbu in one street over with a large budget and they are going out of business very soon. In fact, we just picked up one of there bartenders. Our staff is always there for each other and could be considered a family. Unpaid to do so, we contribute as much as possible to keep this business that we love going strong. Do to hard work and dedication, I now barback two to three times a week and I find myself in a better financial position every weekend. Last weekend was my highest money making weekend since I started.

My job enables me to live outside of the dorms and in an apartment downtown with my friend Gabby. I love her to death, but I feel like I get on her nerves all of the time; she is OCD about cleaning and I could care less. She works at the hooker tea company (I left it in lower case because that is how they spell it). If it wasn't for her companionship here, downtown, I don't know where or who I would be living with. Hopefully our friendship will last our year lease and the outcome of the year to fallow will benefit the both of us.

While remixing the remix, I chose to just lay my story on the page as if I was speaking to someone, never stopping to correct myself if the story didn't sound good or if what I wrote didn't make much sense. I figured that if I was going to tell a story about me, I was going to be a genuine as possible. I had a conversation while everyone else just sat still and listened.

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