Why I'm moving to Wix (Can you guess?)

Hey!

So, you found my new site! Thank you for checkin' things out!

You're probably a friend, or a family member; an Instagram follower; or a blogging friend. Either way, you might've known I had a Blogger setup a long time ago. It felt weird writing there; looking at statistics, no one really checked in often. I felt if people found out, I'd get made fun of- like I had in a past interest in middle school.

But, Blogger was free. It was simple. I used it for years. I had lots of posts, images, and some friends who checked in every now and then. Why would I jump ship?

Well, it's a long story. And it involves graduating high school, climbing mountains, and finding out some tough realities of the modern world.

Okay, so while I did climb three of the Adirondack High Peaks, I didn't exactly have some kinda Internet Revelation in the frosty air. No, I'm just talking about how freshmen year helped me kinda break through the stale air of myself in high school. I got out of an environment that was stifling me; I had been feeling lackluster. Nothing was interesting. I felt like I couldn't make any new friends or hobbies, and the old ones felt impossible. I say felt, because that's the key word. The difference between feelings and reality is different.

But, by joining the Outdoor Club I meant some great, wonderful friends. I learned my knee was healed to the point I could finally run after six years; I learned how to snowboard. I went on my first backpacking trip, my first canoe trip, my first mountain hikes. I started falling back in love with life, specifically nature and the outdoors. Most importantly, I got confidence in myself, and learned how to talk to people. I felt more comfortable talking about myself to strangers.

Now, how did growing up and realizing the world isn't out to get me, help my woodworking? How'd it change my blogging attitude? Let's talk about education side of things: I had enrolled in Morrisville State for Wood Products Tech Associates, with a Furniture Design concentration. They guaranteed a 100% job placement in field of study; promised salaries of 100k; and that most graduates ended up running successful businesses. Additionally, the field of study was incredibly large for an associates degree. I would learn business skills, furniture design skills, sawmilling, lumber drying, scientific wood ID, composites and wood chemistry. At least, that was the plan. And Morrisville alumni praised the college. I was looking forward to becoming a professional.

In reality, the program turned out to have some problems. For starters, the recession destroyed the town of Morrisville. Secondly, Doc Mbaga, the resident doctorate in Wood Tech, turned out to be a heartwarming, kind, eccentric teacher. But I felt like the college was too easy. After all the stress of high school, college classes shouldn't be this easy. I felt like I was wasting my time. Then second semester came and I was told we would be getting into the hard stuff. That all changed with the sudden death of Doc; and the complete unraveling of the program. The other professors didn't know the material, and were retiring; I felt like the program was the laughing stock of the campus, the Moville equivalent of an underwater basket weaving course. Currently, the program is in a mixed state of affairs, with reassurances that I'll get a degree, but with no replacement professors, no planned curriculum, a new dean in charge, and overall mixed messages. The only updates I get are requests for money from the college. At least, this year I won't have to constantly prove my dad did die, and isn't just hiding the income so I receive more aid- in my freshmen year, the fact aid forms go to tax records from two years ago meant me and Mom had to fax in the death certificate often.

So, what did I learn? I learned that all in all, I am in charge of making myself successful in life. Paying for a piece of paper won't get me the prestige or business skills; individual study will. So I took out books on furniture design, on wood chemistry and composites, and read them while hiking. I started throwing myself into learning how to navigate the world of online marketing and presentation. How to talk more effectively. And that's how I learned I needed something more than just a Blogger site; I needed a portfolio, a professional website, and a better blogging material.

And here I am. Selling at public markets, interacting with people, and creating a modern website. Whereas as years ago I would present a blank stare when asked what I want to do in life, now I'm thinking of signing with the Americorps. All because of where woodworking has led me. Some doors close; but others open.

Seriously, thank you for checking this out. I hope you have an awesome day, wherever you are.