Recent Posts
Small Insight into the Life of an OIF or OEF Veteran
Through the beauty of Facebook, I ended up clicking a link to a nearly two month old article that really hit home for me. I wasn’t alive for WWII, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War so I can only imagine what it was like for soldiers and their families based on...
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
I have always considered myself a team player. Growing up in Virginia, I started playing full-contact football in the Greater Manassas Football League (GMFL) when I was 7 years old. I learned the importance of teamwork, but I also learned the benefits of being part of...
Meet SGT Jenna
“I knew I’d be deploying to the Middle East eventually, but NEVER was I told I’d be going on patrols and laying in the prone with 11Bs [infantrymen], getting attacked by Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) or Taliban. NEVER did I think I’d be working alongside Iraqi and Afghan...
World Famous Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients: 1 3/4 c - flour 1 tsp - baking soda 1/2 tsp - salt 1 1/4 c - brown sugar 1 c - butter 1/2 c - sugar 2 - eggs 2 Tbsp - milk 2 tsp - vanilla 2 c - chocolate chips (semi-sweet) 2 1/2 c - quick oats Mix flour, baking soda and salt. Separately mix brown sugar,...
A Tribute to an Inspiring Man Who Wanted Us All to Live Our Legend
In early 2013, I was a little depressed with my job. I joined the US Army the day after 9/11 and after serving 7 years of active duty, I moved to the ranks of defense contracting and eventually a government civil service job. To no fault of the mission or the people,...
Preparing for Darden After 15 Years of No College
Getting accepted into Darden was a dream come true. After the stress of feeling unqualified for a top business school with a median GMAT score, history degree, and almost no actual private business experience, I then had about six months to both mentally and...
Being a Business School Student
The 14th anniversary of 9/11 just came to a close. It's kind of symbolic for me to be writing this post from the Darden Inn, the on-grounds lodging at the University of Virginia's business school, because when the first plane hit on the actual 9/11, I was driving...
Memorial Day 2014
I love America and I love that most Americans want to thank me for my service today. To all of them, I appreciate it, but I ask for one favor. Instead of turning your attention to me and fellow veterans, please take a moment to remember any one of the fallen veterans...
72 Hours in Rome
In January of 1999, I stood at Trevi Fountain, turned my back to the majestic pool and threw a U.S. quarter over my shoulder. I guess the tradition worked as I finally found myself standing at Rome’s Termini train station around 2pm on Thanksgiving Day. My parents and...