It's a First!

I was recently approached by someone who was dying to write a post for my blog. I'm pretty sure this means I'm a big timer in the blogger world! So without further ado, here is a post written by none other than....Husbandy (with some comments by yours truly)!

There’s a time in every Aggie’s life that is absolutely invigorating. It’s a time when you feel more proud and honored to represent a school that stands for so much more than just an education. I understand I could be talking about many different events. However, the moment I’m talking about this time is one that's filled with so much excitement and joy. It makes a statement about who you are and what you represent. It is when you order and receive your Aggie ring.

Sidebar: Whoop!

Growing up in an extremely meek home in a small Florida town, I was unaware of the tradition, family, faith, loyalty, and servantship that Texas A&M University held. I was a follower and well down the road to destruction when God had other plans. Thinking to myself, “I’d be lucky to get an associate’s degree,” He put something, or rather someone, extraordinary in my life. Someone He knew would catch my attention; motivating me to go above and beyond dreams I thought I’d never reach. This is a person who didn’t look at where I had been or criticize my past; a person that knew I was in need of God’s help, love, and grace. This amazing woman, I can humbly, and proudly, say is my wife.

Sidebar: *blush*

Seeing A&M for the first time as an outsider was a bit strange, I agree. But once you become an Aggie, that all changes, and it’s so hard to describe. So I’ll leave that to someone else.

Sidebar: I feel like there’s saying about that…..

I moved to Aggieland in August of 2003. Wifey was an incoming freshman and completely sold on being an Aggie.

Sidebar: I bled maroon since I was born!

It took attending a few events before I was fully able to comprehend what Aggies were all about. The interaction and togetherness the campus exhibited was just remarkable. I previously attended a community college for one year and had no motivation to go back to school. But, I suddenly had a change of heart. This was a small flame that grew into a Bonfire (Whoop!) over the years. I began working as a leasing agent in College Station, after attaining my real estate license. I was making good money and attending Blinn part time in hopes of transferring into Mays Business School. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out as planned. Wifey graduated, we moved to Dallas, and got married a year later.

Sidebar: Have no fear; we traveled back to College Station to tie the knot. It was only appropriate.

I transferred to UT (or TU) Arlington and met a group of lifelong friends, both students and faculty, through the Goolsby Leadership Academy in the business school. As I applied for graduation and began to prepare for acquiring a job, I spoke with a friend of mine who had graduated from the Master of Real Estate (MRE) program at Texas A&M. We had worked together at Century 21 in College Station, and were very similar in personalities, likes and dislikes. He thought the MRE would be a perfect for me and that I would really enjoy it. I visited with the MRE faculty, and just loved the idea. They said there was a good chance that I would be accepted, so of course I applied. (Side Note: Being accepted to TAMU is another exhilarating moment for an Aggie) The day I received THE email, I was on campus at UTA in an organization’s office. Click, wait, click, click, wait longer….cccooOOMMEE ON! ........ “You have been accepted!!!” I jumped and yelled for about a solid 2 minutes, then called wifey and friends.

Now, here I am in my last semester. I recently acquired the amount of hours that allowed me to order the…AGGIE RING! WHOOP! The day I became eligible I went straight down to the Association of Former Students and ordered it! On March 30^th I will proudly wear the symbol of family, tradition, loyalty, servantship, and faith!

Sidebar: CANNOT wait to be there for that. J

Then, on the weekend of May 12^th I will walk the stage in Reed Arena and accept my Masters of Real Estate from the Mays Business School faculty! This is an accomplishment not attainable without God, wifey, family and friends. Over the past 9 and ½ years that I’ve lived in Texas, I’ve learned that God has our plans laid out; we shouldn’t fight them, but accept them. He knows you and your motivations, and he will lead you down the right path. He will provide when He knows you’re in need. Trust Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  - Jeremiah 29:11