Andy's Blog

Today was a first: I spoke at a career day at a local private academy on what it was like being a radio producer on arguably one of the top five secular talk radio stations in the world. The morning was interesting, the kids seemed intrigued, and of course, it got me thinking. It got me thinking about how we get where we are.

Oddly, my thoughts drift to an ex-girlfriend named Emily. Emily was a very smart girl. I don't have a shadow of a doubt that she won't be a success. I haven't talked to Emily since graduation so it has been six years, and she is about the only ex-girlfriend of mine I haven't stayed in touch with. But I hear from time to time that she is still pursuing the law thing and she is at the University of Virginia Law School.

What cracks me up about Emily's choice of career is its genesis. We had to put on a mock trial in a 9th grade English/Social Studies class for, if I remember correctly, the Nuremberg trials. Emily's tactic in cross examining my witness was what would be classified as "badgering the witness," and in a real court wouldn't have been allowed past the third question. But needless to say, this wasn't a real court, and she "stuck with it enough" to impress our English teacher - who definitely wasn't a lawyer (and frankly a little crazy). But Mrs. Walker complimented Emily and told her she did a great job, and well...the rest is history.

But here's what is funny, even though I kind of chuckle at the genesis of all this, I can't help but think that there are few people that would make a better attorney than Emily (and if there is something I know it's attorneys as I can count at least 8 attorneys in my family and another dozen or so friends in law school and as my friend Lissa says, "I just need to accept the fact that I am an attorney and go to law school already" because of blogs like these).

It's funny how very very small life events (like a compliment from an unqualified person) can lead us to such a huge life decision; especially when that "lead" is exactly where we are suppose to go, doing exactly what God created us to do.

I think about my own start and how I almost missed it. We switched youth group formats my sophomore year in high school, which really pissed me off because it sort of alienated a friend of mine I was bringing to church and trying my hardest to accept Jesus. The format switch though caused for a huge increase in the use of technology, and I was asked if I would do it. For the first week I protested the change and refused to be involved. I later reconsidered after I realized I had little choice in persuading him, and well, the rest was history...at 24 I now am a radio producer for something truly innovative.

Well that's about it, nothing too profound. I told the kids that grades aren't as important as everyone makes it (yeah I know, you think I am kidding but I am not), and that there is a difference in being successful in your career and being a successful person. We should all strive to be people of balance, keep faith first, trust God, and work as hard as we can at what we feel He created us to be.