Why did I choose to attend Wright State?

Wright State University may not be the most well known, however it does have quite a significant academic experience.  In addition to its outstanding Air Force ROTC Detachment, it is also close to home.  The three main reasons I chose to attend Wright State University are location, the Air Force ROTC Detachment and its academic programs. 

Throughout my life, I have known that my career was to be in the Air Force.  After choosing the plan to do ROTC as opposed the Air Force Academy, the hunt had started for a decent ROTC Detachment to join.  WSU has one of the largest detachments in the nation, as well as one of the most credited, and contains students from schools all around Dayton, OH.  After Recognizing this as a possibility, the bonus was added to its location, only an hour or so away from my home.  This allowed me to be charged the In-State tuition rate, the only option my AFROTC scholarship could cover.  In addition, I am far enough away to be out of my hometown, however I can still visit anytime I wish. 

The next step to starting my college career was to select a major.  When I recieved my AFROTC scholarship, it was under the terms that I chose a Computer Engineering Major, as that suits the Air Forces needs best.  Not only does it help that I enjoy computers, but that my career in the Air Force does not solely rest upon my major.  This information allowed me to make a decision on my major of Computer Engineering, something that Wright State University is nationally accredited for doing very well in.

Combined with its location close (but still distant enough) to home and its very decent programs in my intended major of Computer Engineering, the Air Force ROTC Detachment 643 and my scholarship options were the main reasons for my choosing to enroll in Wright State University.

Significant song.

One of the most important songs to me was written by Eminem, called Lose Yourself.  Many songs come close in their significance, however this one stands above the rest as the most motivational and meaningful song to me.  Throughout my IRONMAN training, it can get hard to want to press on.  In the past, I realized how far I had come, and the long road left to go.  Lose Yourself not only has a catchy beat and tune, however its lyrics and specifically the chorus describe only getting one shot to make your attempt count, defying the pain, and keep on moving towards the better end no matter the difficulty it takes to get there.

Purpose:  The song and its according music video were set in an inner-city struggle style and is extremely inspirational.  It describes a common youth's struggles with violence and other vices, and reminds you that you only have one life to live, and you need to make every effort for it to count.
Audience:  My best assumption is that this song was aimed at inner city youth and the Hip Hop music culture.
Genre: Hip Hop.  Written in 2002, it leans more to late nineties-style as opposed to the hip hop of today, yet does remarkably well in most downloads up through 2009.
Stance:  When Eminem wrote this song, he defied the norm of the genre, took a defiant stance, and acted against the mainstream by taking the one great opportunity he has.  Most hip hop/rap songs can take a negative spin talking about and even endorsing a variety of vices.  This song is defiant as its stance charges towards doing the best you possibly can and achieving the impossible.
Media/Design:  As a spoken media, the design of the song itself follows a typical modern song in which it as an intro and conclusion, a main chorus repeated several times and several verses which change the words and scenarios yet comply with the underlying theme of the song.

What will it take?

During moments of peace and triumph, we receive an exhilarating rush. For example, climbing to the top of a mountain and looking out to see the sunset across the Pacific Ocean gives one an indescribable feeling. Feelings during these moments are greater than involvement in any vice or pleasure than one could involve him or herself. Nelson Mandela once said, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." For those individuals who strive for something more, some sense of accomplishment, such as myself, one could climb Mt. Everest. But if you're unable to travel to the Himalayas and spend multiple hours in an acclimation chamber as preparation, another option available is to complete an IRONMAN.


Despite initial reactions, 140.6 miles in less than 17 hours is possible for the well trained human body. If you don’t believe me, I suggest watching the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA0rAiNft2I

Why on Earth would I want to do one? Because I can. I don’t need to be rich, so I consider myself to be an extremely lucky individual. My physical abilities and health give me the opportunity to do whatever any human can and I consider one a fool not to take life as a challenge. Among triathletes, the IRONMAN is not a death march; it is a celebration of your training and what you have accomplished. Despite the fact it is less than a few inches, the IRONMAN finish line is one of the most loved and simultaneously hated locations in the world. I will be one of the few and proud who can say they’ve traveled across it.