Life SPINOFF: Personal destiny stories

**cdcox** · 05-05-2009, 09:50 PM

Spinoff of FAX's fascinating thread. Let's take it from the abstract to the concrete.What are the seemingly small subtle events that have directed your "destiny"?

1. Learning the back stroke. I used to get sick to my stomach thinking about swimming lessons. I feared them all day. My folks arranged some private lessons and I have been at home in the water ever since. I not only overcame my discomfort in the water, but overcame the fear of my swimming teacher. Very big confidence builder.

2. My dad encouraging me to stand up to another kid that was picking on me. We were on a hike during our conversation. This kid was an issue in my life at the time. Standing up to him was a real confidence builder.

3. My 7th grade math teacher uttering the words "Between you, me and the gate post, I know you can do better than this." I was in the bottom 4 students in my math class at the time. For some reason, those words got under my skin. I raised my grade from an F to a C in two weeks, was best in my 8th grade math class, and was in accelerated math classes by 9th grade.

4. My dad encouraging me to confront a Jr High teacher about an unfair punishment. I was supposed to write sentences for an infraction that I did not commit. I confronted the teacher and he relented on the punishment. I am master of my own universe.

5. Al Gore invents the internet, leading to me wasting untold hours on Chiefsplanet.

6. I lock eyes with a girl at a party/dance club as a freshman in college. Favorite song gets played. I ask her to dance. Leads to my first date, and future wife.

7. Recession of '82-83 coinciding with my graduation from college. No jobs to be had, but I need an income so I can get married. I read a description of a research position that I think I can do, even though it would require a slight change of discipline. I decide to go to grad school.

8. On the day I defend my MS thesis, my advisor tells me I should really consider going for a PhD. I go to work in the real world, but these words gnaw at me. I relent and go for my PhD 2-1/2 years later under the same adivisor. He later moves and recruits me as a faculty member at my current university.

9. I am introduced to a new colleague. Our skills are complimentary, and we get along. By working with him, I revitalize my research career. Good things happen in my career, including meeting my best graduate student ever who is now a very good friend as well.

05-05-2009, 09:50 PM	Topic Starter
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $-558231	SPINOFF: Personal destiny stories Spinoff of FAX's fascinating thread. Let's take it from the abstract to the concrete.What are the seemingly small subtle events that have directed your "destiny"? 1. Learning the back stroke. I used to get sick to my stomach thinking about swimming lessons. I feared them all day. My folks arranged some private lessons and I have been at home in the water ever since. I not only overcame my discomfort in the water, but overcame the fear of my swimming teacher. Very big confidence builder. 2. My dad encouraging me to stand up to another kid that was picking on me. We were on a hike during our conversation. This kid was an issue in my life at the time. Standing up to him was a real confidence builder. 3. My 7th grade math teacher uttering the words "Between you, me and the gate post, I know you can do better than this." I was in the bottom 4 students in my math class at the time. For some reason, those words got under my skin. I raised my grade from an F to a C in two weeks, was best in my 8th grade math class, and was in accelerated math classes by 9th grade. 4. My dad encouraging me to confront a Jr High teacher about an unfair punishment. I was supposed to write sentences for an infraction that I did not commit. I confronted the teacher and he relented on the punishment. I am master of my own universe. 5. Al Gore invents the internet, leading to me wasting untold hours on Chiefsplanet. 6. I lock eyes with a girl at a party/dance club as a freshman in college. Favorite song gets played. I ask her to dance. Leads to my first date, and future wife. 7. Recession of '82-83 coinciding with my graduation from college. No jobs to be had, but I need an income so I can get married. I read a description of a research position that I think I can do, even though it would require a slight change of discipline. I decide to go to grad school. 8. On the day I defend my MS thesis, my advisor tells me I should really consider going for a PhD. I go to work in the real world, but these words gnaw at me. I relent and go for my PhD 2-1/2 years later under the same adivisor. He later moves and recruits me as a faculty member at my current university. 9. I am introduced to a new colleague. Our skills are complimentary, and we get along. By working with him, I revitalize my research career. Good things happen in my career, including meeting my best graduate student ever who is now a very good friend as well.
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