The fruits of labor are often found in the process of doing the labor…

Without a doubt, I am a creature of habit. I have a routine and I like to stick to it. The alarm is set for 5:45 a.m., although I rarely need it to wake up on time. I relish some quiet time at the breakfast table every morning where I catch up on current events and other happenings in my news feed. I take pride in being one of the first on campus, arriving between 6:30 and 7 a.m. My office is in a state of organized clutter. Important materials for the day are located in strategic places on my desk. My bookshelves proudly display the discipline of my life’s work. As I often say, my discipline is what I do, but it is not who I am. To that end, my walls and shelf spaces offer clues to my true passions and favorite leisure activities. I treasure my time with family and friends. In fact, one of the best aspects of my job is working next to one of my best friends. A highlight of the day is usually the early morning conversations we have upon his arrival to campus.

My teaching schedule includes four classes: three at the freshman level and one at the sophomore level. It is that class where my true enthusiasm for my discipline is on display. As luck would have it, that class is my first of the day during the “ever popular” 8 a.m. time slot. Teaching in my discipline is more than just presenting material for students to learn. It is also about fostering a set of life skills that students need to be successful. I try to develop a relationship with my students, as I look forward to talking with them about a variety of topics and offering advice when necessary. My office door is always open when I am on campus and students are always welcome to stop by for help or to sit and chat. My last class of the day finishes between 2 and 3:30 p.m., depending on the day of the week.

Once my Lake Land obligations are complete, I am often off to coach and/or develop local youth through a variety of extra-curricular activities. Although they once did, many of these activities do not currently involve my own kids. This is something that I have been doing since the age of 19 and something that I can see myself continuing to do for years to come. At the conclusion of my normally long days, it is home for a late dinner, some TV and then relaxing time spent with family. Sometime between 10:30 and 11 p.m., the alarm gets set for 5:45 a.m. so that the routine can start again.