So, for my "expectations" of life --> as I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm definitely a person that strives for happiness and joy in everything that I do. Even things that I don't like to do --> I try to make them enjoyable! :) However, there are some goals in life that I really wanted to achieve and I fully expected that I would achieve. In hind-sight, I'm pretty sure that without the blessings and love of my Heavenly Father, I would not have achieved any of these goals.
#1) Graduate high school. For a boy in Western North Carolina, this is an admirable goal as there are many that don't receive a diploma. In 1994, I graduated from West Henderson High School. I can't remember how well I did academically, but I know for a fact that I didn't think that grades were really all that important in high school. I did well enough to get into college, which in my mind is a huge blessing from Heavenly Father. I liked to do well on tests, but I never worked or studied hard in high school. I'm very glad that I did well enough to get into college because I was too naive to realize that my work in high school was actually an important deciding factor for getting into college!
#2) Go on a mission. I always expected that I would go on a mission and I never really questioned it. My whole life led up to being a missionary and I'm very glad that I went! It changed my life and made me who I am today. Without my mission, I never would have learned my true potential as a child of God! Going on a mission was a very tough goal, though. I needed an extra year than I planned before because I wasn't ready the first time. This really woke me up and was the first time in my life that I didn't immediately get what I expected to get. I learned patience, work, love, devotion, and most of all, I learned a bunch about the gospel. It was a very humbling experience and I needed some humble-pie! During the time between the first time that I went to the MTC and the second time (about 9 months), I remember "dreaming" about the Eiffel Tower and wondering if I would ever see it. Yes, going on a mission WAS a dream for me and I'm so very glad that I reached my dream!
#3) Eagle Scout. Luckily, I got my Eagle right around the time that I turned 16. If I would have waited much longer, it would not have happened. Girls, cars, and money would have gotten in the way. But, I'm so thankful for my years as a Scout. To this day, I still remember those special experiences out in the wilderness, day-dreaming about being Daniel Boone! Scouts taught me to love the outdoors and I'm eternally thankful for that love.
#4) Graduate College. This was definitely an expectation of mine, as it was a goal that was beat into me by my loving parents. They knew that I needed to go to college to get a good career and I'm very thankful that they pushed me in the right direction. In hind-sight, I don't think I ever realized how important college really was for me. Not only was it the key to a good career, but it was the key to finding my wife, to learning how to be a post-mission Latter-Day Saint, and for finally getting out of North Carolina. I love the East Coast, but the West is home now. I will never life anywhere else (if I can avoid it). I love North Carolina and I still have my beloved family and many friends there, but it is just not for me. Back to the college topic, I remember when I was accepted to BYU. I was on my mission and at the request of my parents, I sent in my application for admission. I was originally planning on going to Georgia Tech or NC-State, but Dad talked my into to trying BYU for just one year to see if I like it. I never did a "campus-tour" and except for my time in the MTC, I had never even been to Utah. But, once I was accepted, I felt that it was the right thing to do and I got very excited! My first semester was very tough! I had no friends really, I lived off-campus and I had no job and no car. I showed up the night before the first day of classes and there was over a foot of snow on the ground. I didn't even know where I was. Luckily, my apartment was close to the stadium because that was my plan --> find the stadium, then just follow the map to get to my classes. Crazy! But, I developed life-long friendships in college and it was some of the best years of my life!
#5) Get an MBA. This was not a dream of mine until I got to college. But, when I was choosing my career path and trying to decide what I wanted to do and become, I realized that I wanted to know more about business and running a company. I also wanted to know more about leadership. So, I set the goal to go to business school in college. It happened faster than I expected. Once I started my career, I was a little shocked at how many engineers were losing their jobs. I survived several rounds of layoffs at work and that left me a little concerned. So, Amy and I prayed about it and decided that I should get my MBA as a "plan-B" career path in case something happened at work. Again, blessings from Heavenly Father. I did well on the GMAT and was able to get into Duke University. Agilent paid for the degree and my career has literally taken off since that time.
Now, looking forward, what "dreams" do I have? Here's a list of "dreams" for which I will definitely be dependent upon my Heavenly Father!
- Success as a Father --> I want all of my kids to do well in school, to have good friends, to be active in the church, and to find real happiness on this earth. I want all of them to be able to reach their dreams in life!
- Success in Church --> I want to know that I have always given everything that I could to serving in the Church. I definitely have the dream of going on another mission with Amy overseas somewhere. Part of me (a small part of me) thinks it would be cool to be a Mission President, but the rest of me just wants the opportunity to serve and be on a mission again.
- Success in my Career --> I hope that I'll be able to stick with Avago Technologies for the rest of my life and that I will continue to be rewarded for working hard. However, I do recognize that the world is constantly changing and it is actually quite rare for engineers to spend their entire career at the same company. As long as I feel valued and able to contribute at a high level to my company, I will be happy. Part of me (a small part of me) has thought of leaving and starting my own company doing something. If that opportunity presents itself, I may do that.
- Success in Marriage --> I want to live with Amy Holt Brown for ever! She is my best friend and the love of my life!
Okay, baby is crying! Time to close this topic for today!
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