Tag Archives: Florida Atlantic University

August 24, 2012 · 9:38 pm

Cone of Concern

We’re in the cone of concern in one update, and out of the cone of concern in the next.  Get your food supplies, clear the yard of debris, and don’t forget to gas up the vehicle.  Check, check, and check.  What’s your homeowner’s insurance say about weather damage?  Now is the perfect time to read up on the small print.  Did we cover it all?  Not even close, there’s still the matter of windows, pets, and games in case of power outage.

There’s so much to worry about when you’re an adult.  I’ve been a lifelong Florida resident, and at no time in those previous years did I worry so much about being prepared.  Part of my inattention to hurricane preparedness has to do with my lack awareness (read youth) and the other reason is my lack of family obligations.  Those two reasons are out the window now, and I’ve been feeling the effects of the cone of concern these last few days.

I recall experiencing hurricane Andrew 20 years ago.  I was seven years old at the time and I didn’t have any worries about Andrew.  As a matter of fact, I recall enjoying that night as several of my family members stayed together and there wasn’t any school the next day.  We watched T.V. until the power went out and then board games until we fell asleep.  The next day I helped clean up outside the house and we were much more fortunate than those who took the brunt of that storm.

Since Andrew I’ve been through the hurricanes of the late 90’s and early 2000’s.  Most notable were the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005, when I at Florida Atlantic University numerous class days were cancelled and power was out for an equal amount of time.  I was living life as a young adult at the time, not much holding me down other than what could fit into my truck.  In fact, I recall a great road trip in 2005 to Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville that was a direct result of hurricane Wilma.  When south Florida lost power, a buddy and I hoped in the car and were welcomed in by friends in those cities.

Much has changed since those days.  To pick up and leave now requires a full on mobilization, with two adults, two kids under the age of four, and three dogs to worry about.  Not to mention the house, vehicles, and other sentimental valuables that makes up my family’s collective memory.  A hurricane in years past meant worrying about where the ubiquitous hurricane party was at.  Now a hurricane, or even tropical depression, means no less than gathering all the supplies on our list.

I’m not complaining at all, I know my family and I have been graced by God many times over during hurricane seasons past.  I’m just realizing the differences in life that come with having more responsibilities.  It also makes me feel good to know that I’m doing everything needed to fulfill those responsibilities.  Be safe out there and take all those warnings seriously, no matter what the cone of concern says.

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March 26, 2012 · 10:20 am

Catalyst for Change: A Weight Loss Story

This is a posting about change and the process that occurs to make it happen, I promise.  But first I’ve got to tell you about what happened to me 2007.

In December of 2007 I weighed 300 pounds, roughly the size of three 6th graders.  I’m tall – six feet and three quarters inches, but I round up to 6’3 if anyone asks – so my body frame held the weight well.  I’d just completed my senior year at Florida Atlantic University, leaving with a bachelor degree and memories of playing football.

It was during that 2007 football season at FAU that I was struck with Bell’s Palsy, a neurological virus that paralyzes muscles in the face.  I went to sleep two nights before a game with a strange sensation in my tongue, and when I awoke I’d lost control over the left side of my face.  I met with our team doctor the next day, described my symptoms, and the first words out of his mouth were “Bell’s Palsy”.

The doctor informed me that there was no cure for the virus, no pill to take or fluid to ingest.  He told me the virus had to run its course and eventually, after a month or two, I would begin to regain control of my face.  After doing my own research, I also learned, grimly, that some Bell’s Palsy victims never fully regain total control of their facial muscles.

I played in that game the day after learning I had Bell’s Palsy.  Our team equipment manager outfitted my helmet with a protective eye visor because I couldn’t close my left eye completely.  That game was a surreal experience, I distinctly recall colliding with an opposing player and, whereas normally my eyes would close involuntarily before contact, now I saw it all through my left eye.  The initial effects of Bell’s Palsy didn’t stop me from playing, and I thought this virus wouldn’t be a big thing.  I was wrong.

In the days that followed my diagnosis, I started to experience and understand the long term psychological effects of the virus.  Because I couldn’t control the muscles in my face, smiling, frowning, and even spitting, became impossible.  I wasn’t able to show any emotion, and this fact quickly ate away my self-image.  I shunned simple enjoyments, like watching a funny TV show or chewing gum; for fear that people would see that something was wrong with me.

The ancient Roman philosopher Cicero wrote that “The face is a picture of the mind…”  If you were to see me when I had Bell’s Palsy then you would have thought I didn’t have a thing on my mind, however, that couldn’t be further from the truth.  The truth was that I was in pain from not being able to show any emotion.

A little more a month after the paralysis began, feeling began to return to my face and slowly I regained control. Although the virus only affected me physically for a short time, the true change went on in my head.  The experience was traumatic, imaging fearing that you would never be able to smile again and you’ll begin to know what I felt.

Prior to the virus, I didn’t place too much emphasis on my long-term outlook on life.  I was 22 years old at the time and I lived like it, focused on the present.  I most often ate the foods that tasted best; they were full of fried flavor and came through a drive-thru window.  I played football.  I exercised and lifted weights 4 to 5 days a week.

When the virus’ effects began to fade, and my smile started to return, I made myself a promise – to make sure that I did as much as I could of whatever made me smile.  Bell’s Palsy was a blessing to me; it served as an attitude adjuster and provided me with a catalyst to make several lifelong changes.

What’s most important to me is my love for God, my commitment to family, and sacrificing for my community – these are the things that make me smile the most.   I realized that for me to fulfill my promise, to have the greatest positive impact on the things I care about the most, I would have to be present.  Continuing the lifestyle that I held in 2007 would no doubt have resulted in numerous health illnesses over the years, diminishing my ability to live life to the fullest.

To make any changes in your life, whether it’s for health, financial, or personal reasons, there first has to be a shift in the way you see things.  Do you value faith? Is family central to your life? What is your place in our community?  Don’t worry if you don’t have an immediate answer for these questions, but do consider them.  Also consider, what do you do to live those values?

I now weight 206 lb., so I like to tell people I’ve lost the weight of a whole 6th grader.  Yes, I exercise.  Yes, I attempt to always make nutritious food choices. Yes, I’ll find myself eating cookies every once in a while.

What helps me to persevere, what maintains my determination, what has gotten me to the point I’m at weight and health wise, is the promise I made all those years ago.  Don’t wait for Bell’s Palsy, allow my story to be a catalyst for changes in your life.

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Overweight and Underappreciated

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January 6, 2012 · 3:43 pm

What It Takes To Lose The Weight

This post was inspired by a Twitter conversation I recently had with @shayrae_3 about weight loss.  I’ve written before about the effects of being Overweight and Underappreciated, this posting will serve to elaborate further.

In 2008 I began the year thinking about exactly 302 things.  My first two concerns were my long-term health and my ability to enjoy life, which were being negatively impacted by the other 300 things – I weighed 300 lbs.  Each pound had been sitting on my mind since 2003, weighing down my health and self-esteem for five years.

In 2003 I arrived at Florida Atlantic University with two thoughts on my mind – get educated and play football.  The latter of those thoughts was the cause of my weight gain.  I finished high school football weighing 225.  This weight was sufficient for a high school offensive lineman, but was absolutely inadequate for the collegiate level, where offensive lineman average 300.  I quickly recognized my inadequacy and set about to rectify it.  I wanted to succeed, to play, and to help the team win.   My goal was to help my team and it compelled me to eat, and eat, and then eat some more!  I knew that by putting on weight I would better my opportunity to play, and so the more weight the better.

In action - FAU vs UF 2007

As my days of playing football neared ending in 2007 my weight became a nagging concern.  The muscle and mass needed to play wouldn’t be needed any longer.  The goal I lived by for the past few years would be reframed, my goal now became to lose the pounds I’d added while playing football.  Month after month my weight would shrink, the pounds shedding with each passing week.  Today I weight 200 lbs., give or take a few because I just ate lunch.

People, upon finding out that I used to weight 300 lbs., will often ask how.  I tell them that I exercised several times a week, ate more nutritious foods, and set a goal to live happily.  I had no specific amount of weight I wanted to lose, just a belief that if I stuck to my goal then changes would occur.  I’ve no doubt that losing the weight contributed to improving my long-term health, but my goal to live happily was the root of my increased self-esteem.  My goal allowed me to develop an attitude to live happily with my successes, but to also not get too down with my failures.

Setting goals is what it takes to lose the weight.  Determination, perseverance, and patience are the qualities necessary to fulfill the goal.  As we enter a New Year I implore you to set goals for yourself, they’ll help you reach the success you desire.  Success can be reached in different ways but it will lead to happiness.

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December 1, 2011 · 1:05 pm

Greatest Lesson of Howard Schnellenburger

When I became part of the football team at Florida Atlantic University in 2003 I knew a few things.  I knew there were winning, losing, and the next game.  I knew there was passing, running, blocking, and tackling.  I knew there were touchdowns, field goals, and safeties.  I knew I wouldn’t be scoring any of those touchdowns, field goals, or safeties because I was an offensive lineman.

Enter Howard Schnellenburger.

I first met him in his office at FAU’s Tom Oxley Center, the walls were covered with pictures of past success and there were football artifacts all around the office.  I, being 17 years old at the time, was completely overwhelmed.  I’d never actually spoken to him before then, so when he used his voice to say “Hello” I went from feeling overwhelmed to feeling emasculated.  His presence filled the room and he told me to call him Coach, which I do so to this day.  Coach offered me a scholarship to attend FAU and play football at the end of that first meeting, I gladly accepted.

Despite all that I knew, what I did not know was the significance of football to life.

My freshman year at FAU was the most challenging time for me, both on the field and in the classroom.  After putting on the pads and starting practice I realized that I was mentally and physically not ready to play in a real game.  After starting classes I felt challenged and ill-equipped, my ability to get the grades I’d desired was not developed.  I considered quitting football during this first year to focus on just classes, it felt like it was all too much to handle for my 18-year-old mind.

Despite what I knew, I’d yet to learn what dedication and perseverance meant for success.

FAU’s football program was fledgling, only having just playing its first ever game in 2001, when I arrived.  I’d watch college football on T.V. all my life.  There were huge stadiums filled with fans, competitive games, with players and teams celebrated for their success.  All FAU had that resembled that was a football, pads, and helmets.  There was no history, no games on T.V., and no stadium.

Despite what I knew, Coach had a vision and a dream for FAU.

The years that have passed since 2007, my last as a player for FAU, have allowed me think about what playing for Coach meant.  I bought into the team, committing myself to our on the field success, and was rewarded with a conference championship and bowl victory.  I devoted myself in the classroom, improved my self-expectations and grades, and have since gone on to graduate with a master’s degree.  All this was predicated by the vision and dream of Coach, a man of foresight and armed objectives.

Coach retires from FAU and football two days from today.

His greatest lesson is that to live a life of significance you must be dedicated and have perseverance to achieve the vision and dreams you set forth.

Related Articles:

Schnellenberger learned from legends before becoming one. (Sunsentinel.com)

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October 18, 2011 · 10:54 am

The Best Thing About FAU’s New Stadium

A good deal of press was recently garnered by Florida Atlantic University and its new on campus football stadium.  The stadium was officially opened this past Friday and hosted its first game the next day.  It took a year to complete, $ 70 million dollars to fund, and can hold 30,000 people.  The stadium is a dream.  It is a structure that embodies FAUs new campus spirit and captivates university pride to an all time high.  But all this is not what’s best about the new stadium.

I basked in the stadium’s glory this past Friday and Saturday.  I took in the ceremonial ribbon cutting and enjoyed the game day atmosphere.  It was great getting to know people in the tailgating area and other FAU alumni from around the country.  I met Chuck King from FAUOwlAccess.com and Rick Smith from FAUOwlsNest.com.  But, this too, is not what’s best about the new stadium.

I was also able to reunite with many former teammates at a players only dinner on Friday.  I stood with Dewain Akerblom during the ribbon cutting, caught up with Nick Paris and John Rizzo, and reminisced with Kris Bartels.  I tried to speak to everyone but I know there were a few that I didn’t get a chance to say hello to.  I found it hilarious when Andy Rosas introduced himself to me (we played 2 years together), only to return 20 minutes later to apologize for not recognizing me.  I’ve lost about 80-100 lb. since he had last saw me so it’s understandable that I may have looked completely different in his eyes.

As I stood listening to the ribbon cutting speeches on Friday, I had an escaping feeling overcome me.  I felt like there was something missing from the moment.  As I stood next to Dewain and thought about why I had this feeling, the answer came to me.  Ramon Rickards was missing. 

Ramon was a former defensive end at FAU, graduating in 2004.  I spent practices as a freshman attempting to block Ramon when I was on the scout team.  I came to admire the manner in which he practiced and played football.  I didn’t get to know Ramon very well off the field, but he was always approachable and had a smile on his face.  Ramon died in a motorcycle accident in May of 2006, five and a half years before the stadium opened.  Here is video of his wife Talia, later a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance, speaking about Ramon:
http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x9f19f
Talia sytycd2 by krunkyou

To me the best thing about FAU’s New Stadium is that we, former players, get to see one another again.  The best thing about the stadium is that it gives us a chance to catch up with each other.  The best thing about the stadium is that it reminds us about what is truly special, and that is life.  May the memory of Ramon Rickards live on and may his competitive spirit be channeled on the field at FAU.

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September 30, 2011 · 3:18 pm

Overweight and Underappreciated

I often find myself speaking in front of people in classrooms and organizational meetings at Miami Dade College.  Ostensibly I’m in front of these people to tell them about the Single Stop program, but in fact I’m there to spread inspirational and uplifting words.  I speak to them about my personal experiences and challenges to open their eyes to a simple paradigm:

Problems + Goals = Solutions

Recently I was speaking to a classroom full of students, each facing their own unique challenges.  I was getting into the wrap up of my dialogue, which consists of a helpful way to remember my name.  Since Jarrid is an easy name to forget I relate it to a more well-known person by the same name, that being Jared Fogle of Subway fame.  It’s rare that you’ll find a person who hasn’t heard of Subway, or tried one of their subs. 

We’re all somewhat familiar with Jared’s story – overweight person | eats at Subway | now average weight person.  I see many of the students’ minds click at this moment, the brand recognition of Subway and Jared works really well for my purpose of increasing name memorability.  I then share that I too used to be overweight, due in large part to me playing football at FAU.  I tell the students that I used to weigh 300 pounds, whereas now I weight about 200 pounds.  It’s at this point that I’ll usually tie in the simple paradigm:

Overweight + Desire to live healthily = Motivation to lose weight

At this point the people in the audience will react with disbelief, astonishment, doubt, or surprise.  They’ve been listening to me speak for 20-30 minutes, buying into the simple paradigm with each minute, only to reject it when I share my personal and tangible story to its proof.

I was particularly stirred today when a student, with conviction, said “I don’t believe you, that can’t be true”.  To that student today I said “I told you earlier that I recently graduated from college, but I didn’t show you the degree.  Why didn’t you say then that you didn’t believe that?”  Her response was “Having your degree is easier to believe, losing the weight isn’t”.

This interaction astounded me!  How could a person easily believe, without tangible evidence, a statement like “I recently graduated” yet so quickly dismiss “I lost 100 pounds”?  Oh but there is tangible evidence, besides the stretch marks, to me weighing 300 pounds:

I share this blog posting with you to implore you to take up the simple paradigm and apply it to your life.  Problems are never easy to solve, but they become impossible when you do not have a goal in mind.  Share this simple paradigm with those around you.  It’s especially useful for people who are better at identifying the problems than at setting goals for solutions. 

There will always be a doubter much like to woman in this story.  Don’t allow them to stand in your way.  Set your mind to goals and solve those problems!

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September 13, 2011 · 9:57 am

You’re Not Indian

I recall the first time a person told me I wasn’t an Indian… 

I was sitting in the cafeteria at Florida Atlantic University, eating my food and mulling over why I didn’t grab a bite elsewhere.  I was joined by a few friends, all of us conversing about the things college age guys talk about – sports, women, and more sports.  About midway through this deep and thoughtful conversation we were joined by two women, both of whom I didn’t know.  Introductions ensued and I told them my name, Jarrid Smith.  

A few moments later one of the ladies asked me “What are you?”.  I responded “I’m Indian (Native American), a Seminole”.  I was promptly told “No you’re not! You can’t be an Indian with the name Jarrid Smith. You should have a name like Running-Bear or Lightening-bolt”.  I responded as a unthoughtful person would by saying “Yes, Jarrid Smith is my name” and attempting to laugh the situation away.  I asked her why she thought my name shouldn’t be Jarrid Smith and she responded “Because it’s not like on TV”. 

This recollection has stayed with me the way a lovebug stays on your windshield.  I have thought about it numerous times since that day, the memory is one that I’m sure other Natives have had as well.  Being that I was young, about 18 or 19 at the time, I didn’t fully understand how the perception was created that the name my parents gave me wasn’t acceptable to others as authentic.  I didn’t grasp how an image on a screen could shape a persons view of an entire culture. 

In the years that have passed this memory inspired me to uncover the roots of that perception.    This memory has helped me to understand encounters with quizzical looks and insensitive remarks.  This memory has helped shape how I now respond when asked the question “What are you?”.

I am a human being, one that happens to be a part of an amazing sub-group of humanity’s uniqueness.  I am a son, an uncle, and a soon-to-be husband.  I am a believer and faithful follower to my ancestors teachings.  I am a living testament to my people’s perseverance and a bridge builder to a collective future.  I am a lot of things, but I am not an image on a TV screen. 

What are you?

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September 6, 2011 · 8:53 pm

Need a J-O-B? You’re Not Alone

The majority of Americans recently observed Labor Day.  The national holiday has an interesting beginning.  The U.S. Dept. of Labor says:

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

I myself enjoyed the extra day off of work, more time to spend with my family.  During the time off I reflected upon the release of unemployment stats – as I write that my eyes begin to gloss over, but bear with me.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the rates were unchanged from the month previous, with about 14 million people out of work. 

For these 14 million Americans that were at home, they had no choice.  I wondered to myself the feelings that these folks must go through.  Each has their own story, and certainly they are all worth hearing, but I decided to speak to a close friend who is among those 14 million. 

Mike Teran is a recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University.  He graduated with a B.S. in Economics and a minor in Business Administration.  He’s currently been searching for a job for 4 months.  The following are the questions I asked him and his responses.

How is does being unemployed make you feel? 

Being unemployed makes me feel unproductive, I feel like I’m not contributing to society while unemployed.  I feel like people view the unemployed as being lazy, stereotyping, without realizing what the facts are. 

How have people treated you? What have they said to you? 

People have said to me to stop living off the govt and get out there and do something with myself.  People have called me lazy and said that I really don’t want a job. 

Do the comments make you feel? 

It upsets me because people don’t see me making the effort, trying constantly by submitting applications on the computer for 8 hours a day.  I can’t tell someone to hire me.

Regarding the process of interviewing, Mike had this to say:

I get discouraged by constantly interviewing but not getting any job offers.  I wonder if it’s something about me, if I’m not a good candidate for a job.  I’m frustrated by the whole process of interviewing, then getting shut down by not getting a call back from an employer.

For Mike Teran and 14 million other Americans, Labor Day wasn’t a holiday.  It was another day with worry and anxiety.  It was another day without a J-O-B. 

Where do we go from here?  President Obama is set to announce during a speech to Congress this Thursday his new jobs plan.  Regardless of what is said that night let us not forget Mike Teran, nor the other 14 million Americans who are out of work.

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