Day 365

This post is about never giving up on your dreams..... 

Today, September 15, 2015, officially marks one year since I moved from Massachusetts to Florida, to earn a Master’s degree in Entertainment Business at Full Sail University.  While my entire journey through the degree program is documented on my Tumblr, I would be remiss if I did not discuss the significance of this anniversary.

After calling Massachusetts home for our entire lives, my brother and I filled a Budget truck with our personal possessions and embarked on a 1,300-mile trek, spanning the entire East Coast, in search of new beginnings and opportunities.  However, my path to Full Sail University started over a full year before my first day of class.  In 2013, three years removed from completing my undergrad at Worcester State University, I was living just outside of Worcester, in Webster, MA, and working in telecommunications for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.  While the job was tedious, the pay was sufficient and I worked alongside great people but it was not what I wanted for my life.  I wanted something more.  I needed something more.  I needed a challenge.  I needed to chase my goals, make my dreams become reality, or, for the rest of my life, I would always regret not taking the chance.

In High School, I was known by my personality and my creativity.  During senior year, I joined our High School TV Station as the sports anchor for New England Sports.  Many students thought I was the highlight of the weekly broadcast.  In my opinion, my goal was to do the best I possibly could.  When we taped segments on Tuesday for a Friday broadcast, I took the extra effort in previewing the next upcoming game.  Instead of talking about “old news” in the world of Sports, I focused on what was ahead because who wants to hear about Monday night’s Red Sox win when they lost three games straight heading into a weekend series with the Yankees. I enjoyed working in front of the camera, and putting just as much work behind the camera.  I always wanted to get involved in the Sports and Entertainment industry, but getting in would be the tough job.

For whatever reason, I was not sure what degree program I wanted to pursue when I started at Worcester State. Therefore, I was undeclared.  It turned out to be the best decision I ever made because, after two years of completing all of my elective courses, I decided to pursue Communications and finished my final two years with top-notch grades, and a 3.4 GPA for the program. After graduating, it was difficult finding a job in the industry.  I had an audition with the Cranberry Baseball League near Cape Cod, which went well, but nothing ever materialized from that venture.  I continued my internship with Charter TV3 in Worcester and assisted on selected events over two years after graduation, but career opportunities were not available. 

In the summer of 2011, I came across an advertisement about getting involved in Pro Wrestling, and learning about the business end on a grassroots level.  This was the opportunity I always wanted and was not going to pass up the chance to learn and gain experience in the industry.  I drove over two hours to Bridgeport, CT, where I met Dan Mirade, promoter of the Millennium Wrestling Federation, an independent wrestling company based out of Melrose, MA, and worked my very first show that night as security.  Three months later, I worked as a camera operator for their anniversary show before sliding over to merchandising, activations, and event promotions for the next two years.  Even though the events were quarterly, I had some of the best times working these events.  I am always thankful to Dan for giving me those opportunities and I remain in contact with him.

However, in true form to my stubbornness, I needed more.  I needed a challenge.  The gig with the MA DOC kept a roof over my head, food on my plate, clothes on my back, money in my bank account, and made ends meet, but I still was not satisfied.  The independent wrestling events, while fantastic and insightful, were not enough for me either.  I wanted to get back into school, earn a Master’s degree, and push forward with my career goal of working with WWE.  I learned WWE rebranded their developmental into NXT, and were filming television shows at Full Sail University in Orlando.  At the time, I was not familiar with NXT or with Full Sail.  However, through extensive research on the school, I knew immediately that this was the place for me.  In September 2013, I traveled to Orlando to partake in a “Behind The Scenes” tour of the campus and was truly amazed at what I saw.  Originally, I intended to start in the Entertainment Business program in March 2014 but I had to postpone my start date until September 2014.  Again, that decision worked out for the best.

On September 15, 2014, in the peak of Hurricane season for Florida, I hopped out of our Budget truck into that wonderful humid air and knew this is where I belonged.  One week later at Orientation, I met new faces and started networking with my future colleagues in the Entertainment industry.  September 29, 2014, was the start of a degree program that is now just three weeks away from culmination.  All the friends I made, all the networking I have done, all the opportunities I have had, and all the experiences I lived, would not have happened had I remained content, playing it safe in Massachusetts with a tedious job that made ends meet.  There is an old expression that “good things happen to those who wait,” but I believe in “good things happen to those who go out and earn it.” I took the biggest gamble of my life in moving to Florida, to earn a Master’s degree, to chase my dreams, and refusing to accept regret.

Looking ahead to day 366 and beyond, my mentality remains the same.  And, I would not want it any other way.