I was born and raised in Brighton, Michigan, which is 20 minutes north of Ann Arbor. I am beginning my junior year at the University of Dubuque, where I am a defensive lineman on the football team and an aviation student. I am very passionate about aviation and excelling in my academics. I will be starting my Commercial pilot training this fall. Currently, I am on track to be on the Dean’s List for the upcoming fall and spring semesters. It has taken a while for me to foster a good mental state for myself since first arriving in Dubuque. Here, it is very different than what I call home. I have created this mindset by finding the many wonderful things Dubuque has to offer. My teammates on the football team are my brothers and ones I call family. I have also made many friends outside of football through the aviation program, student life, and in my residence assignments each year. There are many different resources to use here on campus that I have used in times of being mentally, physically or spiritually drained; such as the Academic Support Center, Fellowship of Christian Athletes. and football’s bible study.
I can now say I feel confident being away from home. Being back on campus, in classes with my professors, on and off the field with my teammates, with friends and coaches has been a huge part of my comfortability and confidence. I have a very reliable support system that has helped me during some of my low points. Recently my girlfriend, Kathryn, was diagnosed with a low-grade Osteosarcoma encompassing her left tibia, fibula and knee joint. In Iowa City, she underwent a total knee replacement to ensure the entirety of the mass was removed. A major complication arose just three days later and there was no blood flow to her left foot. She immediately went into an emergency surgery, that lasted over 12 hours, involving blood clot removal, an artery bypass and fasciotomy. She was released from the hospital 3 weeks later. A week after being released she found out that within the tumor removed, there were 3 small spots of high-grade cancer, which now requires chemotherapy because of the potential that it could be in her bloodstream. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell whether or not it is, but the odds are significantly higher, being 80/20, that it is. Her treatment will begin in early November, and last for around 6 months. She also underwent a left leg above the knee amputation.
