Passion
It was my junior year in high school when I really got the bug for video producing and editing. My buddy Paul and I were the guinea pigs in Mr. Vance's Communication Technology class at Craig High School. Desktop publishing, off-set press, photography and video creation were a few topics. We were the first of about 20 kids to take the class. It wasn't my father's industrial arts class.
The video portion of the class fascinated me. Since it was new, Paul and I decided to create a 10 minute production about the class. I loved it! We got an A, it went on the school district's television channel and then life went on.
I've mentioned a few times before that what I'm 'doing for a living' isn't exactly what I thought I'd be doing for a living when I was sitting in high school. I enjoy what I do but it wasn't even on my radar 25 years ago. After Communication Technology I wanted to run a television station. A great dream (pipe dream) for a high school kid.
I obtained my degree from UW-W in the mid-90s, it had nothing to do with running a television station but it was a degree full of life. It was, and still is my passion. No, my current position isn't directly related to my degree but I use pieces of what I learned at U Dub Dub to help.
While technology has moved faster than the speed of light, the foundation and principles of my degree have remained the same and now I'm using that foundation outside of my 'career' to help others.
I'm using my degree in my volunteer work. I'm helping friends when I think they need help. I'm dusting off the other side of my brain again. It's liberating and enjoyable. I'll say it again -- passion.
I no longer want to run a television station but I do have a few ideas for a show. I'd love to produce it. Maybe Tony Huml at localvisiontv.com will have room in his primetime lineup?
What's your passion? Is it being fulfilled?
Steve Knox was born, raised and landed back in Janesville. He encourages you to participate as he writes on Janesville and beyond as this Generation X guy supports his Janesville mission, global vision. Steve is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.
Jan 20, 2012 at 11:14 p.m.
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hg, thats just how recruters work. I did go to the Air Force recruter but was stopped as well in the hall by both the Marine and Army recruters. I did choose the Air Force and spent 5 years pouring concrete, laying asphalt, hot tar crack sealing, working on fences, and of course every other duty assigned. Wouldn't trade that time for anything as i'm sure you feel the same. Thank you for your service to our great nation.
Jan 20, 2012 at 10:58 p.m.
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Sigma40, thats probably true most of the time but not all the time. I'm doing what I have always wanted to do. It started in the sandbox with Tonka (the real steel ones) and progressed from there. Since i get the chance to operate many different pieces of equipment, two days are never the same. It sure beats the hell out of working in a building all day doing the same thing every day. Its not work to me, I enjoy it too much to consider it work.
Jan 20, 2012 at 6 p.m.
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stl--Forget the nastiness of justpoppingoff's comment. I am a Cubs fan. I despise the Cardinals, but, believe me, I understand your passion very well. Congratulations on a great season.
Jan 20, 2012 at 4:55 p.m.
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stl2011ws: your "passion" is something you had no part of. you didn't contribute a thing, besides turning on your TV. Congrats? I think?
Jan 20, 2012 at 4:10 p.m.
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Off to my third poker tournament tomorrow in Vegas under my first sponsership. And yes, my sponsers have made money so far.
Jan 20, 2012 at 3:30 p.m.
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Bellagio_Bound, God and guns? Am I the only one who does not see the connection in that one? Or are the guns only for killing animals? Aren't they God's creatures also? Does God not Love the animals also? You want to know something funny? Next time you draw down on an animal, you will remember I asked you that. No I do not hunt and yes I believe in God.
Jan 20, 2012 at 2:23 p.m.
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You forgot to mention your passion of using your blog for pathetic self promotion.
Jan 20, 2012 at 2:01 p.m.
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Hmm, sometimes it seems calling something a passion has bad connotations. I'm the happiest when I'm teaching. I'm not a classroom teacher, but life in general offers these opportunities.
I think classroom teaching is what I was born to do - when I meet new people they seem to assume I'm a teacher. Maybe it's my wardrobe? ;)
Jan 20, 2012 at 1:07 p.m.
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I know that I am very lucky: my passion turned into my career! A degree from any college or university would have opened many doors for me but I am a proud UWW alumnus.
Jan 20, 2012 at 12:32 p.m.
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`I went to school for everything I like doing. That is why my career has nothing to do with it. I like my job, but i'd never want to do what I really like as a job... you get burned out and no longer like it. My biggest passion is making people smile. :)
Jan 20, 2012 at 12:12 p.m.
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Since he is not giving up his degree, let's play guess Steve's passion. Me first.
Interior decorating. When he see a friend with poor decorating skills he suggest a little Knox Feng Shui and helps them move the couch.
Jan 20, 2012 at 11:49 a.m.
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I'm afraid that if I voiced my passion, she'd have a restraining order issued against me.
Jan 20, 2012 at 11:26 a.m.
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More cowbell. It is only fufilled during the Olympics
Jan 20, 2012 at 10:55 a.m.
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hg: I was headed to the Army recruiter when I got snagged by the Air Force recruiter (must be their modus operandi)! I ended up working on fighter jets for four years. One thing I can tell you is that you don't get to work on the whole aircraft. They break it down into specialties so they can get people trained quickly.
After I got out of the AF I continued on in the field of electronics but not on aircraft. I never would have chosen electronics on my own but it has kept me employed and fairly well paid so I can't complain. Still, it wasn't my passion which would have been working with animals or psychology or the best would have been a combination of both.
Jan 20, 2012 at 10:29 a.m.
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My passion is touching someone's life in a positive way every day I'm alive. It's all about God's plan for me which is fulfilling the purpose in which I've been created for. Nutshell: It's way bigger than me, therefore, it's not about me!
Jan 20, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.
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All my life growing up I dreamed of being an aircraft mechanic. I loved working on things, fixing things, and seeing airplanes fly. In high school I could fix anything wrong with my car and my friends cars. Even changing the motors for them and the transmissions. So when the time came for me to Graduate and think about what it was I was going to do, I thought about joining the Airforce so I could get some schooling twards becoming that aircraft mechanic. As I was headed into the recruitment office a Marine came into the hallway and asked,"Can I talk to you a minute?" I have no idea at all why I followed him into his office but the next thing you know I found myself in San Diego going to deisel mechanic school and working on tracked amphibious vehicles for the next 4 years. By the end of that my children were starting to be born so I kind of forgot about my dream and got a regular job and life went on. Today I am proud I was a Marine but still once in a while I wonder what it would have been like if I would have just talked to the Air Force recruter instead.
Jan 20, 2012 at 9:55 a.m.
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I am having a blast in my recent promotion but sleep seems to be a thing of the past.
Jan 20, 2012 at 8:43 a.m.
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Catoring parties as well,gardening and floral arranging.
Jan 20, 2012 at 8:42 a.m.
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Interior decorating and landscaping.
Jan 20, 2012 at 6:38 a.m.
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Watching my team win yet another World Series! GO REDBIRDS!!
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