My Dream

I might butcher the following story but I want it. For the future when I look back at this blog.

At one point in time, Dad thought of being a PJ. He didn't want it bad like me. But he did want it. Who wouldn't? No self respecting, strong, patriotic man wouldn't want to be a PJ. Few things are more honorable than saving lives and doing it with an American Flag on your shoulder.

But dad always wanted to be a military pilot more. More than anything. It was his dream. And he chased his dream.

His whole life his parents, family, friends, they all told him he couldn't. His wife (my mom) wouldn't let him join. Five (5) years he waited. Every few months, he would go talk to the recruiter and that spark reignited. Finally he just had to. He told my mom he was going to join after he saw an ad in the paper looking for applicants for Air Force Pilot Training. He applied.

It was rough. Dad wasn't exactly the prime candidate for an Air Force Pilot. But maybe thats what helped him. He had a kid and mom was pregnant with my little brother. He was working as a carpenter but knew he didn't want to do that his whole life. He didn't have a suit. So he took his old Alaska Airlines blazer and popped the buttons off and sewed new ones on. He brought along his flight log. He had taken a few flight lessons when he had saved the little extra he could find.

When he went to the interview, he saw an Alaska Airlines pilot that he had known when he worked as a bagger. His hopes sunk. He went into the interview and spent half the time talking about his Boy Scout experiances and Eagle Scout Project. Then they asked if he knew anyone in the Air Guard.

"My father in law Paxton Oborn was a loadmaster."

"Pat!? Your father-in-law is Pat Oborn!? I knew Pat."

After a bit more chitchat, he left and soon after was hired. He was leaving to become a pilot in the military. Can you imagine his excitement? I remember him leaving to go to training.

The Air Force intentionally lets more guys into pilot training than they will graduate. Which means if you fail a test, they kick you out. Dad was competing against recently graduated Air Force Academy Cadets.  It was tough what he had gotten into. Hard. The most mentally challenging, intensive, and most expensive training program in the U.S. Military. Becoming an Air Force Pilot is just as hard as becoming a Pararescueman. (In a very different way though.)

He came close to quitting. Mom wouldn't let him. (I am a firm believer in being married before I join the military. Its the only way to ensure you have your priorities straight and have an important support system before you join.)

He didn't quit. He stayed with it. His excellent work ethic, maturity and officer behavior helped him make up for his lack of intellectual knowledge the other trainees had.

He flew search and rescue missions all the time in Alaska. One of his primary duties was to refuel pave hawk helicopters midair and send PJs out the back of his HC-130 turboprop aircraft. In 2003 he was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He flew combat missions and was awarded by the President. In 2005 he flew in Africa. He was patrolling the coasts looking for pirates.

He changed airframes in 2006. Learned how to fly a KC-135 refueling jet. He refueled all kinds of fighter aircraft all over the world.

In 2008 he joined the Coast Guard and flew rescue and law enforcement missions. Nothing as cool as the Air Force, but still important.

Now, his excellent knowledge of aircraft has led him to be the designer of the new Coast Guard Glass Cockpit. (Computerized Instruments.)

He might be sent to learn how to fly UAVs for the Ohio or Texas Air Guard.

I love my dad. Everyone told him he couldn't or wouldn't become a pilot. He took that and shoved it in their face. He is the best pilot in the Coast Guard. Honestly. He doesn't brag but because of his extensive Air Force and combat training, none of the Coast Guard pilots can hold a candle to him.

I have my own dream. Dad got to live his and now its time for me to live mine.


I lay awake every single night day-dreaming of the day I free-fall out of a HC-130 Hercules and parachute into a mountainside, equipped with tactical medical gear ready to save someone who has been lost for a week in the Alaskan wilderness. Or Ill sit and think about/dream about running off a HH-60 Pavehawk and carrying back a U.S. Soldier riddled with bullet holes.

I love adventure and medicine. I want to save lives. I come from a family of Air Guard Babies and I'm patriotic to the core? Both sides of my family have lived in the U.S. since the early-mid 1700's. I take great pride in that.

The life of a military man isn't easy. Being a Pararescueman is 100% harder. Its a young mans job. Tougher on the body and the spirit than any other career in the U.S. Air Force. But somebody has to do it and I think I was meant to. I think I was born to.

I want more than anything to go skydiving. I will leave to go rock climbing, backpacking and mountain climbing in a few weeks. I bought a EMT textbook when I was fifteen. For fun. I get the worst goosebumps when I see a flag and hear the anthem. I stand tall and proud to be American. I was born to be in the Air Force. I was born to protect and serve and save lives.

People have told me I cant. They have said that its just a childhood dream. Not worth making a reality. A stupid was to provide for my family. Dangerous. Scary.

Yeah. I could be a lawyer. I could be a dentist. A CEO. I could work for myself or work for someone else. I could become a professor. I could. I don't want to.

Life is meant to be lived. Heavenly Father made me, knows me and gave me my talents and strengths and weaknesses. He didn't create this earth and his children to sit and rot. He wants me to go leave an impact.

Imagine your dad, hanging by his fingertips from a cliff. He misjudged a step and slipped. Fell. You're screaming for help but it only makes it worse. His fingers and beginning to cramp. He says "I love you." Seconds later, he falls. Breaks both legs and arm on the trees below has a puncture wound and is unconscious.

Pararescue jumps in and begins to revive him. He's stable and headed back to base on the helicopter.

Thats what I want to do. Be someones guardian angel on the worst day of their life. I won't do it for the money. Ha! I won't do it for the pride. They aren't highlighted. These missions go without seeing the print of a newspaper. I just want to do it because its the right thing to do and because I was meant to.

I will succeed. I will make it. I will graduate, and wear my blues with the maroon beret. (Lets hope a PJ never sees this. Id be laughed at and never have a chance to join if I said that to their faces. Its a brotherhood and Im not a part of it. Yet.)

Thats my dream.

Whats yours??

#stuckinmyhead

"There was a girl named Annie,
she had a very pretty face.
but not the way you would think so...
let me see if i can try to explain it.

She had a smile that could light up a room,
and if she moved it'd be moving you.
But it wasn't like a magazine,
she was just plain Jane,
her name was Annie.

...
You're beautiful.
…

There was a girl named Annie...
She had a very pretty face…"

Why so often?

Why have I been coming here so often? Posting so much? I'm not sure.

What I am sure of is that River Flows In You by Yiruma is an incredible piece that makes me think.

I came here for comfort. I feel comfortable sharing my thoughts. With nobody and everybody at the same time.

Heres a question for you; is it nobody or no one? Everyone or everybody? I remember learning about it in school but honestly it never made much sense.

I have so much I want to say. My mother spends minutes, hours, sometimes days combing her posts. She has an art and a gift with writing. Me? Not so much. I write like I think. In short, cut off sentences. I kind of love the way I think. It makes me feel gifted. Smart. Worth something.

Truth is… I suffer from not feeling worthy. I don't feel adequate for whatever it is I feel I need to feel adequate for.

I have dreams. I have visions but like I shared in class today, He who looks outward dreams. He who looks inward awakes.

I want to be awake. I don't want to be stuck dreaming. I need a plan.

I have no plan.

I hate plans.

I cannot make them.

One of my biggest "my wife must" demands isn't that she is attractive, or funny, or is adventurous. Its that she is a planner. And a dreamer who makes plans and wants to fulfill them with me.

I have acne. braces. I sweat. I have a unibrow. long toes. i'm pudgy around the middle of late. my lips are cracked and bleeding.

There. I said about every physical trait I have that I am self conscious about. Yeah. Im a dude so it doesn't matter.

I really don't care. Except sometimes. Like when girls check out the guy next to you.

Ill leave the emotional insecurities for late night talks with my true, real, deep friends. Yeah. You.

I can't wait for this semester to end. My students cry and I stand solemn by them but secretly… I cannot wait to be done. The burden of 21 students, their mothers and their livelihoods is a burden few teenagers can handle. Myself included. It's been a good run but its time to dedicate some time to me.

If you are a creepy stalker, I ask that you leave. Thanks! ;)  Have a wonderful day.

13S Mtn Sem

Hi! My name is Jacob Earle. 

I have known James and Nels since 2009 when I started as a young, inexperienced but passionate student at Williamsburg Academy. I graduated from the Academy last year and have since been working as a Leadership Coach at Williamsburg Intermediate.

I have over 3,000 unread emails in my inbox. My nickname as a tween was Andre The Giant. Yes. I love The Princess Bride. Yes. I was a six foot tall thirteen year old. 

There's two reasons I'm going on this seminar. (There is really a million. But I'll spare you.) The awesome people and the awesome location. Put the two together and it just looks fantastic! I cannot wait to be out in Yosemite and learning together as we forge our way through the beautiful scenery.

I preach the value and importance of the information age but I also believe that as we devote more energy to the virtual, we need to balance it with spending more energy in the outdoors.

Julia Howard and I have been preparing to become leaders in outdoor education. This seminar is a step (leap?) in the right direction and I know for me, there's no place I'd rather be! Can't wait to see you all out there!

Go Confidently...

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined.

- Henry David Thoreau.

Education is about love. Loving what you learn.

I am confident that the future will NOT be had by the big guy. It will be the little guy. Internet is far too underutilized in society. Sadly, there are few things we use it for.

Facebook, Entertainment, Shopping and Pornography are the extent that the general public uses the internet. It makes me cringe.

Even one of the more utilized educational sites, Wikipedia, is only utilized for quick fixes. Our society believes in quick fixes. Coffee, 5 hour energy, 20 minute episodes of a sitcom that will not only NOT make you a better person, but will probably make you worse.

Like I've said. The internet is far too underutilized. When will we step up and start using Google+, LinkedIn and Skype to improve our world.

I imagine myself at 20 something getting online with a group of other 20 something year olds and writing a essay, soon to be published to Scribd and shared on LinkedIn and Google+. 10 days later, it will be the talk of the internet.

Remember Peter and Valentine? Demosthenes and Locke? How they took on the inter-web and changed the world stage of political debate? At 14 years old? Yeah. I do. And I believe that will become common place.


I was laughed at by a couple of men when I suggested that the guy with the best idea were promoted over those with the most time in or best BS'ing skills. They chuckled and said "Thats just the way the world works." My heart SUNK!

How in the world could they just say that? These uber-successful men were laughing at an idea they probably know is needed. Do they not understand that they can change the world?

STORY TIME!

Lets say I become a pharmaceutical expert. I want to sell a drug to… Walmart. So how do I do that? Big corporations make it intentionally hard for you to contact someone high up the chain. Why? Because most littles would probably become pesky to the bigs. Its the way it is.

So I spend thousands of dollars trying to promote my drug with no success. The drug is fine. My end of the product is perfect. Its simply connecting with the distributor that has stopped me.

Sad day for Mr. Me.

Lets go back a bit. I create a drug and want to sell it to Walmart. I hop on LinkedIn and type in "Walmart Pharmaceutical" I get 4 search returns. I find out that my friend Tim's brother in law worked as the chief distribution manager at Walmart. I shoot him an email, offering to pay him if he will get me in touch with the right people. A thousand bucks later my drug is on shelves and selling thousands.

Back to the real world. I just used a website to solve a 21st century problem in no time at all. And saved thousands doing it.

Lets say I want to start planting Bamboo trees on skyscrapers in San Fran. You know. For oxygen and green purposes. I live over in the suburbs and don't know any hippies to back my idea. I throw it up on Google+ and all my hippie friends +1 it.

Soon I get in contact with a guy who has a small 12 person save the environment group that meets in San Fran every Thursday night. I can't really drive there thursday… No need! We will set up a google hangout. Soon, I have 30 people attending this meeting. One guy is a web designer. He sets up a crowd funding account for me for free. (Charity baby.) and I soon have 10,000 dollars from people all over the U.S.




I invite them all to a Google Hangout and 3 months after this idea to plant bamboo trees in the city, 1,000 people attend my launch party and we start planting.

I haven't met a one of them but I have a thousand new friends and 10,000 bucks to start planting bamboo trees with.


That is how the world will work ladies and gentlemen. The internet is the way to our dreams. It will unlock our imaginations and connect us in ways we never thought possible 10 years ago. Lets start using it for more than our drama and soap operas! Lets start changing the world. And don't you ever, EVER say that "Thats just the way the world works." You can change the world.

You are the master of your fate. You are the captain of your soul.

A Quick Post

I love life.

Talking to friends just makes like better.

The sun is shining, my room is a mess, powerpoint keeps crashing, Owl City is playing, I smell nice and clean, I'm wiggling my toes, and I'm thinking I should read some of the book of mormon.

I trust people. And I'm okay with that. I stayed up late last night talking to my BFF. It was blissful, hilarious and I feel like every time I talk to her, we become better friends. I'm pretty lucky to have the friends I do. I may not have many but those that I do are… Pretty freakin' awesome. Like…. Id kill wolverines with a freakin' twelve gauge if they tried attacking my friends.

In other news, I'm trying to read the BoM as quickly as possible. I have had the spirit with me. It's been fantastic.

I'm applying to BYU Hawaii.

The Boston Bombings and Waco Explosion are pretty sad.

I am finishing the last steps of my Eagle Project. I am trying to set up a Board of Review.

I am teaching WI. :)

I NEED TO DO ASTRONOMY TODAY! CRAP!

I leave in 17 days…. O.o

Crap guys. CRAP! This is not good….

Uh…. Well…. Im gonna go now and curl up and die…

OH! Moms surgery went super well. :) She might come home early!

Andrew is gone. In the MTC. :/ Need to write him…

NO FACEBOOK OR FOX NEWS TODAY! NONE!

Crap Jacob…. School…. 17 days…..

- Jake

Through the pain...

A couple of months ago, I was at an Eagle Project. The project was informing the public about the American Flag, the respect it demands and how to properly retire a flag.

Midway through a speech being made by a retired marine, the flag caught a gust of wind and blew over. I rushed to pick it up and held it firm in my hand for the next 30 minutes. My arm started to hurt but I kept the hand on the flag and kept sitting up tall. I felt so much pride and love and respect for our flag.

I know that most people aren't like this. I don't let it bug me, but I do take pride in knowing I treat the american flag with as much respect and sacredness as I do other things given to me by God.

I worked through the pain for my country. For the red white and blue. 

My first year of Williamsburg Academy we did a very emotionally engaged activity. Mr. Ure had us each stare at the face of a single classmate, then close our eyes and envision that student in 15 years. 

We did this over a few different 2-3 hour classes. The end of the school year came before I had been put in the hot seat. I was, in all honesty, very bummed. I wanted to know what my classmates thought of me.

At Elevation, the next week, around the campfire, James had the students conduct the activity for me. It felt like a million eyes were piercing my soul.

The only responses I remember came from 3 boys. Andrew McClain, Spencer Koyle and another boy. I can't remember which one it was. 

They all agreed that when they closed their eyes, they saw me running across a battlefield leading soldiers into war. I was honestly shocked.

I didn't talk about the military back then. Didn't think about it. So for these boys to say that was very odd.

I remember listening to the girls but can't remember their words. I remember "being a father" was said. 

But since that night, the image of me in a WWII era helmet, running into battle with other american young men hasn't left my mind. I take pride that they would see that in me.

The older I get, the more I love this country. It is truly God's country and I want to lead, defend, and embrace it. 

I cannot think of a way I would rather die than for my country… I will fight through the pain, just like I did with the flag, because God gave us the red white and blue and we owe it to Him, to stay with it until the end. 

Quick check in

Hi,

It is going to be a while before I have the time to document much in detail but I want to check in a leave a quick little post.

As you know, It is my dream to serve my country as an air force pararescuemen. I want to be married before I enlist because I believe that the need for a strong family and supportive wife is paramount to achieving my dreams. But that doesn't mean I can't start training right now.

I contacted Jason Broline, a former Pararescuemen. He lives in Tampa and is a co-owner of Rescue Athlete. Rescue Athlete caters to Pararescue hopefuls and gives them the training they need to be successful in attempting to become a PJ.

He offered me a slot at the next Operation X program they run. It is in 8 days.

It will be the hardest thing I have done physically, to date.

I am excited.

Alrighty. I need to go. Ill check in as soon as I have a few.

- Jacob

Check this out...

http://growingleaders.com/blog/

Meet Time Elmore. A genius who is helping my parents generation raise my generation. We can learn from him.

Number one thing I learned here? Don't inhibit a child's ability to take risk. Taking risks makes children effective adults.

Kinda like the saying "You're smarter than I give you credit for."; we ought to learn to stop treating children like children.

- Me.

What did they call trad climbing before the advent of sport climbing?

What about analog watches?

(Bear with me...I'm trying to think of how we can turn this into a leadership/change/liberty post.)

Are we quick to think that its always been this way??

Musings

I think Americans have spunk. We have national pride. We believe-- we know that we are the best country in the world.

Pride cometh before the fall. I love America. I am proud to be an American, but our pride is making us ignorant. We cannot remember a time when life wasn't relatively easy.

I believe that 9/11 was a wake up call. But sadly, we went back to sleep. And the rest of the world saw. We pretended we weren't in a war. Those who wanted to served, but for the most part the rest of us were unaffected. We could have just as easily been living in peace.

Jim O'Neil, British Economist and Chairman of Goldman Sachs coined the term "The BRIC Nations" in 2001.  The term refers to Brazil, Russia, India and China. Four "developing" nations poised to take over the global economy. They have quickly risen and become huge, booming, growing economies very well aware that America is quickly sliding downward in a twisting, turning path to the graveyard.

In 2009, the U.S. economy slumped. We haven't recovered. But I think it is only a small sign of what is to come. In the next decade I believe that Americas economy will fall to a point where the BRIC nations will step forward to take over the gap we left in our place.

It makes me sad to think about. But the thing about America is we always rebound. And when we do see that the BRIC nations are taking over, we will become riled up. Ready to fight.

When we do, WWIII will ensue. Countries will take their sides. England, which has been our ally since the first World War will have an economy similar to ours. We will be the underdog that still thinks it is the top dog.

In other words, we will be humbled by God. The only way to win, and remain a choice country blessed heavily by our Creator is if we humble ourselves and repent of our indulgent, vile sins and become righteous.

America is only a shining city upon a hill if the light doesn't burn out. It will be put out soon and we will have to relight it the same way its very first inhabitants did; with praise to God and living righteously in his name.

the lines between us

My friend and I want to cowrite a blog together. With anyone else, I'd be skeptical that it could happen (I'm just too hard to deal with. :P) but her and I built the plans for a school together…

Anyway. Part of the vibe of the blog will be what unites us.

I found something that I believe is literally tearing our country apart. In no way does it help unite us or bring us closer.

A beauty pageant for african americans only. http://www.missblackusa.org

A expedition to Denali for african americans only. http://expeditiondenali.nols.edu/about/

WAIT!

Before you get upset with me, hear me out. Then think what you will.

I am not a white bigot. I am not racist. In fact, I am progressive in many ways. 

Here's what I think. 

I think the world is getting smaller and smaller everyday. Language, Culture, Religion and Ethnicity can no longer have the hold that it has had in times past. The future leaders of the world will be those who can look past minor differences and see the real picture: we are all human.

So why do we stand around drawing line betweens us, failing to connect or unite together? We owe each other the decency of being real and authentic with each other. We need to break the lines that thousands of years of small mindedness engrained in our minds.  

Why can't we just come together and forget our differences? Why does color matter? Why does religion matter? Why would we ostracize and prevent our brothers and sisters from participating in any activity with us? 

Furthermore, what would happen if we had a Miss White USA pageant? What about an outdoor expedition for white people only? I think that would be the most immature, pre-conventional thing to do. It would only draw us farther apart. So why do we believe that keeping things separate is going to help in any way, shape or form?

We shouldn't keep those lines between us. And because we shouldn't, there should be no Miss Black USA or Expedition Denali. It is wrong, immature, pre-conventional and if we want to come together and lead this world into the next 100 years, we must be willing to drop the act that we are somewhat better or worse because of the language we speak, culture we know, religion we worship or our ethnicity.

Note: I tried to find white only activities that would balance my findings above. I couldn't find any. Why? I'll leave you, the reader to decide. 

That awkward moment when...

you say something totally awkward to your friend and then pretend you didn't say anything.

awkward

^ I kinda hate that word. :P

The Comeback Kid

They call me the Comeback Kid.

Well… Not really. Just kidding. Nobody calls me that.

But…

I am.

Last semester I had a 45% in Physics and boosted it to a 95% in the last 6 weeks.

This semester I have a 5% in Astronomy and have 4 weeks to get it to a 95%


I just sat down with my wonderful mother (call me a mamas boy) and made a list.

Big rocks, little rocks. 

Time Wasters.

SMART Goals. 

We didn't actually use those terms or even talk about time wasters, little rocks or SMART goals. But I implemented them into my plan.

Have I mentioned I fail at planning? The reason I am so intent on getting married is so that my other half can complete me and help lift me up at my weaknesses. I honestly believe the best couples are opposites in most ways. --- Back to my comeback.

I have four weeks, people. Thirty days. I have to do a few things.

Finish the paperwork on my Eagle Project.
Pull an A in Astronomy. Shooting for the stars here. pun intended.
Apply to BYU Hawaii. What else would I do this fall?
Reapply to ILP.
Submit a butt ton of scholarships in hopes I might be able to pay the astronomical tuition at SVU.
Start an American Flag Installation business in my neighborhood. $$$
Buy tickets to Elevation and NOLS
Finish up the semester strong at WI.
Check the mission application (to ensure I am not missing medical checkups etc.)
Read the BoM
Read Preach My Gospel
Finish my third and final year of Seminary

One. Month.

Wish me luck.

But maybe I don't need it. They do call me the Comeback Kid, don't they?