Saving the world.

Humans…

Well, Americans in particular, have this notion that we can save the world.

I love it. LOVE IT, PEOPLE! I love that we are economically sound enough to think about more than ourselves and save the gorgeous earth God gave us. Those who suffer to provide for their most basic human needs don't have much time to think of how to save the world. And we are so blessed that I believe we have a responsibility to think these issues through.

But follow me as I take you on a quick logical trip.

1. Nothing beats the beauty that God gave us.

2. Nothing is much uglier than a polluted city.

3. In the most recent presidential elections, almost all major cities had a popular vote for President Obama.

4. President Obama is a liberal democrat.

5. Generally, liberal democrats are the ones pushing the government agenda to save earth.

6. So… The people living in the ugly cities are the ones saving earth? Or at least trying to enact laws to protect it?

Is this notion not ironic? That they (Save The World federal lawmakers) live in some of the most condensed, ugly portions of our country, have the most limited view of what they say they are trying to save with their laws, and yet… We listen, or ignore when in reality, we need to enact less law and more effort on saving this world.

I love this earth and the creatures who inhabit it. But I also believe that a limited, small, conservative federal government is the best for this country. Have your liberal, world-saving laws enacted in your community government.

Let my federal government alone. Please. But also, be responsible. There are those who would lose their limbs for the freedom and wealth you have. Remember that. Save the world.

Save the world through effort, not law.

Global Connection and My Generation.

The world is evolving incredibly fast at a rate that no previous generation could have imagined and I believe that my generation is especially equipped with the ability to establish peace and brotherhood between all the nations of the world.

I come from an educational background that put a premium on using technology to collaborate. In high school I collaborated via the Internet with Canadians, English, Uruguayans and Guatemalans. We have worked together on almost every facet of  my formal education. Soon, in the spring of 2014 I will be living in the Czech Republic for two years and will become fluent in the language as I live and work with Czech nationals for the entirety of my stay. All of these profound experiences have formed the reason for my desire to study at the University of Texas.

There is a list of skills that I believe many in my generation are learning unconsciously; those skills are the use of technology, open mindedness, language proficiency and cultural understanding. These are all abilities and traits to be harnessed in everyday life, especially as instantaneous global interaction becomes the norm. America is behind the global curve as we try to send our young men and women into a workforce that demands a specialized education fit for global connection. I seek such an education that I might be able to lead the way in establishing a new approach to a new American influence in the global interconnection.

I see an understanding from my foreign peers across the world that is lacking from my American peers. My peers in South America and Europe see themselves as global citizens who are working to achieve a share of the fruits of global unity. It is my opinion that American students don’t have the spark and passion for learning about culture, language, and how they can get a piece of the global entity that is becoming more and more existent. Often, they often don’t even have a plan or goals for the next decade of their lives. They are oblivious to the fact that if we do not start becoming leaders on a global, not just national scale, we are doomed to obscurity.

But amid the fact that they do not do these things, there is ability and talent to do so that is far more prominent than it was even 10 years ago. Now, more than ever we can enter the race for global connection and prominence and we can become the leaders of this generation. The answer wont necessarily be higher test scores or more STEM field funding. It will be an understanding of our global duties and a passion for connection, peace and brotherhood between all the nations of the world.

Emotion. al. Intelligence.

Emotions are pretty scary things. Especially for a teenager.

But hey, I'm almost 18. They shouldn't be. Should they? I know I'm a catch. I'm hard working, smart, handsome, mature, and loyal. But when it comes to emotions and feelings, I'm kinda immature. Seriously.

I have a theory. As a homeschooling online high schooler, who spent his formative years (12-16) on an island in Alaska, I missed out on the whole "girls like boys, giggle giggle, check yes or no, are our hands touching on accident?" thing. Yup. Never had a girlfriend. My fingers have never been interlaced with those of a cute girls. And kissing? Hah.

My best friends all live millions of miles away (so it seems) and any flirting I do tends to be over text where I can gauge reactions and edit things before I say them. When you add this all up, it doesn't make for a well balanced, young man who has given his heart, stolen a heart, broken a heart and been broken. I have no clue what that's even like.

So… Essentially I have the emotional intelligence of an 8th grader. (Ouch.)

I will soon serve a mission for two years in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. I won't be able to call or text anyone. I won't flirt with girls, or kiss anyone. Rules on the mission are strict. And from what I've heard, Czechs are pretty serious people anyway.

So when I return from my mission and plan to seriously date, court, engage and marry a beautiful woman…. HOW? I haven't a clue what any of that is like. So where I might act like a 25 year old in every other aspect of my life, when it comes to feelings, I'm off balance. (Like a 13 year old.) I need to fix this.

There's another small problem though. All of my friends are the same way. Afraid. Unsure. Awkward. Embarrassed. And when a person doesn't have the prior experience of normal relationships to relate to, they tend to be a bit more aggressive and judgmental toward my making any... moves.

DOES ANY OF THIS MAKE SENSE? Or am I being paranoid? In all honesty, I'm glad I'm this way. And I'm super glad my friends are this way. Because it means that in 2 years we will all be standing around, eyes wide and avoiding the opposite gender like the plague. And I might be able to sneak in and steal a few hearts.

Anywho. My advice for my future kids? Balance. Its key to everything. I now know what my old mentor meant when he said I needed to be a bit more social.

- jacob

Thought Leader, IDEO, Design Thinking, Outdoor Academy, and Me.

I want to be a Thought Leader. 

For those of you who don't what a Thought Leader is (I don't blame you :D), heres a snippet from the most used, abused and often mistaken website ever: Wikipedia

"Typically thought leaders have proven themselves in the business, academic or political sphere through successful implementation of their ideas. Thought leaders often publish articles and blog posts on trends and topics influencing an industry or directed internal to an organisation. Through effective communication and clarity of purpose, they effect change and are considered exemplary leaders."

Point made: I want to be a Thought Leader. I want to be an honest Jonah Lehrer, a Seth Godin, a Charles Duhigg and a TED presenter all in one.

I want to shape the world with my thoughts. Is it realistic? Yes. Yes it is. Because I live in the Information Age, Thought Leaders are going to be more and more prevalent than ever before.

I also want to work at IDEO. They are like the fixers. They solve other companies problems. Usually through design and prototyping new, better versions of whatever tangible problem the company might have.

The above picture came from the IDEO Website. They are experts at getting in that sweet-spot we all call innovation and extracting the substance they find. 

So I want to be a Thought Leader and Innovator for hire. What else?

Is much as I love the thought based side of these future career passions, I also want tangible.

 I want to work in the realm of Education. Helping other people understand, develop and grow. So often we look at education as a very specific training module. The future of teaching won't be specific. It will be broad. Teaching the next generation how to answer the hows and whys of the world. 

We need to teach all inclusively. After I took the ACT I was presented with a card that showed what I should study in college. How many of us are limited by tests and training? How many of us are limited by our outdated education system?

As a thought leader and innovator concerned with the realm of education, I want to effect change. Its already helping, all I can do it push it faster and steer it in my own direction. I want to see a world that inspires students to greatness and grows great leaders who understand how to think and express their desires and thoughts well on the Stage of the Information Age. 

Besides this more methodical, thought based future me is the "hands on" me.

I have a passion for the outdoors. Nature teaches us more about ourselves than *anything* else. It is healing and I pray more people take advantage of pure wilderness that exists in Americas local, state and national parks. 

Learning to survive and how to treat those injured in the outdoors is also intriguing to me. As a Boy Scout and NOLS Alumni, I have a pretty good handle on living in the outdoors. I can live comfortably but do want to learn more about tracking, evasion, and food procurement in the wilderness. 

I have a love for the United States of America and all she stands for. I would do anything to protect her and I plan to give back by serving in Americas Air Force. I plan to become a Pararescueman in the Alaska Air National Guard. Search and Rescue and Emergency Medicine are huge components of that Air Force Career and I have a passion for both. 

Finally, the thought of combining all of these ideas is a little overwhelming. Like when something has just *too* much flavor.

I trust that as I take time to serve my Heavenly Father as a missionary for his children, get married, and start my family that all of these ideas will settle and I will receive confirmation of what I am meant to do. 

- Jacob

Big Blue Bus

Im going on a big blue bus. So are my parents. My siblings. And my friend!! My dad is separating from the coast guard and will have 6 months before his new job with the Air Force starts. So they bought a bus and are going to drive it to Alaska and deck it out/turn it into a home. Then from October-January, I'll travel with them until my LDS Mission.

I overheard my parents talking about letting my future wife and I use the big blue bus. I better have an adventurous wife. :D

Isn't it epic? SO COOL!

7 years ago, we were in Houston Texas and toured the Battleship Texas, the only U.S. Battleship that is still floating that served in both WWI and WWII. The beds that sailors used were attached to chains and hung 4 and 5 beds to a chain. I can only imagine sleeping in them. Well… on the bus, we will be sleeping in similar quarters. The bus is 6 feet tall and we are stacking three beds atop each other. 20 inches of space between each bed. :D 

We are going to drive all of our gear to Alaska, then empty it out and remodel the inside of the bus. It will be painted white on the inside. We will have a couch, a kitchen(ette), a book shelve and dressers. A focus of our trip will be physical exercise, healthy eating and great education. 

Returning from my NOLS trip, I received a clarity of vision that I haven't had at any point in my life to date. I also became connected spiritually to my Savior and God in a way that is rare and sacred to me.

I am currently filling out LDS Mission papers and mentally and spiritually preparing myself for the next two years. They call them the best two years. I know for sure they will be some of the best years I have; regardless of how the days are. 

I cannot wait to spend the next 5 months driving around the country with my family.

You can read more and keep up to date with out Big Blue Bus Tour here.

- Jacob

My Outdoor Journal 2013

May - July 2013.

My summer.

This will go down in my books as the summer that I had it all. I did what I loved. I didn't have a care in the world. No job. No school. Nobody to support. I was free to do whatever I wanted.

I was a trail guide at Elevation. A leadership camp for high schoolers.

I went backpacking in Yosemite.

I spent time with extended family in Alaska.

I went Mountaineering with NOLS.

I spent a total of 46 nights sleeping outside this summer. :)

I am packing up my house as of July 21st in preparation to move into a school bus with my 5 other family members to go on escapades across the United States before finally embarking on the ultimate culmination of all of my learnings: my LDS mission trip.

Journal Entries- May:

Elevation Day 1.

"I arrived in canyon last night at 4:45. No one was around but I was just so happy to be there! I set up my tent but it wasn't waterproof. It had been raining off and on all morning. We ate a delicious taco soup made by Heather (a mentor) and proceeded to introduce ourselves. Dan/Bambi seems to be Camp Director. James won't be here this week but we have some fantastic staff! Laura, Layne, Megan, Me, Angie, Dan, Glen, Nels, Tasha, Jessica, Heather, Ben, and Adam. We did Walls after dinner. I need to get better at receiving. (One of my weaknesses?) I cannot wait for this Canyon to fill with students. To see their excitement grow and anxiety dissipate as they enter the canon. Todays word is Focus. We want to focus in on the week, our pods and ourselves. I am nervous as all get out. Will I measure up? Can I release my walls and get to know others? Get them to know me? I am so excited to have Angie as my mentor. She has so much to teach and is almost like a mother to me. :)"

I'm Back

It would be impossible to relate everything that has happened since I left in June. I went "camping" for a month. By that, I mean surviving on the glaciers and in the mountains of the Wind River Range in western Wyoming.

I was on a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Mountaineering course.

I read half of the Book of Mormon. I became spiritually fed. I lost 35 pounds. I carried a 70 pound pack up and down thousand foot mountain passes and across multiple glaciers. I self arrested about a dozen times while sliding down steep sections of snow and ice. I cried. I smiled. I reminisced and planned and prayed. I learned to cook (dang well.) On a single burner stove I might add. I learned to find my way on a map, plan an expedition, splint an arm, treat severe head injury, pack a backpack, use a PLB, prepare a Leave No Trace campsite, cast a fly rod, how to treat my tent buddies trench foot, how to travel quickly, safely and effectively in the mountains, and… how to poop in the woods. Most of all, I learned that to live out there, I had to rely on 11 boys I didn't know and they had to rely on me. Thats true, experiential leadership.

I met Jamie, the guy in the red patagonia jacket at the beginning of the video.

NOLS changed me. Literally. I changed physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I am different and I like it. I am always looking for what to do, always thinking of how this or that will relate to something in the future. I am on my toes. I am more mature. More appreciative of the little things. It takes 3 weeks to develop a habit; I had 4.

I'd like to continue to post some journal entries I made. They are deep, raw and personal. If you don't like that kind of thing… The next few posts aren't for you. Ill finish up this string of the next few posts with a semi detailed list/history of the month for the less emotionally and personally inclined.

In finishing this post, if you have any questions about NOLS or comments, feel free to ask and Ill be pleased to answer them.

- Jacob