2020

2020. Those four syllables are filled with so many stories of all types of emotion. Being blunt, it was a great year for me. While true, it makes me sad to type that sentence because it was such a horrible year for others. Restaurants closed, Deaths occurred that brought Racial Injustice mainstream, people got layed off, the Olympics were postponed, healthcare workers were stretched as much as could be, the education system had to make tough decisions, organic chemists and pharmacists were under immense pressure to deliver a vaccine, and millions of people worldwide were infected with Coronavirus, creating a Pandemic, with two million of those people dying from it. Families lost loved ones.

This year opened my eyes to how my age, health, skin color, and job barely made me directly affected by one of the craziest years ever. I'm thankful for the blessings in my life, but emotionally and logically I felt on the sidelines of this year while my fellow humans were suffering. If there is something that made me mad about this year, it's that I felt like I wasn't doing enough to help. I marched once. I voted. I wore my mask (although I could have done a better job of it when around my hub of friends). I took action, but wasn't feeling the motivation that I wanted to feel. I will use the lessons I've learned from this year for good. Here are some highlights of the year we called 2020.

Highlights:

• Jan - Jacksonville with AT, Driehaus Art Museum and bars afterward, AAD, Kobe died
  
  
• Feb - AAD wrap up, indoor Volleyball, Ecuador and Panama, Ash Wednesday, Ahmaud Arbery, Buttigieg won Iowa
  
  
• Mar - Phoenix, Breonna Taylor, March Madness cancelled, Biden won Super Tuesday, Dad’s birthday over google meet
  
  
• Apr - searching for apartments, rainy, zoom happy hours, cod with bros and Casey, Keeg’s birthday over google meet, scattegories with R's over zoom/google meet, Easter, Two Popes
  
  
• May - moved apartments to Lincoln Park, start of HPL, hung out with R, George Floyd
  
  
• June - got promoted to senior analyst, street closures with outdoor seating festival vibe, Breonna Taylor, marched in downtown Lafayette
  
  
• July - fourth of July outside deck, Sunday birthday turned 26 beautiful blue sky day, family time and presents over google meet, hung out with L and friends
  
  
• Aug - Asheville with Mom, Dad, and A.T., hung out with L and friends, went to watch softball games, Saturday park volleyball, end to end for HPL
  
  
• Sep - hung out with L and C and friends, Saturday park volleyball, end to end for HPL, Sports Sunday, interruption filled first Pres debate
  
  
• Oct - HPL ended, went to LA for Keeg’s proposal to Marissa
  
  
• Nov - started Bopis phase 2, Biden won the election, got promoted to consultant, Men’s group, IU football was good, Thanksgiving at home and Keeg came too
  
  
• Dec - cod with bros and Casey, went home for Christmas, enjoyed hanging out with Mom, Dad, and AT (dinners, board games, walks at Happy Hollow and Prophetstown, watching Mass, watched IU basketball, cleaned the basement, epic Yahtzee game, Spy Alley), G walk, drive back with AT on 31st, rearranged living room

 
I pray for those we lost, and those that are still suffering. I hope that there are silver linings from this year that we can look back on. I'll continue to strive for racial justice in all facets of life, hope to continue to learn how to prevent microaggressions, and will continue to treat others the best way I can: with love, compassion, and respect.

- Brody

   

Reminiscing on 2019 and the 2010s

It's pretty crazy that the year is at an end, let alone that we are closing a decade. Here are some of the highlights from this past year and some fun experiences that happened during the 2010s.

2019:

• After graduating from grad school in Dec. 2018, I lived at home in WL with my Mom and Dad in January. I shoveled the driveways multiple times and enjoyed going to the gym to workout, especially with my Dad. My mom and I enjoyed shopping for my new apartment. I even bought a couch!
• In February, I moved to Chicago! It was February 9th and I packed up the Uhaul and headed north. It was a blue sky day. I met my Godmother for the first time in awhile and she helped us unpack and put away my items in my apartment. It was really cool meeting her. One of my first days that week, I walked to Wrigley field in the snow. It was great.
• On February 20th, I started my first job, as an analyst at Accenture. I made sure I woke up on time to catch the red line eL and make it to the office by 8:30. It was fun meeting my other new joiners.
• I liked going to B.L.U.E.S. with Dad
• I like the independence and living on my own and exploring
• Throughout the year it was fun biking around and exploring all the different neighborhoods and the lakefront trail.
• I loved visiting home for Easter and Keeg's BDay 
• I liked hanging out with Mom and going to her cousin's wedding
• I liked going to the White Sox game with A.T., Keeg, and Marissa
• I liked hosting A.T. and his friend for the Cubs game
• I enjoyed going to Champaign for Kyle's wedding and visiting our old house 
• I liked eating dinner at Katie's and her family (my Godmother)
• I got an Illinois ID/license
• I went to two Cubs games
• I worked in Akron doing eCommerce; got to stay in Cleveland a couple times
• I visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• I took Greyhounds, rental cars, Amtrak, eL, and got picked up
• I played beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, basketball, and indoor soccer
• I found a Church
• I was home for Thanksgiving and Christmas
• I loved my first year in Chicago

The decade of 2010s:

• I played varsity high school sports
• I went to Ireland summer 2012
• I graduated high school
• I went to IU
• I read the Bible
• I learned how to play guitar
• I was a camp counselor and had amazing experiences
• I went to Germany twice, and studied abroad in Berlin summer 2015
• I graduated college 
• I was a best man in my best friend's wedding
• I attended two additional weddings of my good friends
• My cousins and their spouses started having kids
• I went to grad school
• I interned in Indianapolis
• I was at IU with my brothers for one semester
• I graduated grad school 
• I got my first job in Chicago at Accenture
• I met great friends
• I grew closer with God

It's been a great year and a wonderful decade. Time is precious and I'm thankful for the memories.


Here we come 2020!


-Brody

Adventure, Accomplishment, and New Beginnings

12-31-18

Adventure, Accomplishment, and New Beginnings

This has been such a good crazy year that I haven’t even written a blog post in 2018. 2018 was filled with new adventures, big accomplishments, and new beginnings.

            In the spring, I got an A- in one of the toughest classes in my program. I felt proud that I took the class instead of opting for what might have been an easier path. Then in March, I traveled with 18 of my classmates to India to explore its culture and business environment. It’s ironic that some of my favorite memories from the trip were on the bus rides. However, the Taj Mahal was a sight to see and the clear blue sky that day was a blessing. I discovered that India has as many mopeds as sand particles on a beach. Above all though, I learned that India is a wonderful country filled with history, hard work, and people just like me.

            In April, my little brother Keegan turned 21. We enjoyed a night out on the town going to the different bars and also celebrated with a bonfire the next day complete with hamburgers, chips, and smores. In May, I enjoyed watching my little brother Aidan play baseball. As a senior, he was hitting the ball all over the place. Watching him graduate later that month was a highlight for our family, and it was the last chapter in what amounted to 18 years spent between my brothers and me in the West Lafayette school system.

            As summer rolled around, I started my first ever internship. It was in Indianapolis with a tech company that does accounting and website development for charities. I’ve always wanted to get to know Indianapolis better, and I’m happy that I was able to explore it on the weekends through the various parks, disc golf courses, and other spectacles the city had to offer. Not only did I enjoy the exploring, but I learned a lot about business and how to work hard. It was a good experience that I’m very thankful for.

            In mid August, I returned to IU Bloomington for my last college semester to complete my masters degree. I was given a unique opportunity that fall to be one of two graduate assistants for the ERP class that the new students in my program were taking. After countless questions, emails, and help sessions I now have great sympathy for teachers everywhere.

September and October were filled with recruiting events. I was happy at how well I interacted at the various info sessions, careers fairs, and email conversations. I was excited at all the interviews I got, and could definitely tell that I improved in my interviewing skills. Overall, it concluded with me getting a job offer from my top company, Accenture. I thank my family, friends, teachers, and coaches for helping me reach this goal. Above all, I thank God for always forgiving me, loving me, and pushing me to be my best and to serve others.

            In December, I ended my semester with a pricing class and a trip to Las Vegas. I learned a lot from both my negotiation and pricing classes, and it was a treat to be surrounded by MBA classmates who I could learn from as well. Las Vegas was fun but I don’t think it is a place I’d want to revisit anytime soon. The Pinball Hall of Fame was my favorite part of the trip because I felt that I got to experience what any kid in the 80s longed to do with their spare change. Christmas was a thrill and I’m thankful that I have a tremendous loving family. A few days after the holiday, I found an apartment in Chicago with my parents and am all set to see what 2019 has in store.

            Before the clock strikes midnight, I’ll reflect on all that 2018 had to offer. Whatever thoughts roll through my mind, I know that 2018 was filled with adventure, accomplishment, and new beginnings. What a year.

-Brody   

Goal Accomplished

12-31-17

#myDecemberGoal

Goal Accomplished

            Today is New Year’s Eve which means that by posting this blog piece I have successfully accomplished my December goal. At the beginning of the month, I made it a goal of mine to write one blog post a day until the ball dropped celebrating the New Year. I wrote one that was private which I didn’t post and I forgot to write one on Christmas Eve so I wrote two on Christmas. Besides those little missteps, I can happily say that I successfully accomplished what I set out to do. It’s been a fun journey and I’ve learned some things along the way.

            First, I found out that it would take me until 11 pm to feel motivated to write. Often later in the night was when I would reflect on my day, which brings me to my second point. Each day of mine brought something new and something to write about. No matter how boring or how fun, there was always something on my mind that I could share.

            Speaking of sharing, I hope that you’ve enjoyed my short stories these past 31 days. My main motivation for writing these posts wasn’t to make you want to like my writing. It was simply me striving to accomplish something over time. I said in the beginning that #myDecemberGoal was like a reverse New Year’s resolution. I did it because I knew that a specific timeframe would help me stay accountable. Now that we have a little under 15 minutes until 2018 rings in, new year's resolutions will be made. For me, I’ve already accomplished mine. It just so happened to occur during December.
  

-Brody

Overcoming Limits

12-30-17

#myDecemberGoal

Overcoming Limits

Today I was inspired by E:60. It’s a show on ESPN where journalists interview people about their life stories and how it relates to sports. They were airing a special this evening to reminisce about their past 10 years of creating the show. While watching all the footage and hearing some interviews, it was incredible to see what some people accomplished while having some sort of setback.

One girl they covered was a star track athlete even though she had multiple sclerosis. She couldn’t feel her legs whenever she raced and had to fall into her coach’s arms every time she crossed the finish line in order to stop her momentum. She then had to be immediately carried to a bench to be cooled down by ice bags and water because her body would be producing so much heat. This happened every race and it’s not like she came in last. She won many of her races.

Stories like these inspire me because they make me realize that we as humans can persevere through the limits that Mother Nature puts on us. And when we do, we can accomplish great feats. I’ve found that this is easier when someone is along side of us, constantly pushing us to be better and encouraging us along the way, like that girl’s coach. While there is a breaking point and such thing as too much pushing, I usually find that I have a lot more effort to give whenever the thought of quitting or not even trying pops into my head.

I believe the military has a 40% rule that says when you first think you want to quit, you really have only given 40% of your available energy. Thus, you still have 60% to give. I remember when this saying affected my workout a couple months ago. I first only wanted to run 10 laps on the track but I decided at about lap 7 to add 60% more laps to my goal. I ended up running 25 laps (60% more) and was amazed that I actually did it.
           Mindsets like this and stories such as what the journalists of E:60 share have led me to make one of my New Year’s resolutions be not to underestimate myself. If I don’t underestimate myself, who knows what feats I can accomplish.

-Brody

Deleting Email

12-29-17

#myDecemberGoal

Deleting Email

I’ve spent the past hour and a half deleting emails from my personal account because I thought it would free up some space on my phone. After about 15 minutes, I decided I was going to go all out and try to delete as many unwanted emails as I could.

I’m a person who likes to save stuff. I like the sentimental aspect of gifts, written cards, and yes, even emails. As I sorted through the electronic pile of messages, I realized that facebook and twitter took up a majority of my email space. I also realized that my emails were a time capsule of my past 5 years. As I sifted, it was fun reflecting on all that has happened and who has been involved in my life. There were emails I got when I was trying to find which college I wanted to go to. There were emails from my first job. There were even emails about people who retweeted my tweets. I’m not a big tweeter, but those posts definitely brought back good memories.

All in all, while it was boring to delete all those emails, the going back in time aspect made it worthwhile. If you’re a saver like me, maybe go back and read some of those old emails. It’ll refresh your memory.

-Brody

Malls

12-28-17

#myDecemberGoal

Malls

            I don’t like going to the mall. My brother needed some pants though, so today we made the drive out there. The only part I like about going to the mall is walking around. It’s fun to feel the energy and look in the window displays. But after awhile my legs start hurting and it’s all downhill from there.

            The next frustration comes when I have to find what I’m looking for. I’m usually one of the smaller sizes so finding the right fit can be hard, especially when it comes to pants. Shirts are easier since there are fewer shirt sizes made. Once I’ve found an item, the money factor comes in. For me, I like to know all my options before I purchase something. However, the mall makes it super hard to compare items across stores. I would have to walk to each store, find similar items, compare the items in my head, and then go back to the store which I think has the best deal and best item.

Thus the tired legs, the inefficiency of selecting clothing, and trying to find the best deal are all reasons why I don’t like shopping at malls.

-Brody