Breathe deep and smell the cedar and petrichor...
My college years in the 1980s taught me the value of connections over mere knowledge. I hold Associate degrees in Communications and Computers from St. Petersburg Junior College (now St. Petersburg College). While I have several certifications in the technology sector, the most notable are my CWTS, CWNA, and CWDP certifications, which are part of the journey towards the prestigious CWNP certification.
I graduated from Northeast High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1983 with a 3.85 GPA. During the era when the SAT was scored out of 1300 points, I scored a commendable 1265. Despite suspicions of cheating due to identical scores with a classmate, my performance was purely based on my test-taking abilities. High school was a time of diverse involvement for me. I was active in various clubs, organizations, and the cross-country team. Notably, I was on the forensics team for debate and placed third in architectural drafting at the State Fair. High school was a blend of fun and awkwardness, filled with friendships across different social groups. I created several class websites and an alumni site, which I still maintain today.
My early education was diverse due to my father's career in the Navy, leading to several relocations. Despite this, I hold no negative memories of my schooling years. After my parents' divorce, I returned to St. Petersburg, attending Lynch Elementary and Meadowlawn Middle School. At Meadowlawn, I was enrolled in the Exceptional Learning Program (ELP), which allowed me to develop close bonds with my classmates. I was a promising art student and an amateur photographer, which even allowed me to skip PE in eighth grade to work on a large art project under the guidance of my exceptional art teacher, Jill East.
I have a tested IQ of 189 and was a member of Mensa for a year in my early 20s. However, I eventually left the organization as I didn't find it particularly beneficial. Nowadays, such affiliations don't hold much interest for me.