Thread: Has Anyone Here Re-invented Themselves? (Serious Question)

Not often that I find myself being completely serious on this site, but this is actually something I know a little bit about.

When I got to be in my mid twenties, (I am now 43) I had already worked several jobs and needed a career. I got in shape and decided to follow my dream of being a police officer. After finding out that a local department was hiring, (Garden Grove) I went for it. I did everything right and before I knew it I was in the academy. First week in I was on the obstacle course and in the course of going over a wall I destroyed my knee, I was done. I continued doing jobs that merely helped get my family by and it was putting a strain on my marriage. I finally found the job that helped the family, I went to work for Ralph’s Grocery and the medical insurance alone made it worth taking the job. I became a butcher’s assistant and I loved the work, but an accident while playing hockey ruined everything. I essentially had my shoulder annihilated in an open ice hit that would lead to four separate surgeries in three years, I now jokingly tell people I have more titanium in my shoulder than a space shuttle. Because of this incident, I have not worked for over 6 years. In that time I gained a ton of weight, topping almost 370 pounds, (I’m only 5’8) and my self esteem was at an all time low. Realizing I would not see me daughters’ graduate high school much less get married I changed my life forever. I still have a lot of weight to lose, but I have lost 140 pounds and in that time I went back to college to get my Bachelor’s Degree, (I am a Criminal Science Major at Arizona State, I go online) and I have had three job interviews in the last month, all having to do with my actual degree. Find what is important to you and do it, it could be something as simple as going on this site and writing about the team you love. I know it sounds cliché, but if I can change, anyone can, it really is possible.

Thank you for indulging me.

Originally Posted by Rawley19

Not often that I find myself being completely serious on this site, but this is actually something I know a little bit about.

When I got to be in my mid twenties, (I am now 43) I had already worked several jobs and needed a career. I got in shape and decided to follow my dream of being a police officer. After finding out that a local department was hiring, (Garden Grove) I went for it. I did everything right and before I knew it I was in the academy. First week in I was on the obstacle course and in the course of going over a wall I destroyed my knee, I was done. I continued doing jobs that merely helped get my family by and it was putting a strain on my marriage. I finally found the job that helped the family, I went to work for Ralph’s Grocery and the medical insurance alone made it worth taking the job. I became a butcher’s assistant and I loved the work, but an accident while playing hockey ruined everything. I essentially had my shoulder annihilated in an open ice hit that would lead to four separate surgeries in three years, I now jokingly tell people I have more titanium in my shoulder than a space shuttle. Because of this incident, I have not worked for over 6 years. In that time I gained a ton of weight, topping almost 370 pounds, (I’m only 5’8) and my self esteem was at an all time low. Realizing I would not see me daughters’ graduate high school much less get married I changed my life forever. I still have a lot of weight to lose, but I have lost 140 pounds and in that time I went back to college to get my Bachelor’s Degree, (I am a Criminal Science Major at Arizona State, I go online) and I have had three job interviews in the last month, all having to do with my actual degree. Find what is important to you and do it, it could be something as simple as going on this site and writing about the team you love. I know it sounds cliché, but if I can change, anyone can, it really is possible.

Thank you for indulging me.

This is such an awesome story (all except the parts where you were in such pain)! Thanks for sharing it! You are the "huckle berry" bro!

USC, if you are a good writer there is plenty of work out there besides journalism. Look for the options.

Originally Posted by SirJW

USC, if you are a good writer there is plenty of work out there besides journalism. Look for the options.

Well, I'm sure he's gotten better at it, but I do remember a thread he started titled;

"How Do You Hang A Poster"

I suggested using piano wire from a street light. He and several others around here didn't seem amused.

Originally Posted by santiclaws

I used to be a tall white man. Now, I'm a short elderly Asian woman.

Are you hot?

Originally Posted by mitchrock

Are you hot?

You will have to decide for yourself.

Hey USC, if you can write comedy we should try and start our own sports podcast. we will toss in some topical humor to go with and develop a couple of weekly bits and let the chips fall where they may.

Originally Posted by Hipcheck

Hey USC, if you can write comedy we should try and start our own sports podcast. we will toss in some topical humor to go with and develop a couple of weekly bits and let the chips fall where they may.

There you go Dave. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

well there was this one time i tried to pass myself off as Sidney Poitier's son... almost worked too!