When I was a young boy, my parents purchased something that would forever change my life: a Commodore 64 home computer. Although the machine ran on only 64 kilobytes of RAM, had no hard drive, and could not connect to the Internet, that first machine really sparked my interest in computers and programming.  Eventually, my dad and I began to attend monthly software swaps and I began compiling and debugging code from monthly magazine subscriptions.  Those experiences led me to dream about one day becoming a computer programmer.

My dream of a career in the computer programming world quickly came to a halt when I began looking into college majors. Unfortunately, I listened to everyone around me who believed computers were simply a temporary fad.  Although, the passion I had for a career in computer programming was derailed temporarily, my desire to work in education remained strong.  The desire to be an educator came as a result of my experiences of becoming a 4-H member at a very young age.  Through 4-H, I learned how “To make the best better” as the 4-H motto states, which is a philosophical statement that continues to guide both my personal and professional life.  I was also exposed to a multitude of local, state, national, and global leadership opportunities as a 4-H member that have directly impacted my success as an educator.

In 2001, I began working as an elementary school teacher in North Carolina.  During my tenure with the public school system, I was also provided with the opportunity to serve the school webmaster at Sherrills Ford Elementary. It was through the webmaster experience that the memories of the Commodore 64 days resurfaced and my desire to peruse a professional career in a computer-related field was rekindled.   Through some research, I learned about the MA program in Educational Media and Instructional Technology at Appalachian State University (ASU) and began working towards that degree in 2004.  After graduating from ASU in 2006, I went on to earn a graduate certificate in Web Site Development from East Carolina University in 2010, and most recently graduated with an EdD in the Educational Technology from Boise State University.