So, I was just browsing around, searching for some scholarships to help me along with school. And I come upon this particular contest, blog and possibly win some money. Seems easy enough, doesn't it? That's what I thought. Then I spent 20 minutes trying to decide what to write about. I couldn't come up with a good topic. And so I've decided to just use this blog to entertain you all. That is assuming anyone reads this. Basically I'll reflect upon some of the events that have happened the past few years. So, pay close attention to everything I say because I tend to get very philosophical at times, and there will be many deep meanings in some of my remarks. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
To get things rolling, let me introduce myself. My name is Justin Hites. I am 20 years old and reside in Jacksonville, FL. I've been here in Jax for just over a year, attending the University of North Florida and working at the aquatic center on campus. It's been okay so far, though, I don't think I went about college the right way at first. I mean yes, I took college seriously, but I over did it I think. In my first year, I almost completed my Gen Ed requirements as well as the prerequisites for my major, and that includes a change of majors. I started out as a Biology major, and right after Spring Break I switched into the education program. I hope to be a high school science teacher someday. So, as you can tell, I've burnt myself out on college a little bit. Unfortunately, I had to take this semester off because I couldn't afford to take my classes. I got so wound up in my classes, I lost track of everything and could not apply for financial aid this year. I'm from North Carolina, and so for the moment I'm still considered out of state, which means the cost of college is ridiculous. I had scholarships, but they didn't quite cover my expenses completely, so I took out a loan for my first year. Being caught up in school and work the way I was, I didn't fill out a FAFSA for this financial aid year, and so, got stuck with a tuition bill that was out of my reach.
Maybe I should explain a bit how caught up I got in school and work. I took 4 classes each semester, which I know really isn't that much. The classes weren't really that difficult for me, and it's not as though I was in class every day. However, I was working almost everyday. My class schedules was 2 classes a day, 5 days a week. Anytime I wasn't in classes, I was teaching swim lessons or lifeguarding at the pool. Then came the weekends, which I would usually work. I really didn't take any time for myself. Now, one would think that I would have saved up a whole bunch of money working like that. Sadly no. Being out of the house all the time, I was eating out 2 meals a day, lunch and dinner, 6 days a week typically. That added up to about $100 a week on food alone. Then I have gas expenses for my car, which came to about $200 a month. So right there I am pushing right around $500-$600 a month expenses, and my monthly pay was anywhere from $500-$700 a month. I wasn't making ends meet as you can tell. What I should have been saving I was spending. Now, I didn't spend a whole lot of money on useless crap. Every so often I would go out and buy a whole bunch of movies. Better months I ended up buying musical equipment, ie upgrading my bass guitar and upgrading my sound equipment. I really didn't need to, but I did anyway. I am a very musically inclined person and I'm actually part of a band at this moment. I'm really hoping the whole thing works out. Anyway, I'll come back to the band later.
So, where was I? Oh yes, the fact that I'm on a break from classes this semester. I'm a very busy body, and not having a lot to do leaves me very very restless. So, I'm working 7 days a week at the pool, working for 2 different people too. I work for the pool as a lifeguard and swim instructor, and this summer I started coaching with a swim team that rents out pool space here. I have to say, I love to coach. I've been a swimmer for 9 years now, and had halfway coached the last couple of years back home in Lenoir, NC whenever our coaches were going to be running late. Being a full time coach with the team down here is just awesome. It's definitely a job I intend to have the rest of my life, not necessarily this team, but coaching swimming. My future hopefully holds a job as a high school science teacher and coaching a swim team.
I'll have to come back to this blog though. I know you are all very interested in what I'm telling you, so just come back another day and I'll have some more added.
Enjoy your days and see you later.
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