Every Mountain Top is in Reach if You Just Keep Climbing

I graduated high school (public) in 1998, and said I wanted to go to a private high school for two more years and decide what to do thereafter. I was told no, as we didn't have the money. Minus the details, I was able to "find a way" through hard work, relentless efforts and working every single weekend. Then, Vermont Academy was apx $25,000 a year and despite the no, I was able to attend two more years of school while playing two more years of sports at a top private school (the exact same school where Joe Perry and Steven Tyler met and formed a little band called Aerosmith...)

I then told my Mom I wanted to go to college. I was told no and had to find a job. Rather, I applied to four collages, and got into all four. I started at Wentworth Institute of Technology, and in early 2000, this guy was heading to college. But I withdrew. She was right, I couldn't afford it, even with grants and I was burnt out from working through Private School. So, the military was my only option. I was told the Marine Corps was too hard, and I should join the Navy or the Airforce. I choose the Marine Corps. I was told the Infantry was too dangerous, and I should be a cook or a repair man. I choose Infantry.

I was told that a newly enlisted Marine, on his first deployment in 2000-2001 to Okinawa Japan will not have time to take college classes and the C.O. won't approve. Well, despite being told NO! Several times, I kept asking and he signed off. At night, while most were partying or drinking in the barracks, I was at the on base campus taking night classes.

I was told, that a Marine in the infantry, can not finish a college degree because it's to demanding to balance the Corps and school. I deployed three more times, all combat, 2003, 2007-2008 and 2009 and slowly took classes when I could and in 2014 declared my BA and published my first book about my last deployment to Afghanistan.

Just prior, in 2013, I was told that I can not reenlist into the reserves and take a DoD job all at once, the C.O. would never approve. Well I asked, and he did. When I started the new job, I was told that the "new guy" is usually the first to get let go so don't expect to stay long. After my first year, my boss was fired, and I took his job. The second year, I took the second highest position, and I stayed for six years while the ones that told me I would be the first to get let go, never promoted and stayed in the same roles.

I was told that in 2014, there isn't time for more college as I just had my first son, was writing for Jiu-Jitsu Magazine, still serving in the Marines, now as a reservist and newly married. In 2016 I declared my Masters.

In 2018 I was told, that getting into USC was difficult, and that there is no way I should consider trying for my Doctorate degree as I just had my second child (my amazing daughter) and that my life does not have time for more school. Every night, once everybody was asleep, from the hours 10pm to 2am, I studied, theorized, re-watched recording zoom meetings, read books, wrote papers and submitted assignments. I was told by others to include professors, that not everyone finishes their Doctorate on time, and that's ok. I continued to read, write, study, and in 2021, on time, I graduated with my Doctorate in hand dissertation published.

I was told, that becoming a financial advisor is extremely difficult, and at this stage in my life, I may not have any "gas" left and should consider something, more safe, which will allow me to be home more often with less risk. Well, I decided to take the challenge and here I am.

I get told no a lot, and I love it. Because it just means I get to take a different route to get to where I want to be. Every mountain top is in reach if you keep climbing.