My story
Part 1
Life Before UC
The year was 2008 and I was just finishing off my sophomore year of High School and I was excited about the summer adventures I would have! Chief amongst those adventures was my hiking trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in the Rocky Mountains with a group of friends. It was going to be full of sunshine, food out of a bag, and lots of manly-man things–or so I thought. “DUN DUN DUN!” (Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 1808).
I ate the Standard American Diet (SAD) for 16 years like everyone else and was always on the move. From sports practices and marching band to family trips and jam sessions with friends, there was always something going on. I needed fuel that was quick, easy, and tastey to satisfy my hunger so I can move onto the next thing. There was never much thought about what I was eating, I just knew I was hungry and didn’t care what it was. Afterall, I was a relatively thin teenager who never seemed to gain any weight. Sounded like a win, so I stuffed my face anywhere I could find food like gas stations, concession stands, ordering out, and snacks, snacks, snacks!
The days before summer were spent as any other 16-year-old at the tail end of the school year: Classes dragging on, studying for finals I definitely wasn’t ready for (sorry mom), and looking forward to the great outdoors and freedom of the legendary summer vacation.
Things were great, I was happy, full of optimism, and captivated by the world that lay at my feet.