My story is not lightning and thunder. I inherited an attitude of service from my parents. I have served in many different positions in my church as a lay leader and chair of a lot of different committees. I have been a volunteer for Epiphany Ministries of Texas which serves incarcerated youth. I sing in our church choir and try to live my life representing a man of faith. I took a couple of years off from church and serving Christ when I was in college, because I just lost interest. Then I met a young woman that I got serious with and the first place we went to church was in Denton, on the University of North Texas campus. That was over 43 years ago. The church has been an integral part of our lives in helping us raise our children and keeping our family on the right track. Now 3 of our 5 grandchildren live in our community and attend the same church (Aledo United Methodist). We have been much blessed through the years and are grateful to God for His many blessings. As a faculty member of the University of North Texas, I have tried to serve student organizations as a faculty advisor. Most recently, I served CRU, the Women's Wrestling Club, Who Made my Clothes, and several other student groups. I am also a faithful blood donor and a Stephen Minister. My students often would respond to the question "what do you want to do with your life?" with; "I want to help people and make a difference". I would like to encourage our young people to find a place to serve; sometimes those opportunities just fall in your lap, other times you just have to make things happen. Without insulting anyone, I ask my students to prove they are not the stereotypical self absorbed, narcissistic, hedonistic, college student. They can do that by donating blood regularly, volunteering, etc. Volunteering and being available are critical to a college student's personal and academic growth. Students must find a way to distinguish themselves from other students. How are you different and better than the student sitting beside you or the student at another school getting the same degree and applying for the same job as you?