What Have I Learned This Past Year - 2002
December 31, 2002

This year started with fears this country has not seen since Pearl Harbor. Starting only months after September 11, America's ideals, beliefs, and values came to the forefront of everyone's mind. 2002 was filled with stories that tested the human condition. We continued the war on terror, which is fighting an ideal, rather than a country. Now we are heading to a new war, with a familiar enemy. The stock market was down again for the third year in a row. That has not happened since 1929, 1930 and 1931. Bad accounting has almost become a death sentence for companies and we have seen people like Martha Stewart get coal in her stocking. While West Nile and wild fires scared the country during the summer, the Washington DC sniper and small pox vaccinations placed fear during the fall.

A second-string quarterback drafted in the sixth round, Tom Brady, would lead his New England Patriots to victory in back to back games that would be considered two of the best games ever played. How fitting was it that the Patriots won the Superbowl after September 11. American spirit continued throughout the sports world early in 2002. The terrorist attacks were not going to dampen the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The first African American female won a gold, Apollo Anton Ono carried the American flag to victory, skeleton skater, Jim Shea, won his event in honor of his grandfather who died just weeks before the games, the American men swept the snowboarding events and Sarah Hughes shocked the world as she came from sixth place to win gold on her flawless last performance. Do not forget Canadians Jamie Selé and David Pelletier who were awarded silver and then gold when it was discovered of a scandal. Barry Bonds still chased the elusive World Series Title and fell to the Angels in a come from behind victory. The greatest performance of 2002 is Lance Armstrong. He was riddled with cancer and over came it to win the Tour de France again. The story that touched me that most in 2002 was a story of a high basketball standout Chris Paul. He was a 17-year-old African American who was going to play college ball at Wake Forest. The day he signed with the team his grandfather, the man he idolized that most, was killed outside his home. He was 61 years old. Chris was devastated. However, he had a way to remember is Grandfather. In his next basketball game, he was going to score 61 points in the game to honor him. He was at 59 points in the third quarter when he drove to the hoop, made the basket, and was fouled. After the basket, he fell to the court in tears, and his high school gave him a standing ovation. He purposely missed the foul shot and he took himself out of the game and sat with his family. His score of 61 was only 5 away from the state record, but that did not matter to him.

In 2002, I have learned about: rental cars, Managerial Accounting, early flights to Seattle, calling pay phones, balancing a budget, barbequing for 200 people, watching my friends get engaged, learning how much chocolate milk a person can drink, personal selling, the Catacombs, losing games by 1 point in intramural basketball, watching freshman learn about college for the first time, TiVo and a random girl named Jessica during one cold night in October. I have said goodbye to a good roommate and met new friends. 2001 will get coverage in the history books, but 2002 has the possibility of fading away into history. Even if it does fade away, 2002 has changed me for the better. Try to find opportunities to walk instead of drive. Do not be afraid to smile at someone, hold the door and say hello. Make them spend time wondering where they have met you. In addition, always live life to the fullest, dream, wonder and explore, you never know. Happy New Year - Nick