Becoming a Millennial

55. Two Major Paradigm Shifts

I'm not making things up when I say that I'm really new at all of this.  Yes, I've been a technology guy for 26 years, beginning in 1980 when Eastbrook High School bought an Apple II computer ($4,000 for the computer, b/w monitor, 9-pin dot matrix printer) that landed in my room.  The computer couldn't do anything because it came with no software.  I was forced to become a programmer (using Apple's version of BASIC called Applesoft).  I learned to make a block bounce around the screen, then I wrote a program to do my grades, then one to do my basketball stats, then track stats, then an address book. 

The next year a fellow teacher brought in a disk (5.25" floppy) with a program on it called Magic Window.  It was a word processor!  Anyway, that was the start of my gradual swing from the teaching of math to teaching computer programming and applications.

Paradigm shift #1:  For me the mid-1980's was a major paradigm shift when I moved from programming the applications I needed ... to using purchased application packages (Lotus 1-2-3, Appleworks, PFS, dBase II). 

Paradigm shift #2:  The second major paradigm shift for me happened June 2006 when I started using the "Millennial tools" or "Web 2.0" tools, whatever you want to call all of this.  This is a major transformation!

22. You Thought I Was Kidding, Didn't You?

20. My One Experience With Instant Messenger

We left the Philippines in 1996 after Carla's 2nd grade year.  She missed it greatly.  In fact, last July she chose to return to Manila for the fall semester of her senior year. 

In this photo from 1996 you can see her three rows back, twelve in from the right. 

You'll note the kids on the roof.  There are certain things you can do overseas that you wouldn't think of doing here in the States. 

Anyway, one evening late in the fall Arlene and Carla were communicating via AOL Instant Messenger and I thought I would give it a try.  I quickly created an account and connected with Carla.  It was really fun and she was pretty impressed with her old dad.

The funny thing is I never touched IM again.  I've got to give it another try.

19. The Red Truck?

Actually, this is
what I'm still driving ...
but, at least it's not tan.

17. Mid-Life Crisis?

One might think that this "becoming a Millennial" urge might be a sign of mid-life crisis, not too different from going out and buying the red convertible (or, in rural Indiana a monster pickup truck). 

Actually, I had my mid-life crisis about ten years ago (and I don't think I'm allowed to have two).  From 1984-96 our family was involved at Faith Academy, a school for the children of missionaries located on the outskirts of Manila. Twelve wonderful, but challenging (and often stress-filled) years in the Philippines eventually caught up with me.  I was the K-12 computer coordinator, taught high school math and computer science, coached basketball, and in hind-sight was involved in far too many other things.  In 1996 I experienced a severe episode of burnout and depression that brought our family home for recovery.

I credit my family and a God who cares for pulling me through a major personal crisis, and getting me back on my feet.  In 1997 I was hired on at Taylor University in a position that eventually evolved into my current role of Director of Academic Technology.

Life has its interesting and unexpected twists.  In my wildest imaginations I would have never dreamed I would be in a role that has provided as much challenge and satisfaction as that which I am currently enjoying.  The school buys me all my toys ... and I get paid to do things like write this blog.  I call it "R & D" - Research and Development.