Matt

I love to work on cars, travel, and keep myself in good health. Due to a back injury, I have to step away from 6 years of rowing, but I plan to be involved in the sport as much as I can. I am dedicating a lot of time to rehabilitate the injury and hopefully I can get back into rowing sometime down the road. As much as I'd love to return to competition and make up for all of the missed experience, I love where I am at right now and coaching is teaching me a lot about the sport and myself. I am still attending Southern Polytechnic after a hectic start a year ago, and it looks like I can enjoy this year a lot more with a new group of freinds and a completely different lifestyle. Thanks to all of you who have supported me in this huge transition in my life.Other things I enjoy doing...keeping my Maxima in the best shape possible. For those of you that have known me for a while, YES I still have it beleive it or not. It's like my child, but one day that metallic gray 350Z will become my next one...one day! I enjoy exploring the outdoors and being away from civilized life from time to time. I also like to travel (i.e. road trips). Haven't been overseas yet but someday that is yet to happen. I enjoy listening to new music and bands that have the balls to stray away from the trends and do something different. Let me hear something I haven't heard yet. I also enjoy collecting miniature things like model cars and model trains. It's been a hobby of the past 3 generations of my family.I have experienced quite a bit that has proven to me how delicate life can be, and that nothing should be taken for granted. I appreciate things in life that most people see as insignificant. I have found myself to be very adaptable to wherever I am. I have my comforts in life but I can live without them if I had to. Once you've done something like camping in Alaska without bathing, having electricity, or eating a stove cooked meal for 2 weeks, and enduring mosquito bites for that whole time, it will change you nonetheless.Even though rowing may seem like just another sport or activity, I find it as a great passion in my life. It has been something that I can always turn to when I feel the need to escape from reality for a while and free yourself from the contstraints of the land for a while. I feel that the effort you apply on the water is the healthiest, constructive, and most positive way to get out any anger, confusion, or stress that has been built up inside. Too many people resort to those things in life that are destructive and can end up hurting themself or someone else. I chose not to take that path and apply my negativity through rowing and get it out in a constructive and healthy way. Another thing that it has clearly proven to me is how being patience is very valuable for anything you do in life. Being patient for things you desire and working your hardest to get it will pay off at some point. As much as the process may suck at times and there will will be plenty of things to turn you away, the resulting rweards cannot be found or experienced otherwise.THE THING THAT SHOULD NOT BE (DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL '06)"PAINT STRIPPING NISSAN MAXIMA COMMERCIAL" .. width="425" height="350" ..