I'm currently applying to become an Upstart and was frustrated with myself because I couldn't make "my story" concise enough for their standardized application. Also verifying my SAT/ACT scores was a challenge because I took them almost a decade ago and apparently they didn't have electronic records then...both scary thoughts. Here is the short version of "my story" as I'm still working on the long one and a Ken Burns style documentary:
I grew up in Winooski, VT in a home with my mom, younger brother, and maternal grandparents. My mom went back to school so we relied on credit cards, student loans, and government programs in my early years. I am a product of the Winooski Public School system from K-12. Going to a school where the majority of kids receive free and reduced lunch can sometimes limit your potential unless you know how to find opportunities. I excelled in academics and athletics while pushing myself to take classes at night including forensic science, public speaking, and even scuba diving. I wanted to be a Dr so I took Biology courses at UVM and CCV all while being the captain of the football, basketball, and baseball teams.
I earned my way into Middlebury College and spent 4 years "discovering myself," still working on it. I switched to rugby, won 2 national championships, helped raise thousands of dollars, and captained the club. Mentorship has always been a part of my life so I was a First Year Counselor, Guardian ad Litem, and Foundation for Excellent schools mentor. I took full advantage of the Liberal Arts even though Economics, specifically econometrics, was what I gravitated towards the most. Posing questions about our environments and using data to discover plausible answers is a powerful way to see the world. Geographic Information Systems was by far my favorite class as data structures are fascinating and topo maps can be breathtaking.
I knew I wanted to get into startups and renewable energy so I faked my way into my first job at Encore Redevelopment. I helped them pivot from having renewable energy be a phrase on their website to being the core of their business. I walked away after 2 years because I wasn't getting equity and thought it was time to start my own thing. Spent time helping startups (getting fired quickly from one) and eventually landed a "corporate" job at Zipcar. I love the product (still a proud Zipster!) but hated the business and left after a year. It was great experience to be a part of a public company going through an acquisition. Now I have a better understanding of how to make one more efficient and look forward to sharing my thoughts with the world. It's time again to find my own way and that's what being an Upstart will help me do.
I'm the type of guy who would rather figure something out then be given a set of instructions and told what to do. I'm tired of sitting on the sidelines and have acquired the skills, knowledge, and ability to attack big problems. I'm a team builder and need to put my experiences learned on the rugby pitch to work in the marketplace. I just need the financial flexibility to chase my dreams without being shackled by college debt.
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