Challenge accepted: Mullen promises 'relentless effort'

This article means a lot to me because I love the University of Florida. Why does this article pertain to my disability blog? Well if you read my last post I have spent some time with AD Scott Stricklin. I have also written about my difficulty in finding a job, well I hope to land an internship with the UAA. They are very proactive with disability rights and I hope under coach Mullen that I will be afforded the opportunity to join the administration. Also, on a personal note I am in the photo behind the coaches wide in the paper and online. This article hopefully will mean that Florida football icon the rise.

Challenge accepted: Mullen promises 'relentless effort'

Mullen, 45, knows what he's getting into, having been the offensive coordinator at UF for four years under Urban Meyer. He understands Florida. He understands the job and the demands that come with it. As it turns out, Dan Mullen has been Gator a lot longer than anybody knew.

My thoughts as I look towards the future

My favorite month of this year so far is November because it is finally starting to cool off in Florida. Being in a black wheelchair daily in Florida can be miserable six months out of the year. I am extremely grateful that I am able to roll outside now and not immediately start sweating daily. This month also is my favorite because this is the start of the holiday season and with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up I realize how grateful I am to be able to live another year.

This year has been a big challenge for me both physically and mentally. I have had to do with my gastroparesis diagnosis and my wife's own health issues as well. This year has taught me to be grateful for the little things and not to sweat the small stuff. As I look forward into heading into the next year I see myself becoming healthier mentally and physically. I am also looking forward to spending time with my family this holiday season. It is always reassuring knowing that people have your back and care about you.

My job is to be the best me that I can be on a daily basis. That means that I need to be better at monitoring the food that I put in my body on a daily basis. This is my time to take back my health and to be a better version of myself. I also need to keep my mind focusing on the positive things in my life and not the negative thoughts. The power of positive thinking is something that I truly believe in on a daily basis, but I can absolutely do a better job of following my own advice. I look forward to ending this semester on a high note by doing my best on every single assignment.

Medical Equipment Snapchat Story

I apologize for the video orientation and the subject of the video. My wife is ill and this was all I could do with one hand.

Busy week of blogging: my day with Scott Stricklin

This week I will be blogging a ton as I catch up on my blog from the past couple of weeks. I have been getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This past weekend I had the opportunity to spend time with the UF athletic director Mr. Scott Stricklin. He taught me about what his job entails on game day. UF won the football game 36-7 against the University of Alabama Birmingham.

The Gators were able to snap a five game losing streak against UAB and were able to provide joy for the 80,000 plus fans in the stadium. It was an incredible opportunity to be able to spend time with AD Stricklin and pick his brain about athletics. 17 of the 21 athletic teams at UF are ranked or will be rand in the top 25 this season. The standard of excellence in athletics is extremely high. As long as Mr. Stricklin is at the helm I expect Florida Athletics to run like a finely tuned machine.

Sitting with him for a significant amount of time in his office makes you realize how calm, thoughtful, deliberate, and creative he is. Mr. Stricklin takes shaking hands with boosters and makes it just as important as shaking hands with his head coach. His personality is what makes his warmth allow you to feel like you are the only one important to him in that moment. This trait seems extremely rare in people who yield great power. Scott Stricklin is the exception to that rule and shows fans, students, and coaches alike just how much they mean to him and the university.

My House putting up the tree

Ayla and I talk employment

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a fairly lengthy blog about my struggle to find employment while being a young disabled man with a ton of experience. Today, I sat down with my wife as I prepared to meet with my job coach next week and she explained what it feels like to her. This is my wife in her own words talking about what it is like trying to get a job for someone who is full on disabled.



The companies want us to settle on something and go for an entry level position which is very offensive to the both of us. I have already had an internship for six years without getting paid. I am so happy to have her along for the ride of our ives together.