History | brandonmasloski

History. Hisstory. His-story. His Story.

I think it's safe to say we all have a story. But before every story is a prestory, that helps set the scene. Here's mine.

Up through High School

It's safe to say I've always been a Minnesotan through and true. Having spent the early part of my youth in the St. Michael-Albertville area, I gained a great perspective of what it was like to live as a city kid. My parents worked, lived in a few different places in town. My favorite being the great neighborhood Nason Ave., and I'd spend my school years filling up on knowledge and the summers playing baseball. Heck, I even made it out of inhouse league my sixth grade year, and considered right then and there to drop of all my other sports to focus only on the diamond. That was until my parents threw me a curve ball...

Turns out we were moving up to Underwood, Minnesota for my seventh grade year. My family became the owners of Weslake Resort and was that a change. The school was tiny, as I went from 250 kids in my grade to 52 in Underwood. The work was endless and I was constantly learning something new every week. Believe me people don't have good vacations without resort-workers like me. But the change was incredible. I could be in all the sports I wanted, and our famliy grew alot closer. I did way too many things in high school (some for passion, others to get out of school) and learned the community feeling of everyone knowning everyone...and realizing they were all related.

Living in that small town definitely laid the foundation for who I am. You may leave, but you don't forget all that happens in your past.

Undergrad at the U

Small town life was fun, but it was clear I was destined to go back to the urban civilization. I set my eyes on the University of Minnesota, and as soon as I got my acceptance letter, there was no turning back. Sorry Concordia you're truly a great school, but Minneapolis became my new home.

Freshman year was incredible. Going from a town of 319, to a campus of 50,000+ was quite the experience. I found it so cool that there were so many people to get out and meet (using my social skills built on the resort) and endless options of things to do. I joined clubs, became a Tour Guide, met a number of truly unique people. Going back home for the summer was fun, but the small town wasn't nearly as exciting as the Superblock.

Sophomore year, I put a little much on my plate. That coordinator posistion was a little much for me, the number of classes I took were hard to manage, and the differences between my former self and who I was becoming was always in conflict. But you know, I wouldn't have it any other way. I learned a great lesson in quality over quantity that year, one that I still use to improve myself today.

Junior year, just went by in a flash. I was blessed to make even deeper connections with friends old and new, and further realize my desire to teach and coach. Some experiences scare you away, but thankfully, mine had me wanting to come back for more. It's incredible how much more you can learn outside of a classroom when you explore opportunities.

Senior year was a blast and marked the end of a chapter in my life. While my GPA ended up lower than I would have liked, I mangaged to finish in four years on time. Wrapping up my time as a campus tour guide was bittersweet, but allowed me to pursue other opportunities. I also found time to dress up as a Pig in the Williams Barnyard with my crazy friends.

What's On the Horizon

I am currently working toward completing my teaching license here at the University, and this fifth year has been unique to say the least. While I have a degree, graduate school has been a completely different experience which I am enjoying much more academically than my undergrad. Yet it is weird not seeing as many peers as I cross campus.

Come May 2015, I will not only be a licensed teacher, but also a free agent teacher as well. So to any educators, principals, supertintendents out there, feel free to offer me a job upon graduation. You will not only make a great descision for your school, but really for you as well.

After that, who knows. I sure don't. And I don't know if I want to. Sixth grade me never would have imagined living in rural America, but that sure happened quick. I can only hope that I'll have the opportunities to engage in experiences that will truly expand me as a person. Whether it's near or far, I know one thing for sure. It sure looks bright.