Sometimes, I don’t think we know the kind of impact someone has on our lives until they’re gone.  You begin to think like this as you come towards the end of a chapter in your life, and especially when someone leaves your chapter before its done.  I’m talking about my friends at school here at AU, including my friend Dan Siefken.  Dan was my RD that I worked with for two years in Smith Hall.  The first day I met Siefken, I thought he was going to be a stickler on the rules and a wet blanket ha.  I had more fun those two years of school then the rest and wouldn’t trade some of those memories for anything in the world.

    During those two years, Dan was a great friend and mentor.  We had a lot of fun, but he also took the brunt of some of my frustrations with our school.  He helped me in a time when things were the hardest and was an advocate for me when I needed one.  I got to run into him the other day on campus.  It was during a random visit and he was only here for a few hours.  He now works in Guatemala with Hearts In Motion, so running into him is kind of a big deal ha.  This year, a lot of guys who were RAs for him are graduating and moving on to other things.  I know that for some his impact was great.  For example, he was an encouragement to one of us who spent a lot of money – now that person is planning on working with the homeless and has been in charge of working with the local mission.  Anyway, its just good to recognize the impact that others have on our lives before its too late!

-Jon      (me on the left and Dan on the far right)

    If none of you fine individuals out there have heard the song, “Prayer of the Children”, I must strongly encourage you to go to this link and watch it ASAP!  It’s really powerful!  Kurt Bestor wrote it out of frustration over the horrendous civil war and ethnic cleansing taking place in the former country of Yugoslavia.  It’s a beautiful song that compels the listener to act and do something to make the world a better place.  http://youtube.com/watch?v=CTZFIcqnQMg

    So, my brother called me last night to talk about an idea.  As I look to graduate, one of the options I am most compelled by is the Residential MBA program at AU.  Anyway, my brother is finishing up his second year of law school in Indy and he called me with an idea.  Both of us grew up as PKs and with a desire to help others.  After thinking about it a while and with the further encouragement of my girlfriend, he talked about setting up a not-for-profit organization!  Not sure necessarily what, but something that we could use to make a difference in this world and help others.  He said he could use his law degree and political experiences (which are a LOT, trust me on that one) and I could use my business knowledge.  It could be something we start on the side and just grow it slowly if we want.  I was really intrigued by that idea and am really looking forward to thinking about it more and seeing where it goes.

 -Jon