My Story
From struggling in traditional school to finding purpose and community through amateur radio
The Early Years
I was born and raised near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A small town with rich history and peaceful countryside. Life there was quiet, but for me, it was filled with computers, gadgets, and an endless fascination for how things worked. I spent most of my time tinkering with technology, trying to figure out what made things tick.
School was a different story. I struggled hard as a student. Poor grades, no friends, constant bullying. I was always alone, the quiet kid no one wanted to sit with at lunch. Middle school and high school were rough. Really rough. By the time I got to high school, my parents pulled me out of traditional school and enrolled me in cyber school instead. It was just better that way.
Finding My Path
At tech school (Franklin County Career & Technology Center), I studied Marketing & Web Design. For the first time ever, I actually felt interested in school. I connected with peers who gave me a chance, people who saw past the awkward kid and just treated me like anyone else. My passion for computers truly ignited there. I even scored advanced on my NOCTI exam, which felt amazing after years of barely passing anything.
I graduated high school during COVID in 2020 and even got into an enrichment program at Harrisburg University. But adulthood hit hard. I wasn't just carrying insecurities from my past. I developed serious health issues. A chronic wound that wouldn't heal, constant pain, overwhelming physical and emotional challenges. It was a lot to deal with. At 21, I was finally diagnosed with Nonverbal Learning Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and autism. Getting those diagnoses actually helped. It gave me answers and helped me understand myself better. I could finally work with my strengths instead of fighting against how my brain works.
Discovering Ham Radio
When I was around 15 or 16, I stumbled across The Modern Rogue on YouTube. They had these episodes about shortwave radio and Winlink, and something about it just clicked. I was fascinated. Years later, I rewatched those episodes and that fascination turned into genuine passion. I decided to actually do it. Get licensed.
I studied for the Technician exam and passed on my first try in February 2023. Only missed two questions. That was huge for me. After years of struggling in school, barely passing tests, here I was acing a technical exam. It proved to me that when I'm genuinely interested in something, I can actually do it. I can learn it and understand it. Three months later in May 2023, I upgraded to General class.
My first contact ever was with ND7E on 10 meters during a POTA activation. I was so nervous I could barely speak. But he was incredibly kind and patient with me. He told me, "You will get hooked." He was right. As I started making more contacts and progressed to General class, I connected with operators from different states and countries. People were genuinely interested in talking to me, sharing their experiences, learning about mine. I joined the Cumberland Valley Amateur Radio Club and the PODXS 070 Club. I started helping with club newsletters and teaching people about digital modes.
"For the first time in my life, I really felt a sense of belonging. Real friendships. Being part of an actual community. Ham radio became the perfect mix of everything I love: technology, communication, continuous learning. A hobby that sticks with you for life, and it's never dull."
Looking Forward
Ham radio changed everything for me. It showed me that when I'm truly interested in something, I can learn it, understand it, and actually excel at it in ways that surprise even myself. The hobby taught me that my different way of thinking isn't a limitation. It's actually an advantage when it comes to understanding complex technical systems and solving problems.
When I'm not on the air, I'm deep into technology. Networking, automation, web design, Linux systems, Raspberry Pi projects, remote station control. All of it. My goal is to turn this passion into a real career in IT Support or System Administration. I also do web design on the side, both static sites and WordPress.
Moving forward, I want to help bring more young people into amateur radio. Show them what this hobby can do for you. Whether through my role as a Volunteer Examiner, getting involved with DXpeditions, giving presentations like I did at Mercersburg Academy, or just being active on the air and encouraging new operators. I'm committed to growing this hobby and proving that age doesn't matter when it comes to making great contacts and building impressive stations. This hobby changed my life, and I want to help it change others' lives too.
