https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8 en-us 2021-02-03 02:36:23 UTC 2025-11-18 19:29:41 UTC hello@padlet.com iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156710103 I don't have the best memory of my earlier childhood, but I do remember being a pretty happy kid. I loved school, and I had a handful of friends who lived on the same street. We spent a lot of time outside playing! ]]> 2021-02-03 02:44:19 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156710103 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156721701 Fast forward a couple years, and my parents separated. My mom turned to drinking as a way to cope with being a single mother. I have strong memories of being in the vehicle with her, knowing that she was intoxicated, but not knowing exactly what was going on. These were the first moments I prayed to God. ]]> 2021-02-03 02:51:43 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156721701 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156731164 Fearing for my safety, my grandparents took me into their home. This was a drastic change from the hectic environment I had become accustomed to. To this day, I still consider my grandma to be my mom. She is a steadfast person, and a Godly woman. ]]> 2021-02-03 02:57:52 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156731164 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156740488 Despite all of the issues my biological mom was facing, this time period is something I look on fondly. Living in Whittier with my grandparents was easily one of the most formative times of my life. I learned a lot from them both,  and I developed many strong friendships at school and at church. ]]> 2021-02-03 03:03:35 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156740488 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156744645 At about this time, my mom met who would become my future step-dad. I didn't now know this then, but this moment shaped the entire trajectory of my life. He was a primary reason she made it through her lowest points. He would soon become my father figure. ]]> 2021-02-03 03:06:17 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156744645 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156752323 Fast forward about a year, and my first sister Maddy is born. My second sister Hannah would soon follow. This changed everything for me! Being a big brother became very important, and is one of the primary reasons why I would soon move to Hesperia to join this new family. ]]> 2021-02-03 03:11:03 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156752323 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156758835 When I was about to enter high school, I was given the opportunity to move to Hesperia to live with my mom, step-dad, and two sisters. It was a difficult choice leaving the life I had, but I felt as though it was something I needed to do.]]> 2021-02-03 03:15:02 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156758835 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156763415 It was pretty rough starting high school in a brand new city with no friends. I lacked the community I previously had. I didn't have much to do outside of school, and my step-dad had a drum set in the garage. He played guitar, and there was an empty seat for a drummer. This was my first introduction to music! During the remainder of my high school years I pretty much lived to play music after school and on the weekends. ]]> 2021-02-03 03:18:04 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156763415 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156773162 Midway through high school my mom was diagnosed with cancer. This was a difficult time for my "new family." She would battle cancer for most of my sophomore and junior year. These were dark years for my family. Praise God she beat it! ]]> 2021-02-03 03:23:33 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156773162 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156781461 After graduating from Sultana High School in Hesperia, I ended up at APU for my undergrad. Here I met some of the closest friends I've ever had. I feel blessed to have shared this time and space with such incredible people. ]]> 2021-02-03 03:28:41 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156781461 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156786289 On account of being unable to drag my drum set to a small living space at APU, I decided to pick up a new instrument. This was my first time playing guitar with any sort of intention. This would shape my later experience as a musician. Guitar was and is my favorite form of expression. Writing songs is an important part of my life currently. ]]> 2021-02-03 03:31:52 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156786289 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156790970 Graduating APU was bittersweet. I was sad to part ways with many of my friends, but I was excited for everyone to move on with the next chapter in their lives. I graduated with a degree in Psychology, not really knowing where I wanted to go. ]]> 2021-02-03 03:34:52 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156790970 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156795769 The week I graduated APU, I was offered a job as an intern substance abuse counselor. This job was rewarding, and difficult. I observed more suffering that year than at any other time in my life. After about a year, the emotional toll of this job left me depressed and broken. I knew I needed a change, but I didn't know where to go. ]]> 2021-02-03 03:38:14 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156795769 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156808026 I was playing in a band at this time, and my bandmates had plans to move to L.A. in order to be closer to a music scene. I was soul searching after my previous job, and I felt a change in environment would be nice. Downtown L.A. was an awesome experience! I lived on Hope Street. After reflecting on the past, this seemed oddly fitting for that time in my life. After working various odd jobs, I found a job working in after-school programs. This would be my first time working in an educational setting! ]]> 2021-02-03 03:44:12 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156808026 iseabolt11 https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156814286 After working as an after-school coordinator, and a long-term substitute for a year and a half, I knew my future would be going in the direction of education. I applied a handful of places, and despite not having any formal schooling, I was offered a job at Cypress School of the Arts. They hired me because I had a passion for both art and music, and a love for kids. At my current position, I've been able to teach additional electives centered around songwriting and music producing. 

On account of my job as a teacher, I applied to APU's grad program to complete my credential process for California. These last two years have been straight baptism by fire, but somehow, with God's help, I keep truckin'. ]]> 2021-02-03 03:48:03 UTC https://padlet.com/iseabolt11/ne344i9e6todlxm8/wish/1156814286