Who We Are
Five Questions for…
Our blog roster reads like a 2006 high school annual from a place you’ve never heard of in the nether lands of the United States of America…but just give it a few years and it’ll be more like a who’s who of homecoming royalty courts.
Drew Weilage
Currently: health care amateur, MHA student at Ohio State
Originally: Marshall, Minn.
1. Give us your life story in 25 words or less.
Spent first 24 years in Minnesota, graduated University of Minnesota Duluth, thought I should see more of this country, pursuing a career in health care administration.
2. That was 26. Give us five words that push/inspire you every day to do what you do.
Creativity. Dignity. Immediacy. Enthusiasm. Enjoyment.
3. Do you believe a society should be judged by the way it treats its poorest and most vulnerable?
Most definitely. We’re only as good as the weakest member of our society. This is a country of opportunities. It’s only right if everyone has the ability to cash in on those abilities. Some of our country’s greatest leaders were so because they empowered the weak. What do they say? Not a hand out, but a hand up.
4. Which Wham-O product do you prefer most and why, the Frisbee, the Slip ‘N Slide, the Hacky Sack, the Original Super Ball or the Hula-Hoop?
I’m going to say the Frisbee. So versatile. You can throw it around with friends, play a football-like game, Frisbee golf, I’m sure there are more. But I’d probably use it as a plate for picnic food. My skill with the Frisbee is seriously deficient. In fact, the only time that I really tried to learn how to throw it, my shoulder popped out (and quickly back in). But it hurt, and so I haven’t tried it since.
5. What do you on weekends?
A variety of things. I really enjoy weekends. Lately, I have been getting up early to take advantage of the entire day. I’ll do some homework if need be, definitely get the groceries purchased, read everything, imbibe in some beverages in social settings, engage in political banter. But most importantly, r-e-l-a-x.
6. If you had one chance to travel back in time, which time period would you want to visit and why?
That’s a very good question. This is a great time to be alive. But I guess it depends on the day. I will say the late sixties, early seventies. I realize it was a very turbulent time in this country, but I would like to experience the passion people had for their beliefs then.
7. Do you have a favorite quote?
I love quotes. Go here (it’s PDF!) for some good ones.
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”
–Michelangelo
8. Give us something profound as a takeaway.
Individuals can be good, real good…but to be great–it must be a community.
PS: Any post scripts you would like to add?
I could talk forever, we better just end it here.
Matt Vestal
Currently: intermediate health care amateur, MHA student at The Ohio State University
Originally: Kansas City, Misery… er, Missouri
1. Give us your life story in 25 words or less.
Born in Kansas City. Undergrad in St. Louis. MHA student in Columbus. Did lots of stuff mom wouldn’t be proud of between all of them.
2. Give us five words that push/inspire you every day to do what you do.
Empathy, Compassion, Love, Dedication, Perseverance (especially in health care)
3. Do you believe a society should be judged by the way it treats its poorest and most vulnerable?
I definitely believe that a society should be judged by how it treats those that have been marginalized and suffer the pains of poverty and misfortune. I believe that helping those who have fallen on hard times reflects people’s ability to be empathetic to the plight of others and strengthens the moral, economic, and social fabric of societies everywhere.
4. Which Wham-O product do you prefer most and why, the Frisbee, the Slip ‘N Slide, the Hacky Sack, the Original Super Ball or the Hula-Hoop?
Oh, without a doubt I’m going to have to say that the ultimate Wham-O® product is going to be the NASCAR® Triple Racer Slip ‘N Slide. It provides a triple lane runway with 18 feet of cruising fun so that, Drew, myself, and some lucky person of our choice will be able to spend countless summer hours pretending to be Earnhardt, Wallace, and Kenseth…only instead of sweet cars and fire-proof suits, all we’ll need will be speedo’s and a garden hose.
5. What do you on weekends?
This tends to vary according to what I’m into at the moment. I just got belay certified, so lately I’ve been doing a lot of rock climbing…however, I would say that the mainstay weekend hobbies include the following: Sitting around in my robe reading the paper and drinking coffee until noon, cooking breakfast, cooking dinner, going to restaurants and pretending like I know what I’m talking about when I say about our wine selection, “this is a very bold, robust, and full-bodied wine…wow, you can really taste a hint of berry in here, can’t you?!”
6. If you had one chance to travel back in time, which time period would you want to visit and why?
This question is very near and dear to my heart considering I was a history major and my favorite TV station is The History Channel. In the interest of myself, I’m going to say that I would want to live in a post-penicillin era…so I’m going to have to say that I would want to be alive during the Great Depression/World War II era. You may think I’m crazy, but I believe that these hardships molded this era’s people into rugged individualists who knew how to share (rationing), fight (The War), and give (the Marshall Plan) so that those that succeeded them could have a better life. There is a reason why they call the people that lived during this time “The Greatest Generation”, and I think that all of us should aspire to emulate their ability to share, fight, and give.
7. Do you have a favorite quote?
Along with my hobbies, this quote changes quite often as well…Right now I’m going to have to say that my favorite quote is by Thomas Jefferson: “I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.” That is a lesson for me when I start complaining about things not going my way. Quite often, there is a direct correlation between the amount of effort I put into something and the level of results I get out of it.
8. Give us something profound as a takeaway.
You’re no better than anyone else, and if you think you are, I feel nothing but sorrow for you.
PS: Any post scripts you would like to add?
(Silence)
