Do It For You: Leadership, Boundaries, And Finding Your Why

The best leaders don’t start with perfect test scores or spotless plans—they start with a clear why. Gary sits down with Chelsea James, a first-generation student at Florida State, to unpack how a COVID-era freshman became a campus leader anchored by discipline, mentoring, and relentless self-advocacy. She shares the real tools that moved the needle: a paper planner, firm boundaries, and the willingness to ask for help early and often.

Chelsea takes us inside JROTC’s impact on her leadership voice, from learning to command a field to navigating high school transitions with grit. We follow her into FSU’s CARE Summer Bridge, where community and structure smoothed the leap to college-level workload. From dorm dynamics and scooter thefts to presidents list wins and e-board funding victories, her stories show how persistence beats the initial no—especially when you prepare, document, and communicate.

We dig into academics without the fluff: turning an F from a misgrade into an A trajectory, leveraging AP writing for discussion boards, and choosing mastery over busywork. Chelsea’s roadmap includes teaching, certifications, and a long-term aim of superintendent—plus a parallel interest in educational law to advocate for teachers and students. She’s leveling up perspective through study abroad in London and an internship in South Africa, chasing lived context that textbooks can’t offer.

If you’re a student, parent, or educator seeking practical advice on planning, setting boundaries, and leading yourself, this conversation delivers a usable playbook. Bring your goals, your questions, and your courage to start now—not later. Do it for you.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Meet Chelsea James And Her Impact
• 2:36 Navigating COVID Freshman Year
• 4:52 Mentors And Early Motivation
• 7:50 Time Management And Boundaries
• 12:34 Persistence After Hearing No
• 16:59 Choosing College And Applications
• 21:36 Academics, Advocacy, And AP Lessons
• 27:00 Dual Enrollment Regrets And Advice
• 31:10 ROTC’s Discipline And Leadership
• 36:05 Summer Bridge And The CARE Program
• 41:04 Dorm Life, Scooters, And Campus Life
• 46:28 Choosing Education And Future Leadership
• 51:35 Study Abroad: London And South Africa
• 57:00 Service, Mentoring, And Campus Orgs
• 1:02:22 Finding Your Tribe And Resilience
• 1:09:20 Goals, Law Interest, And Hard Classes
• 1:15:40 Boundaries, Self-Leadership, And Why
• 1:22:10 Rapid Fire, Traditions, And Takeaways
• 1:29:20 Do It For You: Closing Message

Transcript

Meet Chelsea James And Her Impact

Gary Wise 0:28

All right. Hey, good morning, good evening, good afternoon. Hello, everyone. It's me once again, Gary Wise. I am the host of what we hope to become your mentor's favorite podcast, Words from the Wise. And today, today I'm very honored to have a special guest. Uh, this guest is uh she's so special to me because when I first retired from the military and became a high school teacher, this young lady was one of the prime movers in my ROTC unit at the school. But not only that, she was the Kinet Master Chief, but not only that, she became like a little sister to me and really would just keep me on the straight and narrow, going from high-speed military life to the high school world. And she's just an amazing human being, and I'm very excited to have her on the show today. So, without further ado, let me introduce to the world Miss Chelsea James. Chelsea, what up? Hi, thanks for having me. Oh man, I'm so thankful you're here. Number one, I love your face and I never get to see it, right? Because you don't call me when you're home, and that's fine, it's cool. I'm busy, I got it. Yeah, um, but no, you are just an amazing human being, and I'm so proud of you. And thank you for taking the time to share with us.

Chelsea James 1:42

Of course, thank you for having me.

Gary Wise 1:45

All right, Chelsea. You know what my my goal from when I have former students on, I think, is going to be to help up and coming students kind of hear experience and and how life has been after high school. So that's kind of my goals for today is to kind of talk about you know what you why how you found so much success in high school, and then how you've managed to continue that success into college, if that makes sense. Okay, all right. Sound good?

Chelsea James 2:13

Perfect.

Gary Wise 2:14

All right, now I live in Ocala, Florida. You're originally from Ocala, Florida, Marion County. When you got to high school, did had COVID already hit when you got to high school?

Navigating COVID Freshman Year

Chelsea James 2:26

I want to say it did. I want to say because that was like when we were like in the water of like hybrid learning, um, if I'm not mistaken. Um, so yes, I'm gonna say yes.

Gary Wise 2:36

So your ninth grade year was COVID. Was that when that was?

Chelsea James 2:40

Yes.

Gary Wise 2:41

And why that matters for me is because the freshman year is such an important year to the transition, and your generation, your generation had to deal with that covid struggle while trying to figure things out. Because, and I bring that up because you had you accomplished so much in high school, ladies and gentlemen. Let me just tell you, I think if there was a scholarship available, this young lady was talking about getting it for sure. I think if there was an opportunity for some sort of a way to make progress, she was moving it, right? Uh, and did you know at in ninth grade, when was it? Did you figure it out you wanted to be that level of a of a motivator?

Chelsea James 3:22

Um, I truly never knew, you know. It it honestly started um in middle school, actually. So um, Katie Owen, so she was my dean in middle school. And so I just thought she was always strict, right? And then when I got to high school and she ended up there too, it was just like, okay, you know, she seems really cool, you know, she had cute outfits. And then from there, um, she really put me into the space to have opportunities because she saw how passionate I was for the things I was involved in. So like I remember one time, like she called me out of class, you know, talk to the student just to like give them insight into like the opportunities that like the programs, for example, ROTC had to offer. Um, if only you just like you know take advantage of it uh rather than rebel.

Gary Wise 4:04

So yeah. Okay. So Miss Owen was a mentor for you at a young age that you 100%. 100%. Okay, uh well that matters, right? Because I see a lot of these kids and they don't really have a mentor for their educational journey, if that makes sense. They might they might have a mentor for like athletics or for like ROTC, yeah, but maybe not for education, or sounds like Miss Katie was like holistic, like she was kind of all the above.

Chelsea James 4:31

Yeah, for sure, for sure.

Gary Wise 4:34

Okay, so then you're going through high school, you get to the end, you're I remember your senior year, you were like you were in what was that a pink ladies club, which was NHS, um, tots, which is for teaching.

Mentors And Early Motivation

Chelsea James 4:48

I was the assistant editor for yearbook. Um, I was the command master chief. I did the color guard uh competitive and community color guard um commander, uh, I guess you could say drill as well. Um, but I really did it all truthfully.

Gary Wise 5:08

And and I I guess when other people hear this, they're probably wondering where did you find the time? Because I'll be honest with you, that's it's a lot of work. That's a lot of work. How were you managing your time? Do you remember? Did you have like a strategy? Did you have like a calendar? Did you just how did you do that?

Chelsea James 5:25

Um, I had a planner. So I I lived by a planner, even in college, I lived by my planner. Um, and it was just really just like, you know, managing time and also knowing like my boundaries and the time that I did have. So like I knew, you know, with drill being on certain days, marksman marksmanship being on certain days, you know, everything having its own day, you know, just really communicating with like, say I couldn't make it to one meeting, I communicated or did like more work behind the scenes just to like, you know, make up for like having to miss, um, especially when it came around times for like competitions and stuff like that, when I really had to like, you know, focus on all that um to make sure that we had everything in order. But, you know, I really lived by my planner, like that's how I made time, and you know, I just knew when I had I knew my breaking point, and I wasn't gonna get to that point, you know.

Gary Wise 6:15

Um, so I don't know that you got one, dude. I gotta be honest, you're a freaking beast. I and why I say that is because I know how I am, and I I didn't find my breaking point till I was like 45. So you could go for you know, but I'm glad I'm proud of you that you already know that there is a space that you don't want to get to, and and that's that's a very mature perspective of you to have it. Yeah, I remember that about you. I mean, I know you got a strong support system, but I also know that you're the kind of person that doesn't need a lot of that, like you appreciate it, you value it, but at the end of the day, you you know what you're gonna do, right? And God bless the people that tell you no, because I'm on the other side of that conversation.

Chelsea James 6:57

That's so funny. I was just talking to my boss about that earlier. She's like, Chelsea, like you still do it even though like you get told no. And I'm like, you know, um, for example, I um I'm on this e-board position, it's big sister, little sister, it's a national organization, but I'm the treasurer for the uh Florida State chapter. And um I had proposed to our president, I was like, hey, like, you know, since I've been in college every year, like there is a community service trip. And she's like, no, we just like don't have the funds for it. And I was like, well, I will, you know, figure it out, you know. And I did all the behind the scenes work and I went to the meetings for SGA, and you know, we're still working on it, but we did get our bus, you know, cover, and like that's one step. And she's like, you know, I didn't think we would be able to do it. And I was like, she told me no, I did the work, and you know, it's working out for the better. So, you know, I when I have my mind set on something, I'm gonna go attack it full force.

Time Management And Boundaries

Gary Wise 7:48

So oh, I know, and I and I came relate, right? That's like when Commander told me I couldn't get the the trailer wrapped because we didn't have any money for it, and I was like, All right, wait one, I'll be right back. And I I love that about you because I again I love that energy in people. The Navy trained me to smell that in on leaders, and I could tell you were you were somebody I recognized that potential immediately. And the other thing I love about you is you get upset, you get frustrated, you take it personal, but then you come back, right? Yeah, you don't just get petty and leave, you get petty and stay, right? You sound right, you sound like I'm the same way, right? Like I'll get petty and stay, right? Because I'm committed to doing this, but I'm I'm I'm upset about something, and it's how I remember more than one occasion we had to go for a walk and have a conversation to get right, right? We have to go say what needed to be said, and not everybody has that ability, and you're gonna find as you continue on throughout your journey that's going to bring you lots of success, but it's also gonna bring you your fair share of haters because people are not always comfortable with having direct conversations, right? And you know you know that you knew that you knew that when I from what I've I've known you. So when you were leaving high school, did you know like I want to go to a four-year university out the gate? Or were you did you have to think about different choices?

Chelsea James 9:13

No, um, I would also go back to like middle school. So I always like had this dream of want to be like president of the US, and so I was like, you know, to do that, I figured like, you know, you know, you that you needed like a four-year degree. Um, but I always knew that I wanted to go to college without a doubt. Um, just because like social media, you know, it puts on like this, you know, cute little image of what the life would be in college. So I always knew. Um, however, I will say when I was in high school, I didn't know where I wanted to go. Um, I was, you know, like everyone pushes like uh UF just because it's up the road and you know it has a nice name to it. Um, but I did not know where I wanted to go. So, you know, my senior year, you know, just did it really. Like that was it.

Gary Wise 10:00

When you look back on your high school and your academic piece of it, because this is where I think a lot of people don't pay attention, they'll be involved in all these extracurriculars, but their academics are not going well, right? They're not taking advanced classes, they're they're they're getting good grades and classes that don't mean a whole lot, right? And then when they get to the SATs or the ACTs, they bomb because they have not challenged themselves to the higher level curriculum that they're gonna need to beat those tests, right? Yeah, how did you manage academics? Did you front load academics to where you were really in high classes, like in your junior year, or were you consistently taking accelerated academics all the way through high school?

Persistence After Hearing No

Chelsea James 10:45

Um, all the way through high school. Um, I think the only I think there was maybe like two classes that I didn't take as an honors student. Um, but other than that, it was honors, honors classes. And then I took AP Lang and Lit. Um, but the balance, I wouldn't say that I I would say that I had an equal balance um with just because academics have been something that I always prioritize. Like I'm not like the type of person to slack on school to have a social life or anything like that. Um, and I know that at times I will say I did struggle in high school, but um something that I can say that did translate over is me being able to advocate for myself. And so that means, you know, going to school um in the mornings and you know, just going to my teacher's class is like, hey, I am struggling and can you help me? Um for me, I know that's what like got me through like algebra two and uh pre-calc because the class is hard. Um, even with AP Lit and Lang, I struggled in that course 100%. Um, and I was talking to the um Mr. Hearn the other day, and I was telling her, I was like, you know, one thing I will say, like that I took from her class is like how to write discussion boards. Um, that is something very big, um, especially on um in online classes, is like writing discussion boards, minimum like 500 words. And so she used to have us like doing like journal entries, um, give us like a topic and you write on it. Um that's something like that's something that I was able to take to college with me and it just came easy versus like trying to learn the skill. Um, but yeah, I would say that it was really just communicating um and knowing when I'm struggling, because um, even here in college, um I had an A in the class, but I went to the professor and I was like, hey, I'm struggling, like I really am not getting the content. And she didn't believe in a textbook, so everything was verbal and she didn't put anything on her slides, it was like a one sentence. So it was like if you stepped out of the classroom, you could come back in and like kind of like pick up where she was. And um I told her and she's like, Well, you're doing fine. And then, you know, I had to keep going to her to like get her to understand that like I was not just because like my grade reflected one thing, I was not like retaining the content that would essentially make me successful. And you know, because I feel like sometimes here in college it's a lot of busy work, and um, especially with my degree, that content is kind of needed, so I'd rather like actually understand it rather than just you know make sure I have the A.

Gary Wise 13:10

Um, so well, and I guess for me, what I see, what I hear from that is you're looking, you're thinking long term, like yes, ma'am, I'm getting a good grade in this class today. I want to verify I'm gonna continue to be successful by understanding the what's really going on, right?

Chelsea James 13:26

Yeah, a hundred percent again.

Gary Wise 13:27

Most teachers don't probably expect you there's they would probably they want you to feel that way, but when you're right in front of them, they probably don't recognize that. Yeah, you know, and you know, the other thing is I'm a public school warrior, like I believe in public school, I'm very glad to have my kids in public school. But what I told my sons coming from the do from the Department of Defense Education is like, look, bro, if you want to be in a class with people that actually care to learn, you need to get in higher level classes, right? And because if you're down in just a baseline class, I call that gen pop, right? If you're down in gen pop, it's gonna be wild down there because there's going to be kids that don't give two dangs about being in school, right? And and and you'll get that mixture in like R O T C or in gym or PE or whatever it is. But if you're in a difficult class like math or English, you might want to be in a class with kids that want to learn so that way you're not always being distracted by chaos and by people that are having bad days. It's just unfortunately, it's the reality of life, especially in the public school system, right?

Chelsea James 14:32

Right.

Gary Wise 14:33

And so and I tell that to my sons, and they don't want to hear that, but it it makes their day for day easier. And I I'm sure you stumbled across that in the middle school and you just kept the ball rolling all the way up. Did you do dual enrollment in high school as well?

Chelsea James 14:47

So no, I didn't. Um actually with that is I took the test and I was just I was one point away, one or two points away. Cannot get it. Like I I took the test like maybe five times. Um, but my senior year, I did take one class, and sometimes, you know, I'm gonna be honest, when I came to college, I felt like okay, like all my peers coming in with the AA's, like everyone did dual enrollment. Um, but I wouldn't I would probably change it, like maybe like try and study more for that test. Cause also I didn't study for the exam. Let me just put that out there. I didn't study for it. Um, so for me, when I came to college, I was like, oh, you know, like everyone, you know, they seem a little bit more advanced, but sometimes that stuff doesn't even like translate over, like um, like you know, they make you it put they put it in a different area than what like um CF would put it in. Um, but no, I did not do dual enrollment. I did one course my senior year, but no. Okay, but I encourage it. I encourage it a hundred percent. It's an easy way to, you know, avoid um the fees after. Um, and you know, essentially, even if that class does not count in the same way, it still counts to some extent, and you're saving money in the long run. So, I mean, I encourage it a hundred percent.

Choosing College And Applications

Gary Wise 16:06

My son Aiden is doing dual enrollment literally, so he can get out of two classes at high school during the day, right? Really? So a hundred percent, thousand percent. Like he loves the freedom of going to CF in the morning, doing a little class, whatever it is, and rolling up into Vanguard around 10 o'clock, like his little dunk and donuts, like he's the man, you know, and just it's a little flex, it's a it's a flex, right? Yeah, of course. I'm I I get it, you know, and then I've seen other kids like I've got one student, she's damn near gotten an associate's degree done throughout her time. And but I mean, I I'm like you like you, I'm more of a fan of these kids enjoying high school, enjoying the experience, and not rushing it because when you get to college, I think that the journey is a part of the is a part of that, right? 100% agree. But I will support people to be whatever they want to do that if they what as long as they can stick to what they say they're gonna do, right? Like for Hayden, he became he's the master chief this year in ROTC. So I said, Look, bro, if you're gonna do college dual enrollment and you're gonna slack off as my master chief, let me know so I can give somebody else the opportunity. Because I see kids their senior year, they start losing focus on high school and they start to not maintain the responsibilities to the rest of the organization, and so we had to manage that, right? Which is why he misses classes in the morning, vice in the afternoon, because we can be there. Um when you look at before we get into your college experience, because I'm excited to get there, but how do you think ROTC? Because selfishly that's what I do, right? How do you think the J R O T C program helped prepare you for life after high school?

Chelsea James 17:48

Discipline.

Gary Wise 17:50

Think so?

Chelsea James 17:50

Yeah, for sure. Just having like a different mentality. Um, a lot of people say I'm strict. So um, me and one of my coworkers, so we were writing papers and she was like, We're gonna run this like the navy. I said, Don't tempt me. I was like, Don't tempt me. Um, but definitely discipline, uh, having just a different mindset, like a go get it um mindset. Um it really just made me grow, I would say, as a leader. Um, even when I did um the Air Force ROTC here in college, a little different, well, very different, but you know, it's it taught me leadership, essentially, things that I can translate and I can stand out from other people. Um yeah, stand out, lead with confidence. Um, I'll never forget Gunny. Um, one time she made me stand across the field and yell till I got my voice, my commanding voice together. Like she's like, um, you cannot compete with like a classroom tone. Oh, okay. And eventually I learned, but it's like being in those uh scenarios and those situations. Um, because I feel like it like you grow as a leader, as an individual, because you have to push yourself beyond, you know, your comfortable like self.

Gary Wise 19:06

So yeah. Yeah, I think what I've seen so far since I've been at the school, and I I see all of the things develop in the kids as they come up, right? I see now I've been there long enough. I can see the kids develop from freshmen till four to four years later as seniors. And it's super special for me to have four years with these, like you and I only had a year together, right? Like to have four years with these kids is super, super special. But I I think it's gonna be even more exciting to watch after y'all launch where y'all go into the world and how how these uh gifts, how these skills help you. Then the other thing is how much it really plays a role in the your high school experience because these kids are you like you guys were always out the portables, whether it was lunch, before school, after school, competitions, everything. So it's a big part of your high school four years, right?

Chelsea James 19:56

For sure, yeah.

Gary Wise 19:57

Yeah. All right. So when you got ready to Get out of high school, you're applying to all the colleges, right? You're dropping all these different applications. Uh, was there any lessons learned for you that you want to pay forward to other people that are listening to the podcast to maybe give them advice on how you best saw that process play out?

Academics, Advocacy, And AP Lessons

Chelsea James 20:17

Don't let a test score define you. I will say 110%, I'm not a good test taker. It's not, it's not, it's not for me. I will just say that. I can ace content, like I can like talk to you about it. Um, but sometimes for me it's time. Like sometimes it's not in my favor. Um, and I also second guess myself a lot. Um, but don't let a test score define you because there's still opportunities, and I feel like a lot of times people push, like, you need to be the top of like the best of the best. And I can say even graduating with people, um, people who 36 valedictorians, right? Some of them didn't even make it into FSU, you know. That's crazy, you know. But they got a 5.0, they did all this stuff, and it's like sometimes it's more about your character than you know, some statistics about yourself, you know. And so for me, um, it's literally don't let a test score define you and be honest with who you are, right? Because I feel like a lot of times people are very like you appeal to a school, right? But you also gotta under recognize what you can contribute to the school, um, aside from just because essentially you're just another student, but can you bring something beneficial to the school? Like, why do you stand out from the next person? You know, it's kind of like when they say, like, two people go in for a job, the resumes are the same, but what makes you stand out? Um, and that's something that like, you know, when you're writing your essays, like that is something that you should um make very apparent, like why you deserve a spot at this university or this college, even for scholarships as well. Well, what makes you stand out from the next? Um, so yeah, it's literally don't let a test score define you. Um, I every essay that I wrote for a scholarship, I ended my um scholarship with. Um, I am even though I may not um be within like the normal test scores or whatever the case may be, um, I'm not going to let that stop me from applying for a scholarship because at the end of the day, my resume can speak for the type of person I am. A test score, that's one thing. Like, so that's how I view it.

Gary Wise 22:30

I think that's great information. And I think that I think that's the way you should approach life, right? Like, don't just don't just let your last failure define you. Let that just be an opportunity to show people how resilient you are, how strong you can be, and keep on coming. And the other thing, and I remember, I do remember when you were applying for colleges and hoping to get back uh letters of of getting accepted. And I've seen this again every year since you. Again, you were my first year, right? So then every year since you, I've seen the kids that didn't even apply for colleges because they didn't want to hear the no's or they didn't think they had the the mind, the money, or the whatever. And then I've seen kids like I've seen people this year that you would have thought for sure would have gotten accepted to certain colleges, and they did not get into certain schools, but they got into other schools, and it does come down to this whole total package. And can you best advocate for yourself, like you said before, and put your best book forward? And that continues on in life, right? Because a lot of times all that package does is get your foot in the door. You've got to go in there and sell yourself on as why they should give you the opportunity, right? And that's and so I I definitely can see that continuing to be a contributor to your success going forward. And for everyone listening, you know, you've got to go ahead and put as many opportunities in the in the motion as possible, and don't do them only halfway because that's not really a good effort. You gotta finish the day, hit send, bro. Like send only doing it 75 means you didn't do it, right? Like that's all that means.

Chelsea James 24:03

That is true.

Gary Wise 24:05

I I I see people, especially when they get their SAT scores back, really get deflated, you know. And it's like you could take them again, like just because you didn't get the score you wanted the first time doesn't mean you can't take the test again, right? Or maybe you should study more for the test. And what's funny is say one of your proteges got into the college she wanted to get into, right? And I wonder how much did your example get in pay for her and what she did in her decision making, because she got the chance to almost watch you. Well, you're a senior, she's a junior, but get the chance to see everything you were doing. And how many other kids have you or how many other young ladies or young men have you given information to to help them find success, right?

Chelsea James 24:46

Right.

Gary Wise 24:47

All right, so when you got to FSU, which she she is a null, Chelsea goes to Florida State University, which I am yes, ma'am, we are a null's family. My sister-in-law went to FSU, so I was excited to hear you're going to FSU. It's also one of our local Florida schools. Uh, when you first you went right away, you did not take a break, like you went from high school, graduation, right to school for summer, summer semester, they call it right. What was your strategy behind that? Just you were ready to go, like you just wanted to get out the house and move.

Chelsea James 25:19

No, so no. So I actually got accepted into care, which is a department for first generation college students. And the part, like the program that I got accepted to requires you to start in the summer. Um, so that is what so the whole point of it is to help you transition from um to transition into college for the fall semester. Um, so we kind of like did like we took classes, but we also did like small groups. So we have like these things called care ambassadors, which they're pretty much like our mentor. They're typically in their junior or senior year, and they pretty much like you go to breakfast with your group. It's like 15 to 20 people, 12 to 20 people. It really just depends on how many people apply for the the cycle. And um, you create a bond with people, essentially just having you a community before you you know get pushed out into like the environment with people who already know what's going on, you know. Um, so that is why I came to college um in the summertime. Um, but I mean I loved it. Um, I have friends that I made that summer that I still talk to, my roommates actually. Um, so it's it's really nice. Um, it's a lot, they get they provide a lot of resources. We got to meet faculty of the university, and then in addition with that, is every spring semester we do um there's a speech that the president of the university gives because he was first generation. So, you know, we just get to connect with people who understand us and um you know, network really. So yeah.

Gary Wise 26:48

Okay, well, that's a great reason to go right off the bat. Yeah, you was what you was like, I'm ready to go.

Dual Enrollment Regrets And Advice

Chelsea James 26:54

I was. I mean, I'm not gonna hold you, I was because I just wanted a different like scene as well. Um, I was a little scared when I first came, you know, moving away from home, but also for me, I knew I wanted to move away from home, but not too far away from home. Um, so I mean, yes, it was both, but the program required me to um come early, which there was no problem. I wasn't probably gonna do anything anyways that summer.

Gary Wise 27:20

So what did you think of the dorms when you first got into the dorms? Did you was there any lessons learned there for you?

Chelsea James 27:27

Yeah, everyone, everyone is raised differently. Um growing up, I didn't share a room, so sharing a room with someone that was different. Everyone's cleaning style is different. Um, and also being mindful of like people's sleeping time, you know, um, sleeping and waking up because like I think my class started at like 9 20, like 9 45. And I think her class was at like 8 a.m. Right. So, you know, you're trying to sleep, but somebody's making noise in the room. But luckily, me and her had like a good relationship. So, you know, we talked, communicated, and I also pulled a lot of all-nighters um that summer. I will never forget. I had drink three Celsius, would not recommend that's actually dangerous. Um, right. But I didn't know that, you know. I was just I was living in the moment. Um, and I know like a lot of people who I went into care summer with, they actually regret that they did not take advantage of all the opportunities and the fun times. And for me, I can't say that because I I had fun my fresh like freshman summer. Um, so I loved it. But um, the dorm, it was really nice. I will say it was very nice. Um, I was in a room that was bigger, some people had smaller rooms, so that ended up working out good. Um, my sweetmate, she was always over it. One of my suite mates was always over in my room room. The other one, she was kind of like to herself. Um, and then the building that we were in is kind of like a newer one. So they had like all the restaurants like right on the other side. So we had like Starbucks, Mac Shack, um, this like place for um tacos, a pizza place, sushi. It was like right on the opposite side of us. Like you could go out the front door, go through another door, go downstairs, and all the foods right there. So I I actually like the dorm. Um, so yeah.

Gary Wise 29:16

Well, and that's the whole point, right? The whole point is that you're you could make it there if you had to on your two feet, right? You didn't have to have a scooter or a bike or a car, right? And those help, right?

Chelsea James 29:28

My scooter stolen. You remember I called my scooter stuff, my scooter stolen. That was oh my gosh, I walked to my exam crying. I walked to my exam crying. I woke up late, and then on top of that, scooter stolen. I was aggravated for the day.

Gary Wise 29:43

I bet I remember you telling me that.

Chelsea James 29:46

Yeah, it's crazy.

Gary Wise 29:48

It was probably some young kid out there just jacking scooters off the kitchen.

Chelsea James 29:52

Well, they it'd be like actual adults, like they just did a warrant. So um the the other day, the student he had just got a scooter, and his scooter had to be no, it was like a bike, and it was like upwards like uh twelve hundred dollars, and he left it like unhooked out the door, and so he comes and he's like, Oh, what happened to my bike? And I was like, one of the officers came and took it, and they just um instilled like this rack um where students because like the athletes um was just like putting them on the stairway, so it was kind of making it difficult for people to walk up. But this other guy, he had got a scooter and it ended up getting stolen because he had put it outside and he was like, Oh, wow, I didn't think anyone would take it. And I was like, Well, I fear they still, but when the one I witnessed, it was this grown man and he had like a blade and a shirt and he cut it. Um, but and then my friend, she got her scooter stolen, but it made its way to fam you, but the officers was pinging like her um air tag on it, so they found the air tag and threw it off. So, I mean, that was gone. But no, it's actual adults, but they did uh um what the officer was telling me that they just did like a bus on someone and they found like a lot of scooters in his house, so yeah.

Gary Wise 31:03

Scooter rings, like literally, I'm like that is ridiculous.

Chelsea James 31:08

It is ridiculous.

ROTC’s Discipline And Leadership

Gary Wise 31:08

That's crazy, that's sad. Yeah, are you so you're are are you in your what is this your third year now of college or is this your fourth year considered your third year?

Chelsea James 31:18

I'm a third year uh senior, so I'm a senior in credits, but I'm in my third year.

Gary Wise 31:23

Okay, so third year senior credits. Are you still living in the dorms like as an RA or you now moved out in your own place?

Chelsea James 31:31

I have an apartment, so it's me and like um three others. Um, we have like our own bathrooms and stuff, and then um I'm a desk assistant, so like I still be on campus, like in the dorms, like my job is in the dorms. Um, so yeah.

Gary Wise 31:47

Okay, so third year senior. Um what did you what what did you go to college for for your education? And are you still working towards the same education or did you change your path up?

Chelsea James 32:01

So I originally came in up under like political science, but they didn't change it in time. But it's been social science education since I started, and I'm still on it um last spring, uh spring 25. I was admitted into my college. So there's me and 18 other people, or 17, 17 or 18 of us. Um, and yeah, we take classes together every semester.

Gary Wise 32:26

So it's a cohort of people that are in this public education thing, but it's still part of FSU, though.

Chelsea James 32:33

Yeah, so like FSU, so essentially FSU is the university, and within the university, there's colleges. So I'm in the ANS College, which is like health sciences, education, sports management. All of those things are within the ANS College. Um, so within the college, I'm up under the education and then majoring in social science education. So yeah.

Gary Wise 32:56

Okay. I remember when when you when you were younger, right? You would tell me I'm gonna be an educator. I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be, you were you didn't just say I'm gonna be a teacher. You're like, I'm gonna be an educator. And because you you were you really wanted to be essentially one day be a leader of a school, right? Like a principal. Is that still something you see for the yourself in the future, or are you looking at other roles after you graduate?

Chelsea James 33:19

Um, I think I want to be a superintendent of schools. Okay, yeah, that's what that's what I've been that's like my vibe recently. I met like some superintendents here. Um, like they bring people in, like, you know, just get to talk to people. And I think that'll be something just because it's more of like you get to make more decisions. And I feel like sometimes when you're within the school, well, one, I want to teach. Well, you have to teach to move up. Well, not always, but I want to teach because I feel like it is very essential to have someone in the classroom to then understand what needs to change. Um, because I feel like sometimes people are not in the position yet, they are like making decisions on behalf of like things they are unaware of. Um, so I feel like it'd be a great opportunity for me to at least at least actually be in the classroom to understand. And I also feel like being a student, you also see like the flaws. And I think now that I'm in education and like we're taught to see like effective teaching and learning and all these things, you really see from a different lens. Like, even when I'm sitting in my other classes, I'm like, if I was a teacher, I would not do this, you know. Like, um, so you know, just stuff like that. But essentially, yes, I do want to go into leadership um in the long run.

Summer Bridge And The CARE Program

Gary Wise 34:36

So yeah, no, no, I love it, right? And I there was a period of time, and we still talk about my son wanting to get an education, and he was looking at elementary education, and and I love that for him too, because I love it's service, right? If you're willing to come back and teach, in my opinion, that's a service role. But then I got out for him like all the pay scales for like teachers. I'm like, all right, dog, but here's how it's gotta look, right? Because sis, I'm gonna be I'm gonna shoot and shoot a shade with you, right? Right, here is here is what the pay is, but then you've got to get your master's degree, and at some point, you I would recommend you consider getting leveled up into like becoming a dean and then to an assistant principalship and then to a principal because again, for for you, for him, for whoever, it's I'm thinking about you caring and feeding for not just yourself but your family, right? Not knowing who else is gonna be involved in your world, and knowing that unless you're happy, only making a certain leveled number, this is the path to continue upward. For your point, again, I know how you are. Superintendent for me, mate, Matt makes sense because your leadership eventually you're you're only good at following the role so long. Because once you get to the point where you start thinking you know better, it's time for me to level up, right? Right? Look, I've lived there my whole life, I get it, right? Yeah, you and I we we're very similar people, and so my entire life it was like, okay, you're saying do this. I think it should be different. I gotta make rank and take your job, bro. Because at the end of the day, I can only keep saying yes for so long, right? And at some point I'm gonna argue with you, and that's not a good follower, and so I need you to go ahead and get the job the job. And I look at principals of high schools or elementary schools or middle schools as being the commanding officers of their thing, I look at superintendents as essentially being like the commodores or the admirals over their whole organization, and that is just going to be and then you will catapult from there into public service and you become the president someday, right? And away we get right, yeah. And so I could see all that. Before I get into what are you gonna teach? What's going on with this Europe trip or whatever it is you got going on where you're going to like England, or what's that all about? Is this just an experience or is this part of the education?

Chelsea James 36:53

So this is part of the education. So for me, okay, so I have always known since coming to college that I wanted to go abroad. Um, and so for me, it was just like when was the right decision? But now that I'm in my program, I this is my last semester, well last summer that I can do that. Um, so I applied for FSU International Programs, um, the broad curriculum program, and I got accepted. So I will be going to London for five weeks um to take classes over there. So that's my study abroad. And then I'm going to South Africa um for eight weeks to do an internship um over there and like we'll interview when we get there and stuff like that. Um, and for me, I wanted to do South Africa because it's a leadership opportunity. Um, I feel like oftentimes um we learn from a narrative that we don't actually know, you know, it's just what we learn in the textbook. And I feel like as a leader, or you know, even being in the classroom, understanding that, you know, the diversity and being able to appeal to more than one is would be really good as a leader. And I feel like, you know, some people don't have that. And I feel like it'll be a great opportunity for me to go over there, you know, grow as an individual, um, spiritually, like everything. Um, and essentially bring those skills back, um, be better and you know, lead with like new knowledge versus like, you know, just what I'm familiar with. Um, so yeah, I'll be going to London to study and then going to South Africa to um intern. So that's amazing.

Gary Wise 38:29

That's amazing. I'm super proud of you. I'm scared for you. I'm nervous. I am too coming after Christians in Africa, bro. Like, you gotta be careful. You gotta be but South Africa's probably not. I don't know.

Chelsea James 38:40

I mean, yeah, we're supposed to be going to like seeing penguins and we're gonna learn like the Zulu language and stuff like that. So I'm actually like very excited. I'm scared because like I'm a very much like chicken tenders, like hamburger type of person. So, like, you know, having to like you know, eat something like that.

Gary Wise 38:54

Ain't no publics in South Africa, literally.

Chelsea James 38:56

So I'm a little like, what am I gonna do? Um, but yeah, I'm I'm excited. I think it's uh it's gonna be a great opportunity. And you know, for for the South Africa trip, I'm the first cohort to go with care um to do it, so that's gonna be exciting as well, you know.

Gary Wise 39:14

Yeah, so you're still in that care program in in college, like that's you've continued to do that all three years, that care program.

Dorm Life, Scooters, And Campus Life

Chelsea James 39:23

Well, it's a department, but yeah, so like care, so they have like Quest Illuminate Um Unconquered, Summer Bridge. So I'm a part of Summer Bridge. Um, but yes, it so it carries, so we pretty much get a grant and a scholarship from them every semester as long as we fulfill the requirements asked of us. So that's attend one meeting, do like a take care initiative, which is something that either like contributes to like your mental health, physical health, spiritual health, something within that like wellness um realm. Um we have to do one of those, and then you have to meet with like an advisor or um. They call them our, I want to say our empowerment coach, I think. Um, but we have to meet, we have to do like three to four things every semester, something quick, easy, nothing crazy. Um, and attend like our care GBM. Um, and then you're given your scholarship. But our first year, what they do is you're so based on your so the summer that you come in, we have to do 10 hours every week or 10 or 5. I forgot, but you have to do those every week. And so you swipe into the library, and it's really to give you like that idea of being in the library, you know, taking the time to study. So you swipe in, collect your hours, boom, go into the fall semester, you do it, but it's based off your GPA. So the higher your GPA, the less hours you have to do. But it's just kind of instilling like being in the library and you know, like actually focusing on your work. Now, what you choose to do in the library, that's your business. But you know, it's trying to like force you into a space, you know, just to like I think it's beneficial if people actually do it the right way, but always people find ways in the system. And so um you do that, and then after that, every year there's something different. So when I have my GBM in like two weeks, they're gonna tell us like what our requirements are for this semester. Um, and it's also part of our again, scholarship and grant that they give us. So, I mean, if people don't fulfill it or if they don't keep their GPA up or don't remain a full-time student, they lose their money. Um, and they have like a three-strike system, so you slowly like you know, it's it doesn't come in like a shock, you know. You really have to like not do your stuff to lose your money.

Gary Wise 41:33

So yeah, did you become like a skull and crossbones or something like that? Did you get jumped into a fraternity where they beat you up?

Chelsea James 41:41

No, I didn't know. I am pro-academics all the way.

Gary Wise 41:46

Okay, so if you had gotten into something like that, it would be uh maybe not pro-academics all the way. Is that what you're is there like a perspective like that? No, no, no.

Chelsea James 41:55

So, like, okay, so like okay, so how it works is you have like MGC and PhC, and then um I don't know what the other one's called. Um, but pretty much sorority and fraternity life. Um, they're kind of like discreet, so you don't know about them unless you're like interested. Never express interest, just go about my way, academics all the way. Um, my social organizations do that just because it's like leadership and it kind of appeals to what I want to do at the end. Um, because I feel like oftentimes going into education, there's not really many opportunities. Um, you know, because especially here at FSU, a lot of things are like for business people, um business or law. Uh so yeah. Okay, but you know.

Gary Wise 42:40

But you've gotten into social groups for education, or because I did see I do see posts of you doing things with that are social, right?

Chelsea James 42:50

Yeah. So it's so one of the organizations I'm in is Jules Incorporated, and we pretty much work with um, it's supposed to be young urban girls, so we go to like the local. Um, I'm currently at a high school. I don't know if I'll be doing it this upcoming semester, but we pretty much just mentor a girl every week, the same girl for the whole semester. Some people end up doing it the whole year, it just kind of depends on what your school schedule is like. Um, and then um for big sister, little sister, it's at a college level. So we mentor um a little. So I have a little. Well, I have two littles. And then, but we also have like an app where we can connect with people nationally. Um, if you like for me, I found like two ladies on the app that like are in education, but not really at a point where I like network with educators that much. Um so yeah, I those are like my two like main orgs of like where I like get out and I really like mentor like one-on-one. And then my job with Upper Bound. Um, but I do it through Madison County, which is like an hour away from Tallahassee. Um so next week I start that where I like go there. Um, well, I'm gonna go on Thursdays. I was supposed to go Tuesdays and Thursdays, but one of my classes ends up being on Tuesdays. So I'll go over there and I'll mentor like the senior girls. Well, senior girls and guys, sorry. Um, but mentor them. Um, so it's the same kids that I work with this over the summer, but it's more of them. It's like the whole group this time. And so the focus is like, you know, just really like them getting into college or what's the next steps, or you know, just encouraging them to like figure out their next steps uh in life as they will be graduating in May. Um, so yeah.

Gary Wise 44:33

Yeah, it's dope, man. It's dope. I again, you're like one of the only people that I know that went to a university, like keeping it a buck, right? Like my sister-in-law and you like that's it. And so I all my friends in the military, we all got college through distance learning. None of us went actually, and like you and a few of my other students that I know of are the only people that I like know personally that had that experience. So, yeah, I watch these movies, I just wonder like what's it like? And so interesting to hear. So you're a third-year senior. Go ahead.

Choosing Education And Future Leadership

Chelsea James 45:04

Oh, I was gonna say it's really like good. Um, for me, I would say like FSU has like a lot of great opportunities. Um, from like we have like a student union that has like the bowling alley in there. Um, they have like a art, uh art place. Um, we have a movie theater on campus, so you can go watch movies for free. Um, we have like the leech, which is our gym, and they do like spin cycle classes. They have like a variety, and if I'm not mistaken, they're building like a Pilates um like area, if I'm not mistaken. I'm not really sure because there's no sign up, but you know, when people say stuff, so I'm like, okay, I guess we'll see when they're done. Um, what else do we have? We have like a lot of different things on campus, and there's over like 700 student organizations, so like there is a lot for you to do. Um and so I feel like at some point, and even if you don't find something that like you want, you can create it. And the thing that's really nice about it is like you don't have to have an advisor. Um, so like I know for like big sister little sister, we don't have an advisor, like it is completely student ran. Um, so like that's nice, but also like finding yourself is really like big. And then I know here we have like a market Wednesday, so every Wednesday um organizations can table, you know, just to advertise and market and promote them themselves. And then like they also do like a spot where like um vendors can come out and sell their stuff. Um and then like for homecoming, they have a live artist come perform. So it's like I think the environment's really good, and I'm a firm believer in college is what you make it. Um if you stay at home, then if you stay at home, but there is a lot. Um, and how I like to view it is we're all strangers, so like you know, we all we're all here, we all don't know each other. Of course, you may know people like here and there, but essentially, like we're all just trying to get to the next step, you know.

Gary Wise 46:55

So I remember when you were in high school and you kind of had this feeling like you had not found your your people in a sense, right? For sure, you just kind of felt like you were just like not accepted over here, not acceptable over here, but then on the flip side, you're like on the top of well, I but I'm the same way, right? And so I I risk I understand how life is, yeah, but I also appreciate that that you were going through your journey and you were hopeful that when you got to college you would connect with people that would make you feel like you found your tribe. And I I will tell you, I found my tribe when I became a chief petty officer in the Navy, right? Like I'd be in a I'd be in a chief's mess of 300, but there'd be like only 30 of us that really were like cool with each other. So that we we used to say we were the mess inside the mess because there'd be 30 of us really shaking and baking, there'd be 300 people claiming credit, but there was like 30 of us getting it going. Um, did you feel did you find that tribe you were looking for in college?

Chelsea James 47:57

I would say I so the weird thing about it is I would say that I have some I I'm in multiple groups, but within each group, there's like one to two people. So I'm that's especially that's how I would put it. I don't I'm not okay, I'm not gonna say like I didn't put all my eggs in one basket, but I like to like you know, like you're gonna have like I have my education friends, I have like my business friends, I have like my BSLS friends, my jewel sisters. Like I have like different groups, but of course you're gonna have like people who like appeal to you more, or you know, you you just click with, you know, and that's the case. But I would say yes, I would say I just I would say I just recently did, truthfully.

Gary Wise 48:37

Okay, I'm gonna tell you, I have uh tons of relationships with people, and I help people to this day, and people reach out to me from all around the world to help them, but literally I can count on one hand the people that I would like really be willing to go bury a body for, right? Like, like I don't keep I don't keep that many close friends because I just don't have enough time, and I feel guilty if I'm not pouring into those relationships for people that I really care about, and so don't do don't be too hard on yourself if and if you don't have this this group of 50 people that you just feel like oh my god, they all got my back. Because unfortunately, it's just not realistic, right?

Chelsea James 49:18

You I've seen it play out in real time, I've seen it play out a lot.

Gary Wise 49:23

Just get two or three real ones and and then other people just be authentic, and if they want to mess with you, they'll mess with you. But if they don't, they don't keep it pushing, right? It'll be okay.

Study Abroad: London And South Africa

Chelsea James 49:34

All my friends know I say that I'm still gonna go to sleep at the end of the night, whether people like me or not. So, you know, yeah, I just I can't, you know. I I learned that in high school, I will say, just knowing that like a lot of people did not favor me. Um, but that still didn't stop me from showing up and being the best version of myself that I could be. Obviously, I had my days of, you know, where I'm you know, I kind of just wanted to be like, okay, well, y'all do it, and then I'll just sit back and watch. But you know, at the end of the day, um I just knew that I poured so much into example ROTC, and I had a heart for it. Um, because truthfully, when I went into ROTC, I was not even supposed to be taking the class. I was taking um PE online and I had finished right before the school year had started, but there was like no room to put me in an elective, so they ended up putting me in ROTC because you know how it's like you either do a varsity sport or you do two years of ROTC or something like that. Got in the class, and Gunny was really straight without a doubt. She was very straight. So I was like, okay, but then I had met friends and I was like, okay, cool, you know, I can I can do this. It's nothing crazy. Then I thought after my two years that I was gonna leave, but then I like actually like connected with the people. I found another community because I feel like oftentimes a lot of people think like the ROTC kids are weird, you know. But you know, I feel like respectfully, I'm not one of those. I was very like ROTC, you can find me here, you can find me there. Like, I feel like also that's what helped me win Homecoming Queen was because I was so like like I wasn't just in one area, you know, like I could use what I learned here into the next space and so on and so forth. And so, anyways, I just feel like you know, having people who were like anti me, sometimes that was like my motivation to like keep going, like 110%, even like to this day. And I see some of my peers from high school, and I'm like, you were hating on me, but you know, fear that I'm blessed, highly favored, and I'm still like I stuck to what I said I was gonna do, and that was go to college, um, and you know, make it out. And you know, everybody makes their own life choices, but sometimes I think that some people were too busy hating on me that they did not have their stuff together. Um even when I was getting accepted to college, I was like, what are y'all hating on me for? Like, I was just like, What are y'all hating on me for? Because I was still showing up and they were falling off, you know. And I felt like at some point when I was in the unit that I was carrying like us by myself. Like I felt like that at times, but I kept going because I was like, freshman me would be like, what are you doing? But it was nice knowing that like I had an impact on people, even like when Fanu or like Dobinmeyer would shoot me a text, you know, it's nice knowing that like people saw that like you know, they saw me as a leader and someone that they can still contact, even though I'm not like physically there anymore. Like, I feel like I left a mark on at least some people who was still in the program. Um, even one of your students, um I want to say his first name is Kevin, if I'm not mistaken. Avery tall. Uh-huh. Yes, yes, okay, yes. Sorry. Um, but he was here the other day and he was like, James, I was like, hey, like I, you know, I haven't seen you in a while. You know, like some of them, you know, they may see me on social media, but as far as like speaking to them, you know, it's nice to like have a conversation with someone like face-to-face, you know, like this, like we're doing. Um, so it's nice to see that, like, you know, the unit's still going, but you know, that like you were a leader or like you impacted at least one person. Because I feel like when you can make an impact on at least one person, that one person can make an impact to the next. And you know, that's how we spread kindness and love. So yeah.

Gary Wise 53:09

Well, and I would tell you for your senior year in particular, where I'll give some people grace a little a little bit, right? Is that leading through transition is hard, right? Yeah, and and the unit went through a lot of transition your guys' senior year because you had two instructors what leave and go to other places, you had two new instructors come in your senior year, and I mean, and and and completely do different things than what you'd been used to having get done, right? And then halfway through your senior year, an instructor left us, and God, they just God help you when you give me the keys and leave me alone because that's about to be over, right? Because I already know where I wanted to go, and not everybody's willing to go along for that ride, but you were you were you would all you would anchor the hell up, you'd come back, and you would come see me, and we would get to it. And the experience that you had from that, and I would say Smith was another one that continued to come back and not stop. And other people were consistent, they but maybe they they weren't as maybe I was saying as assertive, but that's okay because truth be told, one hand, right? We don't need a lot of people, right? We don't too many people in the too many people in the kitchen cooking is a problem.

Chelsea James 54:23

Well, that's your favorite thing to say.

Gary Wise 54:25

Let us cook, baby. Let us let us cook, and that's it. And but you got that experience, and that's gonna continue to pay dividends for you in the future because life is nothing but a series of transitions that you've got to constantly prepare for, work through, capitalize on, and then serve up to the next person because you're moving forward, hopefully.

Chelsea James 54:46

Yeah, right.

Gary Wise 54:48

If you're gonna if you think you're gonna stay somewhere for the rest of your life, I'm sorry, that's not the life you're gonna get. I just telling you who I know who you are. You're not gonna get you're you would be unhappy, right? And so being able to manage that cycle will be a huge advantage for you as you go forward. Um, so okay, when you graduate college, when are you graduating college, bro? Like, are you graduating next year? Are you doing your master's right away? What are you doing?

Chelsea James 55:17

I'm graduating in 27, and then I'm supposed to graduate again in 28, and then kind of thinking that I want to do a PhD. So we'll see after I graduate with my master's.

Gary Wise 55:27

All right, hey, I'm I'm here for it. If that's what you want to do, I gotcha. You know what you're doing. So if you if you so if you stay in scholar college all the way till you get your PhD, what would you teach after that level? I mean, what would you go teach?

Chelsea James 55:45

Um, so for me, I'm getting a degree in history, right? However, I want to teach math, but because FSU does not have a math education as a bachelor's degree, um I'm doing it in history. And so hopefully, like I can get certifications and then whatever district I teach in, um, I communicate with leadership, like, hey, I have like these certificates, blase blase. Um, but I also know it's like on demand. So if like they need a history teacher, that's where you're gonna go. Um, because that's what my degree is in, essentially. Um, but do that for a few years and then you know, work my way up chain of command, you know.

Gary Wise 56:21

Okay, so would you be a high school teacher? Is that your plan?

Chelsea James 56:26

Um if I get to teach math, I wanna do like algebra one. Okay. So that can be like I think eighth or ninth grade. I don't really remember. So I can't tell you 100%. But my qualifies me grades six through twelve.

Gary Wise 56:44

But if you take it all the way to PhD, that means you're gonna be there till like what 2030?

Chelsea James 56:51

I don't know. Okay, but I if I do my PhD route, I would probably want to work at a university.

Service, Mentoring, And Campus Orgs

Gary Wise 56:59

Well, sure, but would that be but that wouldn't be algebra one? So that means you'd go to a university.

Chelsea James 57:04

I would want to do college algebra. I like I actually enjoyed that class. That professor was the professor, she waited for me. I remember so for my LA job, which was a job, it's a learning assistant. Um, so I had the opportunity. So you have to take the seminar class before well, you can take it at the same time as like your first semester, but you have to do it like either you do it the semester before you get hired, or you do it while like you're also like being at LA. And so I remember she was the head professor for college algebra, but I didn't take her for college algebra, I took the other professor, but she was my seminar uh teacher for the LA class. And so whenever I was like struggling on a concept, because we did everything on the computer, so literally I wish that if it was if I if we like actually turned in a piece of paper where we showed our work, I would get points back, but it was solely based off whatever you typed on the computer. So, like sometimes like I'll put the period in the wrong spot or something like that. But like I knew how to do the math, small stuff. Because what we did is you went into the class, the first 20 minutes was strictly like study time, then the last 30 minutes was the we took a quiz every week. And if it wasn't a quiz, it was a test. And if it was a test, that was the there was no study time on that day. And so, anyways, I remember the final coming up and I was struggling on like one concept, like I just cannot figure it out. I was like, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. So, anyway, she showed me and I had ended up going to like one of her uh office hours. Fast forward to the day my scooter got stolen, she waited outside the door and she's like, I knew like you were studying and I was worried you weren't gonna show up. And she's like, if you need extra time, like you got it, because she knew that I was trying. I ended up getting a 92 on the exam, but it was just like, you know, just knowing that like she saw that I was trying, and then for her, when she saw my name on the roster, and it was really nice to see that, like, you know, she was waiting for me. But she taught me a lot of tricks to like college algebra that I feel like were really helpful for me. Um, because the other professor that I had, like, she was very much like when my car drowned, she literally said, Oh, this is gonna have to be unexcused absence.

Gary Wise 59:08

When your car drowned, you say that so slyly. Like the girl's car was in a hurricane and it freaking got dumped underwater, like it was full of spot.

Chelsea James 59:19

Mind you, I like I'm like, I'm telling her, I'm like, the insurance company is on the phone, and she's like, Well, you're gonna have to take this as an unexcused absence. So I said in class because she did like a location-based, like, we get like this code, and you have to do it in the class. Like, if you're not like if your location doesn't ping in that area, you can't do the work. So I was like, I have to show up. Um, because she didn't do any jobs, so you know, it was now or whatever. Um, but I remember that day. Um, but yeah, as you know, it was nice knowing that like she saw that I was putting in the effort, and so because of that, you know, it's kind of like okay, college algebra seems like a fun class that I would probably want to teach because she taught me some like tricks that I could use that could be a help to them. Next person, so yeah.

Gary Wise 1:00:01

Do all college teach are all college teachers PhDs? No, no, so that's not a requirement to do that.

Chelsea James 1:00:09

No, yeah, no, no. So I will say here at FSU, a lot of people are researchers, they are not teachers, they are here strictly to get their name on a paper, which in return, it's not really like I don't feel like it's fair because I'm trying to get to the next spot, but you trying to like rob me of my grade because you're trying to grade so hard. And yeah, but anyways, aside from that, interesting, uh most of them interesting, most of them are um of course you have like so how it kind of works is like sometimes you have like a head professor, which you never will see them, but their name is on the course, but you have TAs, teaching assistants who are like PhD candidates, or like they're working on their PhD or they're in a master's program, and they are the ones actually teaching the content because they're about to specialize in whatever the course is. Um, sometimes you do have like, you know, your doctors who people with PhDs who do teach you. Um, but I want to say I've maybe had like four or five professors out of like all of my professors who were actually like PhD, like they had their PhD. Um, but no, most of them have a master's degree.

Gary Wise 1:01:17

Okay, dumb question. How does being a college professor or teacher get you closer to being a superintendent?

Chelsea James 1:01:25

Well, if I got a PhD, well, for me, I just feel like it would be really cool. It'd be really cool. You get to choose when you want to work. So, yeah.

Gary Wise 1:01:35

That was gonna throw that out there because you told me you want to be a superintendent. No, no, no.

Chelsea James 1:01:40

No, no, no.

Finding Your Tribe And Resilience

Gary Wise 1:01:40

I completely understand, but I also think But I mean, I being Doctor James is pretty dope too. You never know. Lock clock it, like I remember you taught me the clock. All right, sis. We're about to we're about to wrap this up. I've got some rapid fire questions for you, and then we're gonna be we're gonna be done, okay? Okay, all right. So it's a Saturday night. For those of us that are on the ship, we're gonna, it's a big deal. We're gonna get pizza and wings for dinner. Would you look forward to pizza or the wings? Pizza. Pizza, okay. All right, so if I needed somebody to go get boxes from the front office or somebody to clean the portable, which one would you rather do?

Chelsea James 1:02:24

Uh, you know, I always wanted to go to the office, so where'd I go with? Only because that walk, you know? And the portable. You can talk to all your exactly. And also with like your portable. I used to always be trying to straighten up your desk.

Gary Wise 1:02:39

Like, I don't know, but you should come see it. My desk is amazing now. I got like three. I bought a new desk. It's a I got a lot going on. It's okay, it's a vibe. It's a vibe. Okay. Okay, so we're gonna watch a movie tonight. We're gonna watch either a De Niro or a Pacino movie. Which one would you rather watch? I don't know. It's okay, you don't gotta know a couple old dudes. All right, looking back so far throughout your college experience, what's been your favorite part of it so far?

Chelsea James 1:03:11

Um, either football games or fountain toss. What's fountain toss? Uh on your 21st birthday, so um, so all of our fountains on campus are deemed as swimming pools. But the one in front of like the president's office is like the it's called Westcott. And on your 21st birthday, you go there and you get like swung into there, and then like you pop a bottle of champagne and you know, you take pictures with your friends. Um, so yeah, just doing that, or like the night before like um the first home game, the band goes around the whole campus and they play like music the whole night. And like they collect people from each dorm and like they stop um, I think near like the stadium or uh Landis, which is like one of our main libraries where one of the main libraries is. Um, but yeah, the Fountain Toss definitely has to be my favorite because it's really funny to see like how people are, so yeah.

Gary Wise 1:04:12

Yeah, okay. Well, it's it's a it's a unique experience that's about them, but a lot of people are there enjoying that moment, right?

Chelsea James 1:04:20

So yes, a hundred percent.

Gary Wise 1:04:22

Since you've been in college, have you gone on any trips? And if you have, what was your favorite trip?

Chelsea James 1:04:30

My favorite trip had to be Tampa. Um where do we go? We so it was a community service trip. Wait, actually, no, I take that back. New York. I just went to New York um for a law conference, and um it was really nice being able to network. Um, went to a black law conference for a few days and just see the opportunities uh at NYU, for example, how like they have a program for first generation college students where they pretty much pay your tuition for you, and how like they have like the system where like professors live on campus and like you can like go over to a professor's like obviously in a group setting, but go over to like the professor's house and like y'all know, like do a group study to get help from the professor, and they have like money set aside where like you know that's like you're able to even do that. Um, I think that's really cool.

Gary Wise 1:05:24

Um, that's in the is that in the city, like New York City?

Chelsea James 1:05:29

Yeah.

Gary Wise 1:05:30

How was that?

Chelsea James 1:05:32

I mean, I've been before, so okay. I mean, it was it was overstimulating this time. It was actually overstimulating. Um it was very overstimulating. Um, just because one of the girls out we we were on the trip with, she like wanted the guys to like carry all her stuff, and I was just like, can we be independent?

Gary Wise 1:05:53

But New York is a very special city in our country, right? And I've I've only I've been there about four times, but every time I get to go, I do take it. I didn't grow up in that part of the United States, right? So I take it I I do take it like it's a it's a it's an experience, it's a privilege, right? I I guess in my opinion, to go here. We are in central Florida, right? And to get to go to New York City, I think is a dope opportunity for you, and to go alone, to go with some people, maybe that were your friends, to get to get up, go out and walk around Times Square, whatever it is. Uh, I think it's cool. And then you got to go to what the hell are you doing going to a law thing? Like, what are you not gonna are you gonna be a lawyer?

Chelsea James 1:06:28

Well, so so like the route is like to either do like um a PhD in like educational leadership or to like go to law school and practice educational law and to essentially advocate for um teachers. Um so um it's either or um it's something that I you know I dribble dabble with the like studying for the LSAT just in case I want to take it. Um, but I have been like looking more into it, so yeah.

Gary Wise 1:06:58

Okay, no, I think that's dope. So far, looking at your college experience, what's been in your most challenging class?

Chelsea James 1:07:06

Most challenging? Yeah. I will say it wasn't challenging. It was I really had to advocate this semester, this past semester, I just made presidents list for the first time. So I normally make Dean's list. Um, but advocating for myself in this class because the professor, she gave me like a I got an F on my first paper. First time ever getting an F on a paper. So I literally print out what she put the edits like the edits, I highlighted it, I did everything. I was like, there is no way I just got an F on this paper. Um, so I email her and I am like, um, hi, like I just received an F on like the paper. Can we please set up like a meeting? Because this is an online class. This is strictly online, there's no in-person. So she gets back to me and I'm like going, I'm going step like we need to go one by one. Like, why are you marking me off right now? I need to know. Anyway, she ends up changing my grade to 77. She's like, Oh, I guess I just like quickly like looked over your paper, and I'm like, Well, this is my grade online, and what if you did this to another student? But they just may have settled that they got this grade. But for me, you know, I can't settle like that because it was a point, it's a point-based class. So, you know, like some assignments are uh more points than others, so I was a little nervous. Like, I'm telling you, I didn't sleep. It was I was like really stressed out.

Gary Wise 1:08:37

Close mouths don't give fed, dude. Closed mouths don't give fed.

Goals, Law Interest, And Hard Classes

Chelsea James 1:08:41

I've never been like this stressed about a class. So I'm like sitting there, I'm like, okay, like I live. So literally every time it was time to turn in a paper, I set up a meeting before beforehand with her, and I was like, Oh, like, is this what you're looking for? Because me and another girl, we had um the same class, but we had different TAs. So two different people grading our um, we were in two different sections, which means we had two different people grading our papers. Her TA was doing something different from what my TA was doing. So, like, for example, our paper had to be um, it had to end up being 10 to 12 pages long. Her hers ended up being like 18, but that was because when we we were doing it in chunks, so like you build onto the paper, but her person had them doing it like so it said like pages like five to like eight, right? But her person expected them to do like five additional pages, you know, versus like make sure you're within that like that count. And so, anyways, we couldn't we couldn't work together anymore because we saw that our TAs was grading two different ways, and so I remember like for the last stretch of the class, um, I remember her marking me off on my page numbers, and I'm like, my page numbers are right, but anyways, from the online version of Word to like the desktop version of Word, when I was downloading it as a PDF, it was like changing, it wasn't the same. So we get on a Zoom call and I show her, like I download it from a PDF, and she sees how it switches, and so she ends up giving me my points back for that. And if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have pulled an A in the class um for me not catching it, and I didn't realize it was happening like every time because she sent me this email and she's like, please refer to this video on YouTube of how to like check your page numbers. I'm like, I promise I check those page numbers.

Gary Wise 1:10:26

Hey, one more time again, how many pages was that paper?

Chelsea James 1:10:30

I think mine's ended up being 11. Like, I was just 11.

Gary Wise 1:10:34

11. The other one, she I remember I remember when I went to college and having to write these long, long, long like 30 pages on the color purple or something. You're just like, Are you serious right now? And so for the kids, the high school kids that are listening, y'all better get your mind right because those 11 pages of content is no joke. Then what was the class? What was the subject you were taking? What was that class about?

Chelsea James 1:10:58

Um, it was family development. Uh it was family development and the paper. So we were talking about like death and dying. So yeah, it was like um you went through like the process of like the different feelings and all of that stuff. We had like it was like a word bank, and you had to like provide a definition and then talk about it, but then like corresponded to like what we learned in the class. It was a really interesting like class. Um, because I have a minor in child development, um, so that went towards that. Um, but yeah, it was it was a really good class, but I wouldn't say any class was really hard. It was just really learning how to advocate for myself. I wish we did get away with the plus-minus system um here. I don't like that because um an A-minus is a 3.75. Um, so that's kind of wonky, but yeah.

Gary Wise 1:11:52

What do you see as like the biggest leadership challenge for people transitioning from high school to college? Is it a is it a personal discipline? Is it personal advocacy? What do you what do you think that it is? And I when I say leadership, it's I'm only using that because leading yourself, I think, is one of the most important ways you need to lead in your life. But what do you see as big being one of the biggest challenges for that transition?

Chelsea James 1:12:17

Um maybe it is um advocating for yourself. I like I think it all goes back to that. Um, just because if you don't know your boundaries, somebody else isn't gonna know your boundaries. So they're going to, you know, like they they may do whatever because you didn't say like, hey, like this is like my cutoff, you know. Um so I would definitely say it's boundaries because it's like, for example, you may want to go out, right? But all my friends know if it costs anything over zero dollars and zero like cents, I am not going when it comes to like hanging out, you know. Um so that's like my boundary. Like if it doesn't say free, Chelsea will not be there. Um, so you know, but for other people, like they'll be peer pressured into like, oh well, it's only five dollars, like you know, come with me. No, you gotta know when to say, like, no, I'm not doing that. Like, you know.

Gary Wise 1:13:16

Um important, uh look, and you gotta be able to use your words, right? You gotta be able to use your words, don't just use your screwed up, scrunched up face and think people are gonna read your damn your mind. You know, you gotta say something. Uh what would you what's a piece of advice you would give to somebody who thinks that like the organization is against them, or like they they don't they have not found a group of people that they feel like is their people, but they feel like they're like you were in this in this ROTC organization where you felt like not everybody had your best interests at heart, but yet you still had to keep going. What's the advice you would give to somebody that's in that position?

Boundaries, Self-Leadership, And Why

Chelsea James 1:13:58

Um, do it for you. It's it's about you. Um like genuinely, uh you can worry about other people, but I would say here in ROTC, um, and like when I did do it here, um, they said a leader can listen to everyone, but you don't have to take everyone's opinion into consideration. Um, you know, and the more you hear from other people, you know, you start to clout your own vision and sometimes you lose sight. And I feel like at the end of the day, you have to do what's in your best interest, you know. Um, so you're really just doing it for you and knowing your why. Um for I feel like a lot of people, especially like in college, you know, going from a transition of, you know, being in a house where like, you know, you have rules, you know, you're expected to do this, then the third, to moving away to college where you get to, you know, make decisions on your own. You got to know your why, you know, because I feel like a lot of people don't know their why. And that's why like people get like, you know, hung up in like the the things that's right in front of their face versus like focusing on like the end goal. Um, and you know, that's something I even work with like the kids that I work with about is like stop thinking about like the right now, like take advantage of the right now, but don't do something that like you're gonna regret in the long run that would essentially like hinder like your growing and uh things of that sort. And sometimes I feel like oftentimes a lot of people want to fit in, and sometimes you're not meant to fit in. If if it didn't come to you naturally, it wasn't meant for you. And I had to realize that you know, it took me some time, you know. Of course, like you want to be cool. Um, from other people's perspective, they would say that my class was very close. Um, but as someone who lived and was a part of that class, I will say we wasn't close, you know, we were close when it came because it's like that understanding like personal versus business, you know. Um, on a personal level, we could all get along. But when it was time for business, even you saw that one time when we were doing um a board for like a petty officer, I think like second class, and they were like with the rife or whatever, and you sent me and another cadet out the door, and you're like, y'all are not gonna do it, blah, blah, blah. You went in on us. And but on the outside, you know, when we're not in uniform or in this professional space, we can get along. But when we get into this space, you know, there's you know, pressure. And so it again, it kind of just goes back of like understanding your why, why are you doing it, what do you expect from it? Um, it kind of goes to like into goal setting, you know, what are you working towards? Because anybody can attend college, but if you don't have a goal, then you could easily let everything fall between your hands. Because sometimes I feel like a lot of people get caught up in the social life, or you know, they're not willing to um go the extra mile to make sure that they succeed because what you have, what you know is in your best interest may not be like how other people perceive it. Um, so whereas like it's kind of like some people may go to work just for a paycheck, whereas others want to actually pour into like the the community and you know, actually like be a benefit other than you know just receiving a paycheck. And that kind of just goes back to like understanding your why and why are you doing it. And like for me, I know that I have an end goal, and that's to be in some form of leadership, so I'm not gonna get distracted by something right here. Um, and like I'm I'm a firm believer believer and like friends may come and go, but you know, I feel like everything is a learning moment, and you just gotta, you know, embrace it. I learned things from people who were against me, you know. They taught me that I'm gonna still go with or without your support, you know.

Gary Wise 1:17:39

Like, no, I think it's great advice. I think it's great advice. Remember why you got there, remember how it all started, finish what you say you're gonna do, right? Don't just quit because it got hard. Finish it and then choose to go again or not, right? Based off of your entire journey. And then the other thing is you remember, and this is never gonna change. I don't know when this I keep waiting for the day that I get to be like, oh, back in my day, right? I I don't know when I hit that mark. My whole life I've been having people tell me that, and I'm you know, I've never gotten to that space. I was always the youngest guy in the room, and everyone's always telling me, Well, back in my day, and I've never flexed that on people because truthfully, it's not fair. But I would learned is I'm not for everyone, and everyone's not for me, right? And I if I will change my plans or my goals for a special person or for very, very special people, but not just for anyone, right? Right, and so the and that that list of special people is not going to get very long, and the majority of those people that are giving you grief about something are probably not on that list. So yeah, do what you're gonna do, or or and the other thing I would say is talk to somebody that can help mentor you through that moment because ultimately most of those people are also typically not factors, right? They're just they're just frustrated with their own status or their own situation that they've got going on, and they're gonna take it out on you for whatever their jealousy or their petty reasons are. Okay, and and look, we gotta you we gotta make sure we keep telling yourself that because it never stops. I'm here to tell you, it never goes away. And at some point, you just get to the space where you just have uh, I would say I don't know the compassion is the right word because I love beating my haters. I really do, like I really do. But I would say I I maturity, right? Wisdom, and instead of getting upset or or getting personally upset, I just recognize it, name it, call it for what it is, and keep it pushing, man, and don't let them hurt me. Because you know, at the end of the day, it's your choice if you let it be personal, they can't control that. Okay. Um do you have a favorite movie series?

Chelsea James 1:20:06

No. But wait. I'm trying to think, because I'm I really like like Law and Order, um, SVU, but I currently have been into documentaries lately. Um, and which one did I just watch? I'm trying to think. I just watched a few of them, but um, that's like that whole area of like crime stuff. I I find an interest in it. I don't know.

Gary Wise 1:20:34

Yeah, you and my wife. I don't get what y'all like to watch them shows for. I can't make it.

Chelsea James 1:20:39

It's it's really interesting.

Gary Wise 1:20:41

I guess it's because of the way I grew up or something, but I don't like them. I'd rather watch damn frozen or something.

Chelsea James 1:20:47

All I know is I cannot watch it around bedtime, though. That is what like my cutoff. Once it's dark outside, I cannot turn it on.

Gary Wise 1:20:54

Erica be what she'll be watching some craziness at night. I'm just like, I'm worried about her having some scissors on her side of the bed. It's crazy. Okay, would you rather be independent or on a team, Chelsea?

Chelsea James 1:21:13

Depends on the setting.

Gary Wise 1:21:15

I know, but that's not the question. The question is, would you rather be independent or on a team? Independent. Bam, I like it. Uh do you have a personal leadership philosophy?

Chelsea James 1:21:33

No, but there is a saying that um teachers make all professions possible. So so when I I say that because when people ask me why education, that's my that's my answer. You're you you don't have to be an actual teacher to teach someone, you don't have to have the title teacher to teach someone. Oh, for sure. You know, so yeah.

Rapid Fire, Traditions, And Takeaways

Gary Wise 1:21:59

No, no, I was gonna say your personal leadership philosophy is do it for you, like put that on a shirt, sell that joker, do it for you. Put a Nike swish on the end of that, and that's for me. I think that was pretty damn good. All right, so in the Navy and the Chiefs mess, we've got these guiding principles, right? I'm gonna go ahead and give them to you, then I want you to go ahead and tell me which one you think is your favorite. So we've got deck plate leadership, which is really just about leading from the front down there with the people. You've got institutional technical expertise, that means you understand the organization you're a part of and technically how it works, and you're an expert at that, right? We've got professionalism, which does not just mean you look good in your uniform and your hair is tight, but like you care yourself professionally about your business and you're a warrior in that space, right? You're a warfighter. Uh, you've got character, which you I you have, you have you you know what that is all day. You got loyalty, which is loyalty to the organization, but also loyalty to the team, right? Uh, we got active communication where you're a communicator both up and down the chain of command, and then we've got sense of heritage, which means you're chief petty officers, we're part of our chat, our charge is to never forget where we come from, right? We're there to always tell the stories of how we got to where we are, so that we don't always have to learn those damn lessons over again, right? So, out of those, so deck plate leadership, institutional and technical expertise, professionalism, character, loyalty, active communication, a sense of heritage. Which one is your favorite? The first one. Deck plate leadership, hell yeah.

Chelsea James 1:23:43

I feel like I feel like I feel like everything after can be a part of the first one. Um, just because I feel like when you're with the people, they understand you better. Um, when you understand them, and you know, I think also me being CMC, I learned that like you can you can also lead, but I think you have more of an impact when your people are with you and for you. Um, and I was grateful like to be able to be CMC just because like I was able to connect with people versus you know, um, and not just connecting with like I guess cadets, but like the officer side of it as well. Um, but that's the one that sticks out to me. I like that one.

Gary Wise 1:24:26

I love it. Nope, it's my favorite too. All right, would you rather lead or follow? Lead. I have no doubt. All right, sis. That that's it. Do you have any saved rounds? Like, do you have anything you want to talk about, or do you have any alibis?

Chelsea James 1:24:45

No, I actually really appreciate you doing this. Um, to whoever sees this, um, do it for you. That is going to be my quote this year. Um, do it for you. That's it. That's gonna be my quote. Um, but genuinely, I for me, I encourage anyone to go to college just because I feel like it's an experience that you can't get elsewhere. Um, living in the dorm, um doing random stuff on a random night, going on side quests, you know. I feel like that all like speaks to you because I feel like at some point, you know, in college you move away from that social life and you start working on like the professional side. And that's why I'm also for like going to college for four years. Because I feel like if you, you know, like when you skip a step, then like you, I feel like sometimes you may end up having like FOMO, which is the fear of missing out. Um, because you yes, you were like advanced in another way, but like you also didn't get to like experience that like that social side of it. And I feel like every part is essential in helping you establish what you do and don't want to do, your boundaries, because a boundary like in this environment may be a different boundary in another environment, um, because of like the things around you, the people around you, um, you know, just so many different moving parts. Um, but I would encourage anyone to do it um and to always ask questions. Like, I don't think any question is dumb, like I don't know. I'm starting to like actually realize that because if you actually know, then like you're more informed versus just assuming. And like there's so many people out there who already know the answer, and there's no need to repeat the cycle when um you can get the answer, and there's no need to struggle when somebody already did struggle, and it's just simply you opening your mouth and saying, Hey, can you help me? Or hey, um, I need help, or whatever the case may be. And I feel like especially like these schools put a lot of money into like these various resources that are like untouched. I was talking to my boss early and she's like, Chelsea, why are you applying to all these scholarships? And I said, Because if nobody applies to them, I can at least say that I applied, and if I got it, it's not money wasted, you know, like there's no point. Now that's it, but then she made me question like even doing it because I was in a situation where I was like over the cost of attendance, so I ended up having to like pay back the school for you know getting so much money in scholarships. But you know, it's to say that I did it because I feel like if you never try, you can't say you did it.

Gary Wise 1:27:18

Um that's that's like when me and my wife gotta pay so much damn money in taxes, and I'm trying to freaking have right-out. I'm like, this is a good problem to have.

Chelsea James 1:27:31

Yeah, like yeah, you know, I'm not mad at it.

Gary Wise 1:27:34

It's no, it's okay. You keep keep crushing it, dude.

Chelsea James 1:27:37

You are you know, all I can all I can do is say that I tried. Like, that's I get up and I try. When I go to class, I try. And also, don't be a slacker. It starts today, it literally starts today. I was side note, I was talking to my boyfriend, and I was like, Oh, you know, like I want to get into the gym. And I was like, but I'm gonna wait till like 2026 to start. And he was like, No, it starts today because 2026 is gonna come, and then you're gonna say, Well, I'm gonna start later. Um, and you know, start today, like change your lifestyle today. Um, don't wait. Like, so when you go to class, um, one of my professors he did like the math with us, and because everybody loves Chipotle, he references Chipotle bowls. So he was like, Every time you miss class, this is $20, which could be like a Chipotle bowl and a drink. And you know, like make it relevant to your life and understand that, like, just because you're not going to class, it's not like just like you not sitting there, but you're essentially wasting your money because you're paying to be here. Um, and also don't be one of those people who talk in class. I cannot stand a person when I'm in an auditorium and you're sitting at the top of the class and the class is like boom, and they're just talking and it echoes down. Like it's really annoying. Some people pay to go to college, others go for free, but still be considerate of the next person because if you know, everyone is here to learn essentially. You chose to be in this in space and environment, and some things I feel like people shouldn't have to tell you because we are the new adults, you know.

Do It For You: Closing Message

Gary Wise 1:29:06

So, I mean, there's just like things that you should just know, but if you don't know, you know, like you said, you know, not that you can everybody comes from different backgrounds, different perspectives. Yeah, and unfortunately, when you get put in the same space with a bunch of other people, you got to deal with a bunch of other people's stuff, right? And you just gotta figure it out. So, all right, dude. Well, I appreciate you. We are done, okay. All right, fast. You're very welcome. Thank you for taking the time out to share your story. I appreciate you. I'm looking forward to hearing about Africa and England, all those things. Please keep me posted. I will make sure I get to the dates for like military ball and for our award ceremony. So at least they're on your radar, okay? Okay, perfect. All right, hey everybody, if you like the conversation, if you like what we're doing, like, subscribe, all that jazz. We appreciate you. All right, Chelsea. I'll see you later. Bye. Bye. Out of the give it a critical thing. Take it forget it, I'm gonna forget it.