When I set my mind to something, I get it done. I named The Learn to Fly Project after a Foo Fighters song because the band’s music got me through some of my own rough patches. It was a goal of mine to meet the people who made the music and it was even more surreal than I expected. Since then, I have gotten to know the band and have come to love them even more for their authenticity both on and off the stage.

Every few months or so I find myself feeling the itch to get outside of my comfort zone in a big way. In this particular instance in 2010, I decided to really challenge myself while supporting a cause close to my heart. I joined up with St. Baldricks, a cancer foundation focusing on finding cures for children, and encouraged my family and friends to donate as well. I added incentive by putting my hair on the line. If we were able to raise over $2,000, I would shave my head and donate my hair. Many wrote discouraging messages, many tried to pay me NOT to shave my head. In the end, we raised over $4,000 and I took the plunge, because "why not?". As my hair slowly grew back, I was able to see life from the perspective of someone who might not have a choice to be bald. People avoided eye contact, strangers called me names as I walked passed on the street. It was such a rewarding experience. It was an interesting and often difficult year, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  

To learn more about St. Baldrick's and to see how you can get involved, click HERE to be directed to their homepage!

I was invited on a whim to go skydiving for my first time. I said yes, because why not?! I waited to call my mom until after I landed. I would go again in a heartbeat!
Next on the list: bungee jumping and cage diving with Great Whites!

After I graduated from CU Boulder, I landed a fantastic job that allowed me to travel to Vienna, Paris, and Las Vegas. I was the brand director for a natural energy supplement called EFACT. I was responsible for creating the brand identity, the marketing campaign, and promoting the supplement and its benefits to the public and media. After spending all night co-directing a music video for an internet campaign, I was a guest on The Morning Blend to speak about the "Energize Your Workplace" contest we hosted. View the segment HERE

My time serving as Vice President of the Student Body at CU Boulder was a whirlwind. We passed legislation that dealt with who should be allowed to carry a gun on campus; we passed plans for the CU Rec Center  and lowered student fees significantly. 
One of the most rewarding experiences was getting to meet Steve Ells, the founder of my favorite fast restaurant --  Chipotle. 

I was invited to watch one of the most anticipated Bronco's games of the season. We were playing our rivals, the Oakland Raiders, and I got the privilege of watching from the field. Before the game started, I was asked (I assumed jokingly) if I wanted to hold the flag to guide the skydivers into the stadium. Before I knew it, I had the flag in my hands and I was walking to the center of the field and standing of the 50 yard line by myself. I held the flag as high as I could as the skydivers swooped over me, a few coming within mere feet of me! It was an honor to be included in such a unique tradition! 

During my freshman year of college, I was offered an opportunity to travel to Thailand to help a small community recover from the tsunami that had devastated much of the country in 2006. For two weeks, we focused on rebuilding houses and churches and interacting with people who saw first-hand how powerful and destructive nature can be. We shoveled away piles of debris sometimes finding shoes, toys and even bones. 
My perspective on mission trips has grown and changed since I returned, but I will never discredit that experience for being one of the first times I saw a community bind together to get through a catastrophic tragedy and find happiness in the process. 

I love traveling with friends, but if no one is up for making a trek that I am excited about, I will just as willingly fly solo. In this particular instance, I traveled to Aspen for the X games alone. I introduced myself to some of the producers from ESPN and was invited to watch the games from the announcers' booth. I was able to watch an interview with Shaun White and had the opportunity to get to know the athletes and announcers. That trip taught me how much more exciting life is outside of my comfort zone.