Why I want to teach english in Thailand

My entire life has been a tale of one misstep after the other. I have consistently failed to make the most of the talents that I have. Whenever life has presented me with an obstacle, I have typically turned and run away. I am now determined to change that and I know that here in America, that will never happen. When it comes to teaching english in Thailand, it's not a matter of want but need. I need to get out of this country I am in now. Out here there is nothing for me. The happiest I've been in recent weeks has been when I think about moving overseas. I need to prove to myself that I can survive and succeed as a stranger in a strange land and I will work tirelessly to make sure that I achieve this goal.

Recently I have realized that the man that I am now is nothing to be content with. I need to make a story of my life because as it sits now, it's nothing worth mentioning. I need to go make a positive impact on people's lives, as I struggle to do that in America. I need to go help children make the most of their lives, infuse them with the confidence that they need, the confidence I never had growing up. I need to give children hope that they can make something great of their lives, and I need to try and give them the skills to do so. I have let down the people close to me in this country and I need to prove to them that I can become a better man. I am confident that this experience will get me closer to becoming that man.

I hope to discover what I never could here at home; love, happiness, and myself.

Feedback Requested

Note: This is a prologue of sorts for a story I may or may not want to make into a film. I've come up with it today and I felt like I needed to get it down on paper, or virtual paper in this case. Let me know what you think, it may or may not influence how I proceed with it.

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Scene opens up in a room lit by a single overhead light. There is a man tied down to a chair being tortured by Islamic terrorists in a remote part of the Indonesian Jungle. The camera slowly pushes in on the man as the voiceover begins.

Voiceover Narration:

There are few people in this world who have the undefinable, or is it indefinable, that quality known as "it." Now at first glance, Larry Bridges, that man bound to the chair there in the middle of the room, he doesn't appear to possess this "it." That's understandable, just look at him, face beaten and bloody, clothes tattered and torn, but a wise man on television once told me, well he told the kids on the TV show anyhow, that external appearances can be deceiving. I think it was an episode about being nice to nerdy kids or something, but that's besides the point. Right now Larry is just in another tough spot, the man has conquered problems before. I'm not saying this man is immune to mistakes or death, obviously I don't think he ever intended to end up here, surrounded by these crazy terrorizers or Islumists or whatever you like to call them, but that don't mean he's just about to let himself die. What these guerillas don't know is they've already put themselves behind the 8-ball, they already think they got him beat and it's a dangerous game to underestimate Larry Bridges. Now I ain't saying Larry's for sure going to survive this little encounter, all I'm saying is that if I were a betting man, which I happen to be, I'd put down $500, no $1,000, yeah $1,000 that Larry gets out of this with little more than some cuts, bruises, and maybe missing a few pints of blood. How am I so sure of this? Well I'd tell you to take a look into his eyes and tell me differently if they weren't swollen shut so I'll have to convince you another way. I hope you're comfy, got a snack and your beverage of choice so I can tell you about this Larry Bridges, maybe then you'll know what I'm talking about.

Cut to Black

The Beginning

So here it is, I'm finally done with school. 22 years of working towards the piece of paper I'm going to be handed in a few weeks. I've surprised myself with how little I have been effected by the thought of entering the "real world." Last year I would've thought for sure this would've been an incredibly frightening moment of my life, but it hasn't phased me yet and I really don't think it's going to. Sure I may become nostalgic here and there as I walk around campus, but in no way am I not ready to leave. Letting go of the college lifestyle is something that must be done.

When I think back to a few years ago, who I was back then, I can't help but be amazed at how far I've come. Berkeley, the Bay Area, will always be the place where I realized what I am, and what I can be. I will never forget about it, the adventures, the people, the good times or the bad. Before Berkeley, I was a boy doing all that he could to appear like a man. Now I can confidently say that I no longer just appear to be a man, and I have this place, those people to thank.

I now know who I am and what I am. I am a leader, someone who demands respect, someone who will do things my way, someone who won't just quit. I used to care about what everyone thought about me. I never thought people would ever or could ever see something worthwhile in me, but now I see how foolish all that was. I'm not on this planet to follow, I'm not here to make everyone happy. I'm here to be great and I won't let myself get held back by people who don't know what they are talking about anyways. I accept that failure is a possibility but I promise myself that I won't let it stop me. I won't rest until I've proven any doubters wrong.

I have a message to anyone who may decide to try and knock this train off its tracks, anyone who will try to bring me down...good luck. Don't make the mistake of underestimating me, don't try and pull one over on me. Anyone who thinks they can use me as a pawn, I'll show you how wrong you are. No one will stop me from making my life what I want it to be.

For me, this ride has just begun and I'm ready to stop talking and start doing, I'm confident that when all is said and done, I won't be disappointed.