Poll: Background
 

Juan's post in the pen thread is the source for this curiosity. What colleges did you guys attend? Major? Also, if you immigrated, where are you from originally?

-Born in India. Lived in Oman (Middle East) for 8 years. Living in Chicago for 10.
-Purdue University. Undergrad-Industrial Engineeing. Due to graduate in 2008.

LOL.. college?? oh boy.. some of the OGs will not even remember cuz it was so long ago.. haha

Undergrad,

The OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Major: Journalism
Concentration: Broadcasting
Minor: History of Art - Cinema Studies
Minor: Photography.

Grad:
AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE (A.F.I.)
M.F.A. in Directing

Well, since I started it all when I mentioned the surely varied backgrouds (look here) of the X5World membership, I guess it's only fair for me respond:

- Migrated to the U.S. (northern NJ) in 1980 because - at the time - it was customary for a 13 year old follow his/her parents when they moved. :D

- After high school, I joined the U.S. Army. Served to the Gulf War in 1990.

- Got out of the military (Sergeant with honorable discharge) in 1992 and did an apprenticeship with Daimler Benz in Bremen, Germany. Returned to the U.S. in 1994.

- Graduated fom UNC Charlotte with a degree in English and a minor in Professional/Technical Writing in 1998. Been working in the field ever since 1997. Currently researching graduate school options.

- Met my future wife in 1998. She became my wife in September of 2001.

- Currently, very fortunately living the "American Dream": live in a suburb of Charlotte with said wife, her two kids from a previous marriage, two dogs, and one obnoxious cat.

Juan

Born and raised in Penna... graduated from Villanova U in 1996 - majored in Psychology (originally Engineering)... moved to Hoboken in 1997 to work in New York in IT. Met my wife in 1998, got married June last year.

AAAArrrrrrmmmY Traaaaaainnnnng Sssssssiir!
 

Born in Hong Kong to an American mutt dad and a Chinese mother in a French hospital in an English colony surround by Chinese people.... :bustingup

Join the Army at 18 because my ex Drill Sargent father proclaimed that he was not going to spend his hard earned cash on "booze and broads" at the University of Rhode Island when I brought home more C's than B's senior year.

Went to the Gulf with Juan and 550,499 other people with 3rd Armored Div, 5/5 CAV, 23 ENGR, 2 platton, 3rd sqd. Left a specialist....

Came home in 93 and hit the community college cuz everyone else was doing it. Also could not decide whether or not to work at my fathers retail leather garmet business or do something on my own. Met the wife at the gym in 94...love at first sight....except now ten years later we drive each other NUTS....she is still gorgous and it saves her ass every time.

Switched schools in 97 to Johnson & Wales University in Providence RI...Most famous for Emerle Lagase and it's culinary program, but has a nifty little business school that I did well at and enjoyed...so much so that I stayed for the MBA in Marketing. I have been in Finance for 8 years and am currently gainfully employeed as a Portfolio Manager for the Bank of America...trying to get this MOD stuff done as I am beginning the trek to become a Chartered Financial Analyst this winter....

I am blessed...and I thank my lucky stars every day my mother liked the tall dark handsome guy that saw her cross the street in the middle of Hong Kong and told her she "looked terrible in that dress".........my Dad is sarcastic.

I am Mickey Mouse in Disney Land, Orlando. You might have seen me. Kept my self away from studies and crap. I make $5/hour and the X5 is my dads.

Born and raised in DC/MD area.

Undergrad : University of Maryland College Park (go Terps!)
B.S. - Business Mgmt (Finance) 1992

Graduate: University of Maryland University College
M. S. - Business Administration 1999

To follow precedent, I think you should tell us when you met Mini. :p

I was born in Boston (oddly enough when my twins were born at the same hospital they had the same nurse I did when I was born 35 years earlier)

I am still waiting on college, too busy between working (at the same .com since 2000, and being an elected official in my town) and I do plan on attending college when I retire.

--Larry

Born and raised South Philly Italian (24 yrs then moved to Alexandria VA)
Started in Syracuse U. as Environmental Engineering
transferred after 3 years to St. Joseph's U in Philly
BAS Management Information Systems

Born/Raised until 14 in Glasgow, moved to Canada (1yr), moved to Denmark(2yrs), moved to switzerland(1yr), moved back to Canada and stayed. Undergrad 1 at UofC, Undergrad 2 at UofA, Grad at UofA...in a nutshell ;)

Also born/raised in DC/MD.

Undergrad: University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
B.A. -- Economics

Grad: Princeton University (Woodrow Wilson School)
M.P.A. -- Public Affairs (Policy)

Married, no children, 1 dog (my Westie, Chica).

Born and raised in Chicago, IL (North Shore suburbs). Parents immigrated from Pakistan.

Attended Highland Park High School.

Currently a student at Northwestern University: Majors - Biology and Economics.

One of the few, but born and raised in Los Angeles...

Graduated from UCLA.....

Been working in LA ever since.

Will never leave.

Interesting. My dad was WAY tougher than any drill sergeant I had in the Army. Johnson & Wales University is now smack in the middle of the Charlotte Center City, surrounded by Bank of America headquarters buildings, two blocks from where I work...

Oh yeah, we emigrated from Colombia, South America.

Juan

You've got the vote for the cutest dog here... :)

Well I was born in Lubbock, Texas, to a 15-year old high school girl and her 19 year old boyfriend... They were unmarried, and I was unexpected. So, I was put up for adoption. I was adopted about three weeks after I was born. We lived in Washington, D.C., most of the time until I was two or three, I guess, and then we moved full-time to NH. My dad used to work for the government, and he started a company here as an export consultant. My dad is from CT, and my mom is from NY. My mom grew up in Scarsdale, NY. She went to Wellesley College. She ran a private school in Manhattan for a long time. My dad grew up dirt poor, and he couldn't afford college. He was in the Air Force. I have one brother, his name is Dan. He's in college, and he's 20. We have one dog, Snowy, a bichon frise. Umm... I guess that's my life story.

Conceived by the pen (how topical) of Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka L.C.) in the U.K. Grew up in Wonderland in the company of such notables as the Dormouse and the Mad Hatter. I love the Queen of Hearts' tarts ;)

Later, I found myself Through the Looking Glass . Currently employed as an Anglo-Saxon Messenger by the White King though I forget if I'm supposed to fetch or to carry :dunno: Go ask Alice, I think she'll know:

"I love my love with an H ... because he is Happy. I hate him with an H, because he is Hideous. I fed him with... with... with Ham-sandwiches and Hay. His name is Haigha, and he lives..http://www.kith.org/logos/pix/dot_black.gif"

"He lives on the Hill," the King remarked simply...

... or I used to before moving to the valley.


http://www.victorianweb.org/art/illu...gglass/7.2.jpg

Grew up in Brooklyn, did extremely poor throughout junior and high school but decided to stay in..Never learned a thing. Joined the Air Force at 19 and took up a gig in electronic and dimensional calibration. The gub'ment decided a few years later that it would be better and cheaper for big companies like Raytheon and Halliburton to do the job I was getting paid minimum wage to do. :tsk:

So now they pay me(quite well) to sit on my a$$ and watch companies like these to make sure they dont rip off good ol' Uncle Sam. (Which they do everyday BTW). :(

Never left Brooklyn til I was 19, and in the last 9 years have been sent to England, Korea, California, England(again), Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Diego Garcia, Bahrain, Germany, England (again!) and God knows where else. (Still havent found a better hot dog than Nathan's or a Pizza better than V&T's near Columbia University) :thumbup:

One of these days, I will attempt to take a college class of some sort, perhaps in flower arangement or something.... :tsk:

Born and Raise in Monterrey,Mex
Graduated in 1996 International Comerce at Monterrey Tech
Currently Working in the restaurant Business

Meeckey Ratón, DeesneyLand ees een Aneemalheimlich. U muzt meen DeesneyWurld.

Thanks! That's my baby, until we have a real one (and after our first 3 years of marriage, the wifey is starting to drop hints).

Oh yeah...and we have a Boxer
 

My boy Neo is in the avatar in my profile...that was when he was ten or eleven weeks old and like fourteen pounds.....my wife loves him more than me....that is ok though cus he teases her constantly and keeps her company went I am out and about...the kid countdown is on...but he is a good distraction....

The wife named him, an obvious nod to you know who.....

Neo loves the X because now he can lounge in the back....

Went to the vets today and after we got back I spent 10 mintues clearing all of his hair out the back.....

ahhh...

:drool: :drool: :drool:

Adorable..!

Here goes my life story!!!
 

I was born in Colombia (South America), I came to the U.S., New York, specifically in 1988 at age 11, started working as a carpet cleaner/installer's helper at age 14 while attending H.S. After I graduated H.S. I decided to join the N.Y. Army National Guard and went to basic and AIT in'94 - '95. I then came back and took up my job again instead of going to college. I met my current wife in 1995 nad married her in April of '96 at age 19. In 2001 at age 24 I opened a carpet cleaning corporation which I still own and operate here in NY. I currently don't have any kids other than my Chinese Shar-Pei named Honey. Also, I was in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 all of 2004 and came back March of this year.

Neo
 

Please....he is a chick magnet period

...if I was not I married he could be my wing man and I would be extreamly successful.

The ladies love that mutt.

:drool: :drool: :drool:

Arrrrrrmy Traaaainning Sssssir!
 

I love the military presence here! Hoooooraahhh!

:flex: :flex: :flex:

Hopefully i'll be getting out of the military next february after 12 years. Don't wanna risk getting deployed again, it was a pain doing payroll from Iraq after the missions!!!!

Just glad your home safe
 

I pray for our brothers and sisters everyday.

:saad: :saad:

44 years old.
Also grew up in military family. :)
Married x 23 years. One son, 11 years old.
Emergency physician in the Pensacola, Florida area.
Love to travel, play around with computers, etc.

Soon to be 48.

Moved around quite a bit until the early 70's due to father's military work (senior officer with NORAD). Spent a lot of my youth in Washington and Marin Co. California, then moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba with the family.

Did 3 undergrad degrees and a Masters (MBA) at the U. of Manitoba and managed to squeeze in a couple of seasons of racing on the pro ski tour in '78 and '82.

Moved to Calgary in '91 and been here ever since, working primarily in the land development and residential construction industries since I've been here. Currently V.P. of a development company.

Met my wife in L.A. just over 5 years ago (TV producer) and asked her to marry me five hours after we met. She moved to Calgary 3 months later and we just celebrated our fifth year of wedded bliss. No kids. Two crazy cats.

:wow: :wow:

What can I say? When it's right, you know. I was 43 and my friends thought I was commitmentphobic. Guess I showed them :p

Born and raised in Vancouver BC, and on a small island just outside Vancouver.

Went to UBC for a BASc in Mech Eng, worked summers as a mechanic. Went to work as an engineer locally. From Vancouver, later moved to Edmonton, Vancouver, Northern Alberta, Antofagasta Chile, Lichfield UK, and now back in Vancouver.

Worked in service engineering, sales, parts & service, management, and now IT, always with the same company.

Ok Ok...Met Minnie Jan 1996, enagaged Jan 1997, married in July of 1997. We got married same day as my wife's birthday so I can have no trouble forgetting our wedding anniversary (it's a crime if you do). As a result, she expects two presents on the same day..uuurrrghhh!!!

One daughter, one big black cat.There might be other kids that I do not know about

Born in London UK `74, stayed in Europe a long time, grad school at University of Pretoria (SA), post grad/work at Oregon State University (go Beavers!), worked in Lexington KY, back in SA right now for further post grad/research type work on 3 year contract.

That makes for 31, single and some gorgeous German Shepherds

Nice boxer Roc3D! He would make an excellent wingman!

Cheers,

-Born in South Korea

-Came to the U.S. in 1986 at the age of 8

-Graduated from University of Maryland, Baltimore with a BS in Medical Technology

-Currently working at a hospital in Washington DC as a project coordinator

-Concurrently working on my Masters in Health Systems Administration (graduate in 12/20006)

-Hope to get into some sort of Healthcare consulting position upon graduation.

BTW, I love the diversity in this group.

thank you, thank you
 

He is a character for sure....We had dogs growing up but my relationship with them was nothing like with this guy...he gets it...very easy to handle and a great personality....just scary enough when riled up but just cautious enough to listen to commands and absolutely loves children. I found him on the internet on a farm outside our Omaha, Nebraska. Bought him home on a flight where the stewardess waited on me hand and foot with him in my lap...that was when I knew he was a keeper!

:drool: :drool: :drool:

Yep....a tapestry or races and creeds
 

Good stuff! :thumbup:

Boy, I'm a boring dud-ball compared to you guys, but here it is. Born in Savannah, from a lineage of original colonists from Austria (religious exiles - came to the New World because they were kicked out of Austria - sorry - flashing forward 300 years now). Moved to FL when I was 6, grew up a beach bum kid. Wanted to go to Univ of FL, made by my parents to go to Georgia Tech. Met my future wife the first week of college. We never dated at all through college. She thought I was a redneck and I thought she was a snob (I think, though she wouldn't agree, that we were both right).

After college, I moved back home, looked her up to see how she was doing, got engaged a month later, and married 10 months after that. Been married now for 19 years, with 3 (modesty aside) wonderful kids (all girls, take after their mom).

Worked for a couple of really big engineering consulting firms, and went through several mergers and acquisitions. After the last, I decided I had enough, closed my eyes, and jumped into the abyss of small business ownership. After 6 years, we are still in 'start-up' growing pains mode, but getting much closer to hitting our stride over the next year.

How the story ends is very much yet to be determined, but I'm hoping it has something to do with boats, sunsets, margaritas, and my gorgeous wife.

Met my wife and best friend 12 years ago at a record shop (I was her boss then, now of course she is). Married 6 years later, no kiddies yet, but soon.
Born in Champaign IL, spent a year in Montgomery AL at age 10, then the rest of my life spent in and around Charlotte, NC.
BS from Gardner-Webb University in Bus. Mgt.
MS from Capella University in IT, enterprise networks and security.
Worked with IBM and AT&T most of my career.
Davie Crockett (remember the Alamo) is my great grandmother's, grandmother's, husband.

[After college, I moved back home, looked her up to see how she was doing, got engaged a month later, and married 10 months after that. Been married now for 19 years, with 3 (modesty aside) wonderful kids (all girls, take after their mom).

Good stuff....four women in your life huh....bet you have not won an aurgument in years!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Congrats on a great family...good luck with the business...took my Dad the better part of ten years to find his sweet spot...now its unreal. Keep at it.

That's why I have a boat. I go way the heck out, and I'm in charge. All 3 kids play softball, from about Labor day to July 4th. We are getting ready to start up again, and it looks like I'll be coaching 2 teams again. Classic suburban type stuff, but I wouldn't trade it (OK, sometimes for a couple hours maybe).

Thanks, we'll keep plugging away at the company. We are very close to some major breakthroughs that will hurtle us towards the future. Next year should be our best ever, and hopefully we'll close the year with a staff of about 30.

WOW! What a group we have here. Everybody seems to have an amazing background and it's interesting to read about each. OK, here's mine.

Went though three (3) X5's in the course of 18 months :) The last one was an '03 4.6is. I am number #16 on the E60 M5 waiting list at the local BMW stealer. I was told they're sold out for the next 2 years ;(.

Phew, I'm done.

When you graduate to number 1, I want to see it. I'll probably be supercharged by then, but I'd still like to dream about that new M5.

Love the mix here!!!! Cant say that i've had as many experiences as most of you here - only 22 y.o. so i wont be too hard on myself- but i'm planning on it :D !!! Born in Montreal, Quebec , Canada (AYE!) :D to an armenian father and a french canadian mother, never moved around, although i've been thinking about it lately. As far as an educational backround goes i am way behind- got my high school diploma this year- been working in my fathers business since i was 14, i also bummed around for a few years :dunno: , and with business moving at a turtles pace i've decided to get an education while i still have the time and patience! Still looking for my path i guess!!


Any words of wisdom for this young-blood??

EDIT:Almost forgot about my two buddies since you ppl are dog ppl
(Sony-Ericsson k750i btw) :thumbup:

GREAT PUPS...I love the boxer!

Put your head down and grind
 

"Any words of wisdom for this young-blood??"

Just put your head down...create goals...see them through and build towards something. Problem for most people is focus. I had to get through it and others will too. If you can find what you love and support yourself then do it. If you can't support yourself doing what you love. Get an education so that you pay to do what you love.

No matter what you do aim to be the best! Even if that is a bum...be the best bum there is. The only way you can be the best is to put forth your best effort. Even if you fail, that cannot be taken away from you and you will have no regrets. If you try and fail and only went half ass with effort it will haunt you for the rest of your life and since there is only one turn on this ride...make it count. (The words from my mother to my ears...everyday for 25 odd yrs… self made millionaire, 6th grade education.)

:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:




EDIT:Almost forgot about my two buddies since you ppl are dog ppl
(Sony-Ericsson k750i btw) :thumbup:[/QUOTE]

OK, I'm a late comer to this game, but here goes:

Came from Cuba in-utero in '69 (Mom was 7 months pregnant w/me). Came w Mom, Dad, big bro (thankfully on Pan Am, not a raft).

Fast forward, grew up in NJ, undergrad Rutgers University, then went on to Chiropractic School at New York Chiropractic College in upstate NY. Now live and (private) practice in southern Maine. Beautiful family, 2 beautiful kids (Six and three).

Thanks Mom and Dad! :thumbup:

Not to get too sappy here, but this is what I find so amazing about this: You do this poll in ANY other country in the world, and you'll NEVER get this kind of diversity and/or opportunity. So many people emigrate to this land, work their asses off, and build a great life for themselves. The CEO's parents came over to America -- through Ellis Island -- after they lost all they had in WWII. My parents came over to build a better life for their children. None of the stories I've read here should come as a surprise, especially to me. It never ceases to amaze me, though.

God bless America! :thumbup:

Juan

[QUOTE=Roc3b]"Any words of wisdom for this young-blood??"

Just put your head down...create goals...see them through and build towards something. Problem for most people is focus. I had to get through it and others will too. If you can find what you love and support yourself then do it. If you can't support yourself doing what you love. Get an education so that you pay to do what you love.

No matter what you do aim to be the best! Even if that is a bum...be the best bum there is. The only way you can be the best is to put forth your best effort. Even if you fail, that cannot be taken away from you and you will have no regrets. If you try and fail and only went half ass with effort it will haunt you for the rest of your life and since there is only one turn on this ride...make it count. (The words from my mother to my ears...everyday for 25 odd yrs… self made millionaire, 6th grade education.)

:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:


Thx Roc3b definetly will take those words into account! And yes i do loves my dogs :thumbup: those damn hairs can get pretty deep into the headliner

There is so much oppurtunity here. We came here just 10years ago, with a starting family income of $35k. Rough times really do make you appreciate things in life. Its amazing how hard work of a father (and a Kellog MBA :) ) can change many things. There is NO limit to what can be achieved here. Its just incredible. Those of us, whose parents brought us to this country must really be grateful for what they have given us.

I was born in Blue Island, IL which is on the south side of Chicago, but was raised in LA (Lower Akron, that is :bustingup ) in a small town called Manchester in Ohio.

I got my undergradute degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Akron in 1986, and my MBA from Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio) in 1991.

I married my high school sweetheart in 1984 and we have three kids (girl-boy-girl). The oldest is a senior in high school this year, the middle is a freshman in high school this year, and the "baby" of the family is in 8th grade.

All "middle America" for me, but I am glad to be a part of this wonderfully diverse community here :thumbup:

I can definately relate to that, Mike :thumbup:

I dated a girl in high sschool from Manchester Ohio. Sounded like a pretty deserted place. According to her, cornfields and more cornfields.

born n raised in New Jersey - graduated The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina in 1971, BS Mathematics - Navy flight training '71-'73, missed 'Nam, flew T-28(prop) and TA-4(jet), carrier qual'd in both - CAD/CAM programmer for family machine shop in NJ - retired in 2001 3 weeks b4 9/11 - single, which is why I could afford to retire

Also born and raised in NJ

Undergrad: Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre PA
Major: Materials Engineering
Minors: Chemistry/Physics

Grad: North Carolina State University
Major: Materials Engineering
Minor: Chemistiry

Married college sweetheart, she is in Air Force

Just moved to San Antonio after being in Montgomery AL for 6 years.

Have 3 and 4 year old daughters.

Still looking for job! Only drawback of being married to AF officer...having to quit job every few years.

David aka drtyksh

Born and raised in Los Angeles. I'm originally Armenian.

Undergraduate: USC
Major: Psychology
Minor: Business

Born in Senegal (West Africa), raised all over the place cause parents worked 4 UN, move to DC 4 college 8 years ago. Undergrad UMBC in GIS & Environmental sciences, working on a master at U of MD (yes Terps).
I will tell you the rest during the 1st X5 World meeting....

Born just north of Greenville, SC. Just like my X5. Have lived in Atlanta, GA ever since.
Just finished BS/BM degree from University of Phoenix with a 3.93 GPA. Not bad for an old fart (40 next month). Start MBA in the fall at UGA. I am a senior security consultant and trainer. I travel a lot and love what I do. I have a wife and 2 kids. The wife is a fitness guru at a local Golds Gym...and the kids 1 boy (8) and 1 girl (7) 1 beagle and 1 cat keep us busy. They are almost used to my X5 addiction. My son likes to tell my inlaws all the things I have done to the X5. It drives them nuts because they think I am not saving enough money....:tsk:

Funny... kids can sometimes put one in a precarious spot. Hey, are you coming to our X5 World meet in October? :thumbup:

Juan

Juan,

Its only about a 3 hour drive...count me in...If I cant make it, I will let you know.

Philip

Good to see (read from) a fellow Retriever :thumbup:

Cool! Hope to see you there! :thumbup:

Juan

As long as Vendetta doesn't show too or we my have a duel or :fencing: :rofl:

I won't be able to make it to discuss the finer points of Windows vs. OXs :p It's a little far to drive and I'll be recovering from my Seattle / Tokyo trip :drunk:

Oh man... too bad you won't be able to join us. :(

No need for a discussion. We know OS X is the better, more advanced OS. :D

Juan

I'll be sure to mention this to my friends in Redmond when I visit at the end of the month :confused: :takecover

I was at UMBC for 2 years before I went to UM,B

heh just saw this thread
Born in Kiev, Ukraine
Moved to NYC in 1991 lived in brooklyn for 9yrs then moved to staten island
Went to Polytechinic University and finished with a computer science bachelors degree
Work at a financial firm doing Consulting pc work

:wow: i thought i was the only person in the world who went to UMBC :)
I loved every day of it though. To be honest I like UMBC better than UMCP, smaller and more one on one time with instructors.