David Nelson

David finds direction through his interests

When I was in the second grade, my teacher, Mrs. Parker, gave us an assignment to write about what we wanted to do when we grew up. Her plan was to display them for our parents during the open house that was scheduled for later in the week. All my classmates chose the more standard occupations such as doctor, lawyer, police officer and firefighter. I chose an occupation a little less conventional, however: a comedian. I’m sure my parents were very proud. At least they said so. Saving people’s lives, ensuring their safety or trying to get individuals out of jail just didn’t feel like they would give me the same satisfaction I felt from making those same individuals smile. Ten years later, I confess I no longer have the intention of taking on the world as a comedian. However, I still love to entertain people. Though the form of this entertainment has changed from making jokes as comedian to making people smile by playing music with my band.

I started playing drums for the school band in fifth grade and continued playing in the school band until my senior year of high school. My love for music, however, springs from rock concerts and playing songs with my friends rather than marching in line with the high school band. Listening to my father’s favorite musicians, including Jimmy Hendrix and Eric Clapton, and seeing live concerts ranging from NSYNC to Radiohead have given me an appreciation for many different types of music. Doing live shows with my band is something I love and treasure deeply.

Other than my love for entertainment and music, my third passion is technology. I’ve been playing video games since I was 3. My father bought me an Apple computer when I was 4. I was immediately intrigued by its ability to entertain me, its speed in computing math problems, and the vast array of tasks that this computer could do that were not immediately apparent to me. Discovering the Internet years later was another life-altering experience. I remember getting my America Online screen name and my father showing me the Disney Web page while saying, “You will never see all that there is to see on the Internet.” I took his comment as a mission. I began exploring, finding out about the technology and enjoying the infinite possibilities of the World Wide Web. My love for technology led me to decide on majoring in information systems and decision sciences at Louisiana State University.

After a year and a half into my pursuit for a degree in information systems, I decided that, as much as I loved computers and technology, the math courses that were required were not my strength. I remember that my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Swindell, told my parents that I was “no mathematician.” Once I realized that a career based strictly on computers wasn’t the life for me, I pondered about what kind of job and future I really wanted. I thought about the things that I loved: technology, music and entertainment. I thought about what I could do that would combine all three. I discovered the Manship School’s Web site and the degree programs they offered. There I found two words that have been on my mind ever since, “public relations.” With this degree I could use my entertaining personality with individuals or firms in the music industry and use technology as a tool to promote those individuals or firms. All the things that I have grown up loving could aid me in my career. My parents always told me to “find something you love and do it well.” I feel like I am on my way to achieving that goal.