From Comfortable to Courageous: One Teen’s Journey to Bold Faith
How many times have we let fear keep us from stepping into the adventure God has planned for us? Whether it’s a career change, a move across the country, or simply saying yes to opportunities that stretch us, we often choose comfort over courage. In this powerful conversation with my son Ty, we explore what happens when an 18-year-old decides to trade safety for purpose and moves 2,000 miles away to follow God’s call on his life.
Ty’s journey from being the “cautious one” in our family to someone who hikes 25 miles through wilderness and moves across the country for college shows us that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s choosing to act despite it. As he puts it, “I think a part of me just stopped worrying about it as much… you have to learn to be comfortable in the uncomfortable.”
The power of disconnecting to connect with God
One of the most profound insights from our conversation was Ty’s experience with completely disconnecting from technology during wilderness camps and hiking trips. In a world where we’re constantly connected to everything except what matters most, Ty discovered something revolutionary: “If you really are like, I don’t really know what to do with my faith right now… disconnect from the world for six days and literally just experience creation.”
Choosing your own path instead of someone else’s expectations
Perhaps the most courageous thing Ty did wasn’t moving to Arizona—it was choosing to stop playing sports and pursue his actual calling instead of living up to others’ expectations. As parents, we had to learn that our vision for our kids isn’t always God’s vision. Ty taught us that “being comfortable in his own journey” looked different than we imagined, and that’s not just okay—it’s beautiful.
His advice for seniors facing transitions is simple but profound: “Do it. Don’t miss the moment.” Whether it’s going to the basketball game, connecting with teachers, or taking that leap of faith toward your dreams, the regret of not trying will always be greater than the temporary discomfort of stepping out.
God has created you on purpose and for a purpose. Sometimes that purpose requires us to be comfortable being uncomfortable, to choose courage over comfort, and to trust that the God who called us will equip us for the journey ahead.
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Episode Summary:
Ty opens up about his journey from being the “safe” kid to hiking 25 miles in the wilderness, leading Young Life camps, and choosing to attend Grand Canyon University across the country. This conversation reveals how God uses discomfort to grow our faith and courage. This is part of a special family series where each Earlewine family member shares their perspective on faith, growing up, and finding purpose. Don’t miss the powerful insights from a young man who learned to find light in the darkest moments.
Key Takeaways:
- Courage grows when you do one scary thing and realize it was awesome
- Disconnecting from technology helps you connect with God’s creation
- Family dynamics can pressure us, but authenticity matters more
- Sometimes the biggest risk is not taking any risks at all
- Senior year is your chance to be weird and step out of your shell
- Faith-based environments can provide freedom, not just restrictions
Notable Quotes:
- “You kind of have to be comfortable in the uncomfortable.”
- “If you want to get close to the Lord, disconnect from the world for six days.”
- “I think you’re one of the best human beings I know.”
- “There’s any year of high school to be weird, it’s your senior year.”
- “Just do it – don’t miss the moment.”
- “If I don’t ever go and I hate Indiana school, I will be like, that was dumb.”
Episode Resources:
Connect with Daron on Social Media:
Links to the Daron Earlewine Podcast
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Libsyn
EPISODE 181 TRANSCRIPT
Daron: I think the main prayer I have is just to find people that I enjoy being around and also finding a balance in my life. Because like I said, when I was sports, I have a whole new balance of life. No practice all the time or anything. But I think my main prayer for it all that was answered when I was making the decision between going to an EDS school or going there.
Ty: If I go and I hate it, not hate it, but I’m like, isn’t for me. I can come home and go to a school, like go to Purdue or you can go to IU or something like that. But if I don’t ever go and I hate Indiana school, I will be like…
Daron: Created on purpose and for purpose. Hey, welcome back to the Daren Earlewine Podcast. We are in the midst of what we’re calling the Earlewine podcast. If you’ve listened to these episodes, you know the drill. First half of the first half of the conversation. Then we come back for a second episode. And right now we’re in the middle of our conversation with Ty, our middle son, 18 years old, getting ready to head to Phoenix, Arizona, to Grand Canyon University to go to college.
And man, I hope you are enjoying listening to these conversations as much as we enjoyed recording them. So let’s jump into the second half of our conversation with Ty. You talked about not, you know, when you got into high school, you didn’t want to play football. And in your childhood, you weren’t always the biggest risk taker of our children. Definitely not. But what I’ve seen in you over the past year is you’ve really stepped up to start doing a lot of courageous things.
I mean, your leadership and young life and the way that you led your boys, being a camp counselor, deciding to go hike a mountain two weeks ago, 30 mile or 25 mile hike up a mountain in the absolute wilderness, this job you’re working, working in a warehouse all summer, then making the decision that you feel like God’s inviting you to this adventure of moving halfway, well, more than all the way across the country. Really way too far away. Minus like the East Coast. Yeah, to Arizona. Like a little bar. What’s changed in you in that kind of timid, not maybe taking the risk tie of his youth over the past year? Like where’s the courage come from?
Ty: Well, I mean, like not to go back to the topic, but I think also like I talked about like really understanding to live in the moment and kind of understand things. And I also think another part of me, when it was like, you talk about being courageous, I think a part of me just like, when it comes to things like that, I guess I just kind of stopped worrying about it as much. Growing up, just like not, I was like, I wanna be comfortable.
I want to do this. And like, always talk about like lessons you learn from football or whatever. Um, and coaches and like, think, and that was the thing that I like, I learned in Colorado for wilderness, like you kind of have to be comfortable in the uncomfortable and like, not to like say coach Kelly said that, but coach Kelly said all the time, like he was like, you have to learn to like be uncomfortable. And I think that’s like a thing that I’ve learned and I’ve started to kind of enjoy. Like, Yeah, it is really, really terrifying that like when I move into Arizona, like all my buddies that are going to IU or like Purdue or wherever, it’s like, OK, your parents moved you in. We’re to go drive home. And it’s like, hey, we moved you in. Our Southwest flight leaves in two hours. We have to fly call me in September and see if I’m OK. And I just think like parts of that are true. Like I think.
It’s and I think also like GCU is a little bit of a different situation for me because like I never really wanted to like go to like an IU or like some school like that and not like for any like reasons to like it’s like oh I hate IU or anything like I need to go to school and like a lot of my buddies are going there and it’s a fun school and I’ve gone there for football games or whatever I just think like for me GCU like stuck out more than I expected it to do and I think it wasn’t like that hard of a decision for me to do. There’s obviously a lot of uncomfortable stuff about it, but there’s also a lot of comfort there too. It’s a faith-based campus. I have all your buddies from growing up that I can rely on, or I have all the Moore girls and Jackson and Nate. I have a good support system already out there. I also think it’s just growing up a little bit. I a lot of the things that I was scared of as a kid, I’m not scared of as an 18-year-old. And then I also think over time, once you like, I feel like once you like do like one thing that’s kind of scary and you’re like, okay, actually that was kind of awesome. I like you’re to have like more of a like perspective. Like are you going to hike Mount Everest now? No, that’s completely different than what I did. No, definitely not. If you’re, if you ever think you’re going to hike, you’re going to do it once and then you’re never going to do it again. If you want to backpack through a mountain. Mountain for 25 miles and in a 30 miles and use the bathroom in hole and shower.
But you got close to the Lord. And do it for six days. But yeah, mean, it’s like if you want to get close to the Lord, disconnect from the world for six days and literally just like experiences creation over time. It’s a go-to. Yeah. I mean, if you really are like, I don’t really know what to do with my faith right now. I’d be like, all right, well, don’t go out there alone. I don’t know what would happen to you alone. But like, yeah, like if you like were to disconnect, I think think it’s also the thing that was so cool. It was totally off topic.
I’m rant for long. But like, what’s so cool about the Young Life and the Wildlife Camps, and even wilderness this year is like, the simple idea of not having your phone. It’s like, okay, I’m not gonna have my phone for, and I was like, seventh and eighth grader, I remember being like, bro, you’re not taking my phone. And I had friends who were like, oh, you’re just bringing a second phone? And I was like, bro, what are you talking about? A second phone, because my Snapchat streaks, you’re having your friends back home keep them for you, or something funny like that. And it was just always interesting, just the small things that you don’t notice as a kid when you’re at a Young Life or a wildlife camp, and then you’re like.
Okay, there was a purpose for that. Like I’m disconnected from the world. I’m disconnected from temptation or from like anything. And you get to really like focus on the Lord. And that was like the weirdest thing about wilderness was like, they were like, Hey, you guys can’t like do like all this stuff. Like you have to like do, you can’t like have this stuff because like we want you to like fully experience it like anything. And you’re like, I never even thought that that would like get me off track of like what I was doing but it did and it was just like interesting like what they do and and how like I always talk to you about like Family dinners and how like important I think that is like that’s just like something that’s been instilled in me that I love like getting around a dinner table and like being forced to speak to people and like that was something that I pride young life in is like every time you were to eat no matter if you’re on a mountain or if you’re at a club room at this bay at a basically a resort for four days with your with a bunch of seven eighth grade boys, you sit around a table and eat and it’s family style and I think that’s just so important. One thing, the phones is great because you don’t have any phones. All the kids have to talk. But it’s just so important to the small things. Hey, we’re all gonna eat together and then it just makes a conversation. I don’t even know how I got there. I’m sorry. No, it’s good. it’s actually really No, I’m not like, I don’t know. I just kind of started going on a little tangent. No, it’s good. It’s a good tangent.
Julie: Would you like me to choose another question?
Daron: I love the guest. This is a really great question. I actually. I’d be I’m really interested to hear your answer, but what’s one thing that you wish that Cole, your older brother, and Knox, your younger brother, may be understood about you better?
Ty: Yeah, I think I think for Cole, like I think the main thing that I wish he would understand is that like, I don’t worry at the same level he does at all. Just like I’m very whatever about things, no matter like what it is. And I think he understands that a little bit. I think that’s kind of why like when we see each other, it’s always easy because he knows that like, I’m not gonna be worried or like freak out about anything. But I also like think sometimes for him, he’ll be all riled up about things or worried about things and I’ll make a joke about how I could never do his life because it actually sounds like the worst thing ever. Not in a bad way, it just doesn’t sound fun for my personality. I think, and he might know that, he might understand that about me, but I just don’t think he understands on the level of how much I don’t worry about it.
Daron: Well think what I’ve seen in a tie is, I feel like, Cole being how he is, I think when you guys were younger, like you not having like, in a good way, Cole has got a couple of screws loose as far as his drive, right? Like he’s probably the most driven person that I know. And I think the assumption would, from him when he was younger is like, you need to be like me, or like the way I do it is right. I think that probably would be something that would Cole say.
I think what I’ve seen him appreciate about you and even our conversations is him realizing like Ty is different than me and there’s nothing wrong with that. Like almost an appreciation of like, man, I wish I had that. Like where you’re like, you’re like, I don’t really care. Like it is a way to say it, but it’s almost like you can be unaffected in a really healthy, positive way. And I think I’ve seen that he has realized, wow, there’s something really right about Ty that I wish I could, I wish I had that gear. You know what mean? Yeah, for sure. think I definitely see that. I also think there’s a part of me like I wish I kind of had a little bit of cold drive. feel like sometimes I kind of get on my own way of just like my drive and like when I do like once I get to something I got like all right I’m gonna do this. It’s just the idea of like me actually getting there. it’s real. And then I think it’s really wise insight for your age type. The second part of question talking about like Knox what I wish Knox understood about me is I think
Knox is getting there, because he’s at the point where he’s now almost a freshman in high school, so it makes sense for him. But I also like, Knox is a lot like Cole in his goal-oriented mind, just about like, wanted to play golf or football or whatever. But I just hope he understands about me.
I that way my freshman year. I was like, I’m gonna college baseball. Like, is what I want to do. There’s nothing that’s going to like not make me want to do this. And then I like started doing all my clubs and all my other stuff. And like, I was like, I don’t really ever want to play college sport. That sounds terrible. I will watch them. They’re very fun to watch. But I was like, I’m good on like running until I throw up. think I’m good on that idea. Or like lifting and having someone scream at me the entire time. Like, no, I’ll go to I’ll go to the gym by myself and not speak to anyone or I have like one friend. But I just hope Knox understands like if it doesn’t work out, like hope he understands like it didn’t work out. And it turned out probably twice as good twice as good. I just hope he understands that about me. I’m not like but hurt that Cole went to Ball State to play football and I’m not going to school to play football or play baseball anywhere. It’s almost like to have the being comfortable in his own journey the way you have been.
Ty: Yeah, and I think my freshman, sophomore year, like with Cole in school with me, I was always like, I’m in Cole’s shadow, like Cole’s playing varsity in both sports as a sophomore and I’m not. But it was also just like once Cole left, I remember being my junior of like, I’m just not that good. I mean, legitimately, was like, I like, I just don’t like, I work really hard. Like I always worked hard, but I was like, it’s just the guys around me are a lot better than I am at this sport. I was like, this isn’t going to work out. I all right, let’s start preaching the Lord to high schoolers and then taking kids to camps and cheering really loud at basketball games and embarrassing myself against. But I was like, yeah, I think that was also the thing about me. was just kind of like, know, was good and the people around Cole probably weren’t like, they were good, but they weren’t like that good. And I was like, I looked around my team and I was like, oh, this is a lot of- Division 1, there’s a lot of Division 1 and really good players here. And I was like, you know what, I’ll just run down on kickoff and do that and do my job.
Daron: So here’s a tough question to ask you. I don’t know if I want you to answer this on podcast, I like to be vulnerable. Oh, dear. Do you feel like we pressured you too much to be like Cole?
Ty: Um, I don’t, I don’t really know. I think like yes and no. Um, I think the kind of president coal set the end his entire life was like to work hard and to do everything and to do everything when it’s supposed to be done. Um, and I feel like there was a part of my life where that’s where it was. It was always like, are you doing this assignment or are you doing this or you’re like, why aren’t you doing this extra or whatever?
And I feel like a little bit, it was kind of pushing me to be cool in a sports aspect, but also I didn’t care enough to listen to that. was like, I’m not doing that. That sounds horrible. It was like, Hey, how would you like, well, you like, I’d be like, upset that I wasn’t like playing. Cause I didn’t realize I just wasn’t that good yet. And I was like, you guys were like, Oh, do you want to like go to a trainer and like get better? And I was like, no, like I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to run around cones for 45 minutes for $500 to probably still not play.
You think you guys you guys were like, oh, you’re not working that hard and I was like no I just see the vision a lot better than you guys probably do and and that was just like what I thought was funny about it I was like there was nothing wrong with you guys pushing me to like, you know get an extra trainer like to work hard, but I was always just like That doesn’t sound enjoyable at all and like I think I worked hard enough like yeah through high school and I was just like well, I It’s one of my regrets is I have loved watching
Daron: who you are really emerging to be. And I feel like I’m seeing you a lot clearer than I did. And some of it is just when you’re a rookie, you’re being a father and like, you don’t know what you don’t know. And like, for me, like I’m so excited, I’ve told people this, I’m so excited for you to be done playing sports because like, who I’ve got to see you really become over the past couple of years is, I regret sometimes the way I pushed you because I look back and I’m like, gosh, I wish I would have seen more of really who you are in your journey and affirm that earlier. Um, because like, I mean, mom and I have talked with us, like, I think you’re one the best human beings I know. And like, if I could take back however many of the speeches I gave you about getting an extra trainer or doing something, and, and seeing, you know, the other things that are so true about you, uh, I do that different. I’m glad that you maybe, maybe when you’re 25 or 35, you’ll still have to go to counseling and, and figure out how I screwed you up. But, um, it’s been amazing to watch you step into more of who you are. And man, I couldn’t be, I can’t be, I There’s it’d be impossible for me to be more excited about I think this season you’re about to step into in a really beautiful way I love it. Thanks, Dad. Yeah I was looking for mom for a question, but she’s got she’s got she’s got she’s got a Moisture in her eyes. She there’s some dust in her eyes are sweaty. Yeah Eyes are hot. Her are sweaty
Epcot in Orlando in the middle of summer sweaty if you ever want to suffer. Yeah, go do that. Go to Orlando. Do have a follow-up comment for that,
Julie: Yes, I do. I would say this, that I… I do think you are an unbelievably cool, amazing person. And you have, your brother actually said this about you too, that you have extremely cool presence and you’re a very magnetic person to be around and people are drawn to you. And my prayer for you is that you use that for the Lord’s glory and you just continue to grow in this awesome you that you are. And I said, I learned the first go around when one of them went to college that I can’t shit on you like you should go to Purdue, but I would want you to do what you would want to do. And I’m really glad that you’ve made that courageous decision to go live life and experience something different.
you maybe you, the thing where we thought maybe you weren’t risky, it’s just you hadn’t been given the right opportunities to risk it. So I’m excited that you finally have been given the right reasons to take risk and it’s gonna be awesome to get a front row seat to watch it. Thanks mom. So yeah, speaking of that, I you’re literally, you know, 30 days. Oh, shut up. From us getting on airplanes. Okay, shut up.
Daron: Can we even stop talking about like numbers numbers or just not necessary? You’re not even good with them. Okay, talking about that just around the corner when you people are watching this He’s already gone someone’s sin meds. Yes. So you’re gonna get out of we’re gonna get on a plane and we’re gonna take you to Phoenix What are some of your you know, maybe thoughts and dreams things you’re excited about and even bigger than that Like what do you sense like God’s inviting you into as you’re stepping into this next chapter?
Ty: No winter? Yeah, warm weather. That’s pretty awesome. My dorm has a pool. Yeah. That’s what the Lord’s calling me. No, I think I think the whole idea of GCU for me was kind of the Lord’s calling. I don’t think I have like a certain thing that’s like, oh, when I get there, I’m going to do this. It’s like, and I don’t know, like, how my personality will change when I get there. Like, my mom always asked me, like, are you going to do this? GCU, you can do this. GCU. And I’m like, Probably not, maybe, I don’t know, just certain things that I just don’t find myself doing. But I also think there’s just an overall part of GCU that I just think I’m gonna really enjoy about it all. I think I’ve always talked about we’re a faith family, we always talk about that.
I mean, we’re on a faith based podcast right now for our family. That’s like pretty obvious what you decided to listen to today. But like, I think for me, I think the most interesting thing about GCU, and this is not any like direct like shot or like shun of any other thing, but like, I mean, you have universities where it’s in pockets and you don’t see it at all. And then you have universities where it’s like, like almost like a chain on you. And it’s like, if you don’t do it, then it’s like, you’re not Like you’re just not seen the same. I think that was so interesting about GCU is it’s like, Hey, this is a faith-based campus, but like, you don’t have to go to everything. You don’t have to do this. And I think knowing this and knowing and being a son of a pastor my entire life, I’ve noticed this like,
Growing up having to go to church because your dad was working. It’s like, all right, I’m not listening to this. My frigging, it’s my dad. I don’t want to listen to my dad talk. And then I remember like once I decided to start going like by myself or like an actual like conscious faith decision to go to church, even if like I really enjoyed hearing you speak as I started to grow up. like the idea of like, hey, today I want to go.
to chapel at GCU. Today I want to do a Bible study. Today I want to get up early and hike and see the Lord’s creation. Something like that. I think it’s just so different about GCU because I never saw myself going to like, when you guys had your college experiences, you guys were like, I don’t want ever go to places like that. And I think I just never wanted to be like, I never wanted to be like.
chained down to something and like have to do everything. But I also didn’t want to go somewhere where I was like, it’s gonna take a lot of effort for me to find the Lord here. Not just for my personal self, but like for people around me, like to find a supporting group of people. And like the new norm of college, or guess the consistent norm of college is like, it’s when you make dumb decisions. It’s when you like do all these things and it’s like, I don’t want to do that. And I think GCU is a huge help of like not being around that.
It’s for sure still apparent at places like anywhere you go, there’s gonna be people like that or situations like that. But I also think it was just like so interesting. I’m like, there’s nothing that I’m going, I’m like, all right when I get there, I’m gonna do this. I’m gonna like begin this, I’m gonna get into this. It was just kinda like the whole idea of it all. And I think that’s also like what I like is like if I go in with.
I don’t want to see like going with no expectations, but like by going with a bunch of expectations and then it sucks. It’s going to be like, Oh, that wasn’t very fun. I just used the whole like semester of my college at a school. don’t want to stay at, I think having no expectations about it of being like, okay, this is like, I know what’s going on and I know that this is a foundation of my college, but I also don’t know what I want to do yet. I get there and then be like, Oh, I want to do a bunch of the intermurals or a Bible study or something. I can also get there and be like,
I kind of just want to be a student because I think my entire life I’ve never been able just to be a student like I always talked about with you guys when I decided not to play sports I was like I’ve never really been a kid mm-hmm like I mean I did like you I mean you’re not playing sports every single day but like I never really got to like have a summer of just like nothing yeah we’re like just like have fun and like I don’t think I’m wired to do that because like literally three summer I was like all right yeah screw it I’m getting a nine to five I’m getting an eight to five job and work every day
And I think that was just like, have to stay busy. And I like, when I have structure, like you always talk about, I have structure, I work better. Um, but also like when you’re going, like, it’s a big change. Like I don’t have any structure there right now. Other than like the people I know, or like knowing where to go. So it’s like, I could get there and my structure could be playing a bunch of intramural sports to keep my sports drive alive. Or my structure could literally just be like, go to the flow, go to class, hang out with friends. They do that.
And I also think like we always talk about like the cool things that you see you has and like, don’t want to miss out. But I also think like. If you really find what you like to do and what you love to do, I don’t think you miss anything. There’s other cool opportunities out there, which is just like, it’s also a huge plus when you’re like, oh, there’s always cool stuff to do. But yeah, 100 percent. think I had to tell somebody right now it’s like, hey, what’s. The biggest thing you’re excited to go to GCU for, I just like just to go to GCU and just be there and actually like get to be there for.
school because it’s also different. you can drive up and spend a weekend or a couple of days at IU and kind of see how that functions. And like for GCU, like they had that discover trip that I didn’t go on, but like some of my buddies did and they said it was awesome. But like when I’m there, I’m like, I’m on a tour. I walk around. I don’t really get to see what happens on like a daily basis or like what happens on a weekend. Um,
So yeah, I’m really going in with a blank slate for a majority of things, which is super exciting. Do you have like a, have you had like a prayer that you maybe as you were talking to the Lord of like a thing you’ve been asking him, like as you move into this next season, this college season, is there something you’ve been asking him to do or to help you with in the process? I think, I think the main, the main prayer I have is just like to find people that I enjoy being around and also finding a balance in my life.
Because like I said, without sports, I have a whole new balance of life. No practice all the time or anything. But I think my main prayer for it all that was answered when I was making a decision between going to an Indian school or going there was like, if I go and I hate it, not hate it, but I’m like, this isn’t for me, I can come home and go to a school, like go to Purdue or go to IU or something like that.
But if I don’t ever go and I hate Indiana school, I will be like, well, that was dumb. Never even tried it. So I think that’s also what I’m open to. I don’t think it’s going to happen, but I’m also open to the idea of like, I might go out there and be like, ah, this is too big of a bite. Like I can’t, I can’t like take this big of a step. I’m, I’m I’m working on my courage, but like.
This isn’t courage. This is just uncomfortable. And it’s not uncomfortable that like you can work through. It’s just like, don’t feel like I feel out of place here. Sure. And I think that was just like the main prayer when I was going into it. If like. What should I do? And I think we always talk about a leap of faith like that was kind of like a leap of faith I had. And then after that, I kind of was like, well, if the Lord’s going to give me the leap of faith, I don’t really need to. Not saying like I’m not praying for it, but I’m like, I don’t think I need to be like.
Super looking into it because when it is a big decision like that the easiest thing you can do is overthink it and be like Oh my gosh, like what am I doing? I think that was my thing. It’s like I’m going there excited. I’m gonna see how it goes That’s how I’ve always been my entire life like I’ve kind of always just like gone with it and like I don’t want to go there and be like I’m gonna do this and this and this and this and it’s like no, I’m just gonna kind of See how it goes. You kind of like the blank slate of my mouth figure it out Yeah, and I think that was also what was interesting is like
I love everyone around this area with all my heart, like all my friends. But I was just like, when I fly home for a break, like they’re gonna be here and I’ll see them. But I also like I can meet a whole new network of people out there. So I think that was just super interesting. Yeah. All right, last question. Yeah, is somebody’s watching and they’re going into their senior year.
or they’ve got a student, a kid that’s going into their senior year, you just finished yours, like what would be a word of advice you would give someone that’s like moving into that kind of transitional year? I think my, if I had to have like a word of advice, I guess it wouldn’t be a word, but it would be like do it. Like I feel like there’s a lot of things in senior year that like,
you have social media and people are like, oh, that’s corny. Like, why are you doing all the fun senior stuff? Like, you’re supposed to be like super chill and like not buy into all that corny stuff like the school’s doing. I would say like, it does not matter what people think about you. Like, be yourself. It was so much more fun. And I noticed it was a lot more fun when the people that didn’t go to things ended up texting people like, hey, how was it? Like, what did you guys do? Like, all this a lot of fun.
So yeah, I think like do it, like do the things like go to games, go to, I went to that marching band thing at Fishers for the high school with Blue Crew, ended up being really, really cool. Like it was just a lot of things that I just didn’t, my junior year would have been like, yeah, sure, like I don’t want to do that. I’m not going to do it. Cause like I ended your senior year of one year left. So it’s like, Oh, if I don’t go to this and it’s like, you don’t get a second chance. Don’t miss the moment. Don’t miss miss the moment. Don’t be like, oh, there’s 30 basketball games. I’m not going to this basketball game. Or there’s 11 football games. I’m not going to this one. Or whatever sport it is, because there’s so many sports to watch. I think it was also just a fun part of like.
Why not? Like what else are you doing other than like your school like that comes first but like I think there’s just so much fun to senior year Like being like the oldest there and like getting all those luxuries or a lot of fun and I also think another thing that Was so fun about senior year and this is also Harder to do if you aren’t already like this or if you aren’t like if you haven’t done this yet is like
really stay connected with like the teachers of your past like your teachers your senior year or like your friends or like your mutual friends and like people and I think that was like all of high school I always like would just like the simple like say hi to someone um but like senior year it’s just like a lot cooler because you’re like oh dude like this is like the last time I’m gonna really see you like because we’re going to different colleges like we don’t see each other outside of school just like our friend groups online um and then like with teachers like
You’re going to get senioritis. It’s going to suck. You’re going to hate school. But like getting to know your teachers or like the teacher that taught you your sophomore year, like they care about how you’re doing or what you’re doing in your senior year. And just like telling them, be like, Hey, like it’s been good. Or like checking in or like saying hi or.
whatever and then also like for a logistical part of that like if you keep doing that like they’re the teachers that could write you a recommendation letter and that could get you into a college that you want to go to. So I think it’s like do it like say hi to your teachers meet your teachers be friends with your teachers be friends with everyone like say hi to people and I also think that’s so easy and I think it’s also so easy to not do that like it’s easy to walk around the hallways with headphones on and not talk to anyone or sit in the back of a class and just do your work and not speak to anyone or
I’d be like, ew, bro, I’m not going to the basketball game. Why would I want to go to that? This doesn’t even sound any fun. I didn’t think it’s just like, that’s my advice of just like, there’s so much to do your senior year that is so much cooler. Because it’s like, oh, it’s like whatever. But there’s just way too much that you can miss trying to fit in and be like.
like a non caring senior, like, well, I’m almost done with high school. just want to be done. And I think that’s just the main thing that I would say is like, there’s any year of high school to be a little bit weird and like to be like, out of your shell. It’s your senior because like, if you are worried about people being thinking you’re weird or getting embarrassed, it’s like,
you are literally moving away from all these people in months. Like no one is gonna remember this.
Daron: I think I could see your kind of the senior momentum you have could be summed up of even with your GCU decision of like just do it or the wilderness thing like just do it. Just say yes. Say yes. Take the risk. And it might suck. Like I’ll be honest. Like I’ll be honest. You might like try to get close to your teacher and she doesn’t like you at all or he doesn’t like you at all or. You may go the wrong way on the mountain and have to turn all the way back for a while. That might might get lost in in the wilderness. I think the takeaway that I see from your senior is you did just say yes and step in and just do these things and like, yeah, they didn’t all go as expected, but like, like they provided like a lot of growth and really cool opportunities and experiences that you wouldn’t have had if you’ve been like, oh gosh, I’m just like, I’m worried about people think, or I’m worried about this, or it’s too big of a risk or whatever it is. Yeah. So I love it.
Thanks for coming on the podcast time. That was fun. I like I talked a lot. I think I have the longest podcast I’ve ever Actually, I don’t think so. Your brother had an hour and you’re right at an hour. Oh, really? Mm-hmm. That’s not bad. Also, to the camera, I’m not a Dodgers fan. I bought this hat in Arizona. Show them the crosses. Go Cubs. can probably see it on one of the cameras. But I just want to let that know before the podcast ends. I’m not a Dodgers fan. Baseball should have a salary cap.
Pay Peacock, I’m Sean. I love the Cubs. Don’t ever like, don’t like say that I’m not a Dodgers fan. Just wouldn’t Thank you for that disclaimer, yes. I’ve been thinking about that for like 45 minutes. I did not raise a Dodgers fan. This would be very clear on that. Style is important. And if you’re a Dodgers fan, like whatever, you probably are like…
Lebron James like I mean I’m a Lebron James fan, but like you’re probably like a Dodgers and like everything a Cowboys fan Dodgers Cowboys fans. Yeah, you’re not okay. It’s probably getting edited out But it was fun for we had on all the other people that like sports anyway I think my concern is when we do the all five of us podcast There’ll be no way that we will have space for people to talk and it’ll probably a six hour podcast episode of all of us trying to be episodes welcome to our dinner table where it’s tough to get words in edgewise because we all like to talk anyway
Ty: Ty, thanks for being on the podcast. I’m excited to see where this next year and the adventures God takes you into. It’s gonna be awesome to watch, I’m very, very excited. Yeah, that family podcast is probably gonna be like three hours long. So, be looking forward to that.
Daron: Thanks so much for downloading this episode. We appreciate it. If you have questions, thoughts, love to hear from you, can always email me, darren at darrenearlywine.com. And thanks for downloading this episode. Please subscribe to the YouTube channel or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. We appreciate it. And yeah, until we talk to you again, remember God’s for you, against you. He’s near you, not far away. And He’s created you on purpose and for a purpose. Thanks for downloading this episode of the Daron Earlewine Podcast.