Nathan Frazo Mr. Neuburger Eng.

Comp 101-103 18 June 2011 Time of My Life

There have been many occasions in my life where I thought they were just the best. Occasions that seemed to be the time of my life, but amidst all of those spectacular, exciting, and thrilling occasions only one stands out. This is my story. I awoke hazily from a deep sleep, and it took me a moment to remember where I was. The sun was streaming through the windows warming the side of my face with bright, cheering warmth. The landscape outside my window flew by, and I remembered. I was on my way to an event that I had been anticipating and waiting for so anxiously for the last few months. Our bus was speeding down the winding highway bound for Kansas City and the Skills USA National Skills Competition. Those with me consisted of welders, carpenters, diesel mechanics, TV and radio production, and basic healthcare students. We had proven ourselves to be the best, the best at local and state competitions, and it was our time to prove ourselves to be the best in the nation. We would compete against the best of the best in the US and its territories, and everyone would be vying for top honors. The bus was filled with excited chatter and it diverted me away from my thoughts to listening to the bustle around me. Everyone was talking their state competitions and their experiences there. Some were talking about jobs and where they would like to be in five years, others just chatted amongst themselves about everyday living.

The guys behind me comprised the TV and radio production team, Avid Productions was the name they went by. They were busy talking about their projects for the national competition and what they would have to do to come out on top as well as discussing their projects back home that they were oh so eager to get started. As the chatter continued, I turned my attention back to the window. As the scenery outside continued to fly by us I wished that the time would fly by just as quickly. I had been able to keep my nervousness under control, but now it had risen up inside me like a tropical storm gathering strength and finally ending in a rolling hurricane of emotion. Now I could hardly sit still, constantly shifting in my seat, anxious for the week to come. The scenery outside had begun to change from the sprawling country landscape of farmland, small houses, and country towns to the big city suburbs. Buildings began to sprout out of the ground like stalks of corn growing straight and tall as they reached toward the sky. The traffic passed by us darting in and out of the four lane highway reminding me of a school of minnows darting in and out of currents. This was the big city, and this was where the time of my life was about to begin. Day two of my week in Kansas City dawned with a sweltering hot vengeance bound to overpower the coolness of the day before, but the heat couldnt quell my excitement. Today we were set up for orientation in our specific contests and would have to take a written exam to prove the extent of our knowledge. I decided to go downtown early to have a look at the trade show going on and the competition site. As the shuttle bus topped a hill I could see the skyscrapers of downtown Kansas City stabbing the horizon. The spires of Bartle Hall, the Kansas City Convention center, shot into the sky like giant beacons of concrete with ornate crowns of steel sculpture depicting modern scenes

of modern art, and the huge bulk of the Kansas City Opera House gleamed in the morning sunlight like giant sea shells of steel. The downtown area of the city was a bustling symbol of modern architecture and artful design. As I disembarked the bus, I was met with smells of chargrilling burgers, hot dogs and the hustle and bustle of the city. The air was filled with excitement, excitement that mirrored my own as the day of competition drew nearer. Day three was competition day, and for me it started at 5:30 in the morning. The busses were already making their runs to the convention center downtown and I was already ready for the day to be over before it had even begun. The competition floor was already bustling with various competitors on their way to their specific contests and the hum of conversation was slowly growing to a dull roar. The competitors of my competition were all dressed in their best white chef coats, black and white checkered pants, and white skull caps or toques, all symbols of professionalism. Speed racks lined with sheet trays stood like a forest of metal on the floor separated by station tables. Ovens were blasting away with infernal heat, and tables of dry goods lay out awaiting use. As the day wore on the crowds around us grew as everyone stopped by to watch the nations best baking and culinary students take on the competition. Loaves of bread came out of the oven a golden brown filling the air with a savory aroma, and cinnamon rolls, danish, and pecan pies filled the area with sweet, spicy smells. Day four was spent watching the secondary high school students compete. Watching them rush back and forth preparing their dishes only made me so much more grateful that my obligation was now over. Seeing the plates being prepared inspired my own creativity as salads

wrapped in ornate tuile cookies, steaming hot soups, and elegant dishes of salmon and chicken were being presented to the judges. In other areas carpenters were hard at work creating what seemingly looked like a miniature suburban community as small scale houses began to take shape, while across the way masons built brick walls, and photographers were maximizing their creative genius. All in all the experience was quite exhilarating. Being among the thousands of spectators, watching the competitions, almost being able to feel the intense atmosphere radiating through the building was thrilling to me. Walking through the city streets, viewing the artful designs of modern, trendy architecture, was both relaxing and interesting. Through the whole week my experiences culminated into what I could definitely call the time of my life.