James Snedeker:  

Post WW-P (we all know it's really just WW-P, not any of this "North" and "South" nonsense), went to Bucknell and graduated in 1981 with a degree in English. Despite being a scrub on the cross-country team, it was one of the best experiences of my life; I met some incredible guys there. I also played in the jazz band, which proved to be a pivotal experience in my life. It opened up an incredible new world of music, creativity, and people. Got a job in 1982 editing computer manuals and then a job in medical editing. I thought tech communications was for me until I realized how BORING it was so I was happy when I was released from my duties in 1984. Did some dumb jobs around Princeton by day while I went to the School of Visual Arts in NYC by night for advertising copywriting. In 1987, got job in a funky ad agency in north Jersey that had some good ideas but went belly-up in two years. While there, however, an ad I wrote was featured in "Art Direction" magazine as an example of good creative advertising. I also ran the jazz department and announced a jazz show at WWFM-FM Radio out of Trenton from 1982 to 1985. I played with Princeton Swing Band and the wedding band Savoy. I ran two marathons; Trenton in 1982 and New York City in 1985. Unemployed, tired of the rat race and lucky enough to have a big sister in Burlington, VT, I moved there in 1989 to find a new life. First thing I noticed: there weren't as many angry people in VT as there are in NJ. Worked for Seventh Generation, one of the first mainstream environmental firms of the late 20th century. Laid off in 1992 (I was obviously somehow attracted to young companies that couldn't stay in business), I searched for new meaning and found it in becoming a physical therapist. Had to take a lot of science pre-reqs, which I did from ...Expand for more