Vanessa Vander Heide:  

Life Man, writing a "life" bio takes finesse--to inform and choose rhetoric that expresses humility . . . so here’s my attempt to simply inform. After receiving my diploma equivalency in December of 95, I took a semester off and then attended SRJC for too many years. My half-ass plan was to continue my education until I was moved by an epiphany. I took ground school in order to obtain my pilots license. Although not yet a pilot I am a member of the AOPA. In the mean time I was president of Alpha Gamma Sigma Honors Society. I finally moved on in 2000 having received my AA degree (Liberal studies) and AS degree (Psychology) with highest honors. I traveled through Central America, back packing alone for a semester. I loved it! I started in Costa Rica and did some surfing in Tamarindo and hiked a lava spewing volcano in La Fortuna. Then on to Panama where I stumbled onto a Survivor set while hiking the backside of a remote island. Then up through Nicaragua to the Bay Islands of Honduras where I got certified SCUBA diving (open water and advanced). Then I went to Guatemala and camped on top of an unexcavated Mayan ruin and back to Costa Rica for a rainforest exploration and zip line thrill before heading home. I moved from Santa Rosa to San Diego and transferred to San Diego State University. I graduated Suma Cum Laude in 2004 with a BS degree in Kinesiology, emphasis in health, fitness and nutrition. While attending SDSU I pledged a sorority, Sigma Theta Psi Multicultural Sorority. I held many chapter chair positions and then held the position as Academic Director for the United Sorority and Fraternity Council and Liaison for Order of Omega Greek Honor Society. The following year as a senior I was president of both USFC and of Order of Omega Honors Society. (Being president and one of the only Caucasians in a 450 person organization was challenging.) ...Expand for more