User Profile

How many times have I had to write something about myself, yet can’t seem to find a comfortable way of doing so? I guess I’ll be as casual as if we were sharing a sandwich and a Coke at some little diner.

My name is Rich, and I am a features and entertainment reporter at The Post-Journal, a newspaper in Jamestown, NY. I graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism/Mass Communications with a History minor in May 2009.

I was born in Springville and raised in West Valley, New York, a small rural farm hamlet with a population of less than 1,000. I was brought up with a family that I wouldn’t give up for anything; two parents who support me relentlessly and a sister four years younger who is now a Liberal Arts Major at SUNY Fredonia.

I graduated from West Valley Central in 2005 with a 95 average, ranking myself 13th out of 32 kids in my class. Thirteenth sounds pretty decent until you realize that I just made the 50-percentile.

My college search was relatively easy. I wanted to write sports, and a well-known Journalism school was less than an hour from my house. I applied to St. Bonaventure University (per my request) and Brockport (to my guidance councilor’s request who wanted me to apply to more than one school), was accepted to Bona’s and have enjoyed my decision.

Despite hating history in high school, a couple professors at Bona’s found a way to make the past interesting, and I decided to become a history minor halfway through my college career. Classes about the American Revolution, the Civil War and 20th Century America fascinated me. I don’t know where, if at all, my minor will play a role later in life, but I have enjoyed take the required classes.

My favorite times at school were spent at THE BUZZ, the #2 college radio station in the nation. I worked as the news director for a semester, and there is no organization or class that I have learned more from. The ability to work as a team is vital, and trying to get 18 young adults to agree on things is challenging but worthwhile.

While at the BUZZ, I also met the love of my life. We have been together for 14 months now. In July, we moved into a house together in Salamanca, one that we have spent many long hours cleaning and getting ready.

I like to spend time with my friends. Whether it is social drinking, video games or just chatting at the local Tim Hortons, I do my best to spend time with high school friends and college friends alike.

I GeoCache as well, a unique hobby I picked up in high school. If you’d like to know more, visit the website at geocaching.com. Part of this is fueled by my desire to see places. I have been to 28 of the 50 states on various vacations. I have road-tripped to Key West, Florida, Omaha, Nebraska and from Seattle to West Valley. I have also been to Washington, D.C. – my favorite city - almost 10 times. I have been to New York City twice – both times this year.

I love random trips. I have driven to Cleveland twice to go to White Castle and decided at 9:00 p.m. on February 1st that I wanted to drive to Punxsutawney to see Phil the next morning.

I worked for Tops Markets, a Western New York supermarket chain, for nearly six and a half years. I can tell you what aisle anything is in the Springville store; if that information comes in handy in another instance in my life I’ll be impressed.

I follow NASCAR and cheer for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Martin Truex, Jr. was my main man, but that will change in 2010 as he switches to a Toyota.

I follow the NFL and cheer on the Washington Redskins. My dad was a Redskins fan, and I became one too. I was just coincidence that I would fall in love with the city a few years later.

I also like going to baseball and hockey games, although I do not follow those sports on a day-by-day basis. I cheer on the Washington Nationals because the franchise began the same year I started following the MLB. I also like the Buffalo Sabres, and am eager for the day they can finally bring Lord Stanley’s Cup home to Western New York.

I also love Coca-Cola and usually vote Republican. I own a Chevrolet, and am not too fond of Toyotas. I listen to just about any music, but really enjoy country and rock and shy away from hip-hop and heavy metal.

I try to be as friendly as possible and like to treat others the way I’d like to be treated. I tend to get frustrated on occasion, but try not to yell at someone if they are only doing their job. That’s the best trait I learned from working at a supermarket: patience and the ability to work with others and deal with customers are necessities in life.

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