On March 6, at Fargo Brewing Company, I got to see one of my former college students who has cast off what the world expects of him and is chasing after his dreams, depending on nothing much more than his God-given musical talents and his personal grit.
I met Austin James as a student in a writing class I taught at North Dakota State University a few years back, and I was so impressed with his genuine decency and big heart that I hired him.
A few years ago, he gave up what was comfortable (and a job promotion that I offered!) to instead pursue his dreams. ... Now, a few years later he has a recorded album and toured Minnesota before heading abroad. He ended up in Bali, where he is writing and making music ... and sorting out life.
Whether Austin stays in Bali ... or returns home to make his mark on the U.S. music world is anyone's guess. However, I still find faith in his courage to overcome some tall odds in life and live it on his own terms. This guy is the stuff of inspiration!
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