TBT - Throw Back Thursday

I had made a post on my Tumblr page, luteymatt.tumblr.com. Highlighting my life from Florida until now. It is surreal to think I was just living as a waiter, working at a popular beach drive restaurant (Cassis American Brasserie) in St. Petersburg. I didn't necessarily feel above the work but I knew I was able to do more. I was spending time at popular beach bars and heading to USF in both St. Petersburg and Tampa to work on research. I had my paper published and spent time in Chicago presenting. I also met with admissions for the PhD program in Finance at USF Tampa. It was a fun time commuting back and forth, living the waiter life. Initially I was living with my Marquette homeboy Chad. He and his girlfriend Sheyenne put me up in their spare room. I was definitely living out of a suitcase. I made it out and up to renting a studio apartment next to Tropicana field. It was a good time! I liked to take some pictures at work, to document my step up as a waiter. It was only temporary but fun to build off my past experiences waiting tables. At the end, I found myself accepted to a PhD program in New Orleans at UNO (University of New Orleans). I figured I'd take it. Pictures above: Chad telling me to come down and visit. My last MBA meeting for my corporate finance class. USF basketball. Women's basketball. Hey those girls can play ball! Beach bar spots. My boy Keegan. "Hey man, why are you posting pictures at work?!" me like, "IDGAF!" :D

I made it out of the city of St. Pete and in to Tampa after driving to New Orleans. I met the CEO of a company called Smart Battery. He and I ended up living together and having some good times. Thriving on success, being in an innovative environment. All good stuff. We had/he had a three bedroom home with an indoor pool on a golf course near USF. It was fun getting a change of pace/scenery. We spent time in Clearwater, having fun at The Lodge in SoHo (South Howard).