The Story’s in The Unique Name
I think the saddest part about leaving UM will be that I’m going to lose my Umich IT account, and with it, the uniquename that I got almost ten years ago as a college freshman (although for records purposes, it will probably stay with me for some time). That sounds a bit cheesy since most people that go to school at UM eventually lose theirs as well. Most all of my friends from school have long since lost theirs. But I went and got a job at UM after I graduated, so I kept it and it has grown on me.
It was my first computer account of any type, and the assigned name ‘adamjk’ was too catchy and easy to say to not use for almost every other account username (except maybe when ‘adam’ was available). Adam Just Kidding. The name stuck with some people. UM is where I started computers, now it seems to be strange leaving it. Typing a-d-a-m-j-k has been ingrained in my physical memory like riding a bike or swimming. These things stay with you because they were learned during formative years, as a kid.
I really learned to type during my freshman year. I was a blank slate when it came to personal computing. Many nights were spent hogging Jeremie’s PC keyboard when I should have been studying. Jeremie rightfully kicked me out of his dorm room a few times. That year it was mostly IRC, ICQ, Quake, HTML and CGI. And I can’t forget the Chupacabra in ‘96 presidential Web campaign. My GPA suffered, but I don’t blame Jeremie and Ben’s Room of Procrastination. In fact, I should really thank them for starting my insatiable interest in making all things electronic. I didn’t even own a PC.
I don’t know how long I’ll consider myself an Engineer. For now, I like it. I like to create things that work. But interests change. Maybe I’ll be a Planner or Scientist one day - maybe a fast-food worker. One things for sure though, I’ll always be adamjk.
May 12th, 2006 at 8:29 am
You know - I hear you. I have been moving a lot of shit around with my personal web stuff - so that “nerdtech.com” will be more focused on freelance stuff, while my “cors.org” will be a permanent home. I can’t foresee being anything else but a Cors until I am worm food - so it just makes sense. And, I figure I can use the cors.org stuff for goofy crap, general web dorkery - whereas the nerdtech.com will be more for bidness, freelance style, tech posts, blah.
But there was a story about what you’re talking about that I read. About how people who work at a place get SO used to their e-mail address - and when they leave their job/work/school - and it goes away, how hard that can be for them. I know, for the mere casual user of the Intarwebs, that might sound pretty silly. But - it makes sense to me…and you.
Good luck out west man. It’s gonna be a bummer losing another West Siiiide-er in town - but you never stop representin’ the west side of the Dirty Mitten.
May 13th, 2006 at 2:52 am
Bri,
Thanks for understanding, seriously. I mean, if anyone is going to understand its the guy who had the spread in Spin about his webzine in like ‘95 or ‘96.
I will represent, I always do. Come out anytime.
May 20th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Have so much fun in Seattle, Adam!
May 27th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
“I’ll always be adamjk.”
Or rather, one of them.
myspace.com/adamjk (and about a million other things)
I think I emailed you once, a year or so ago, just to say hello…
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:27 pm
do you remember the day when andy and i came and got you out of East Quad freshman year? we hadn’t seen you in like a month. we took you over to state street and i believe your comment was “I haven’t been this far on campus in weeks!” good times. good times.