If you had asked me ten years ago whether I planned on going to college, I probably would’ve laughed and said, “No way — I’m too busy building my empire.” I was one of those people who believed that real experience beat textbooks any day of the week. At the time, I was knee-deep in entrepreneurship — creating my own websites, launching businesses, and learning through the kind of trial and error that only sleepless nights and maxed-out determination can teach. College just didn’t feel like part of my plan.
But life, as it turns out, has a funny way of redirecting us exactly where we’re meant to go.
Not only did I end up going to college — I ended up loving it. The University of Hartford became one of the most influential chapters of my life. I earned my Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurship and my Master’s in Management, but what I truly gained went far beyond degrees. I found mentors who believed in me before I fully believed in myself. I found classmates who would go on to become business partners, colleagues, and lifelong friends. I found purpose in the process — realizing that education wasn’t about memorizing facts, it was about learning how to think, adapt, and lead.
It’s wild to think about it now — the guy who once swore he’d never sit in a classroom was suddenly presenting business models, collaborating with professors, and enjoying every minute of it. Looking back, I realize that the University of Hartford didn’t just teach me about business — it taught me about balance, resilience, and community.
Recently, I had the opportunity to come back and participate in a small business community event with the University. It felt like a full-circle moment. I spent the day alongside Lawrence Ward, the University’s President, talking with students, small business owners, and faculty about entrepreneurship, community impact, and the future of local business.
Standing there, surrounded by so many bright, passionate people, I couldn’t help but think — this is why giving back matters.
When you’ve been shaped by a community, there’s something deeply fulfilling about returning to it — not just to reminisce, but to contribute. To give back what was once given to you. For me, giving back means sharing the lessons I’ve learned — the wins, the failures, the “wish-I-knew-this-sooner” moments. It means helping others navigate the same road I once walked, with a few less potholes.
There’s a saying that goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” But what they don’t tell you is that once your cup is full — of knowledge, experience, and gratitude — you’re meant to pour it back into others.
The University of Hartford helped fill my cup in so many ways. The professors who challenged my ideas taught me the value of critical thinking. The group projects that made me question my sanity taught me collaboration. And the campus itself — diverse, energetic, and full of opportunity — taught me how to adapt to different perspectives and environments.
That’s why I think it’s so important to stay in touch with your alma mater and your former teachers. They were there for your beginning chapters — the ones that set the tone for everything that followed. When you go back, it’s not just a reunion; it’s a continuation. You’re showing the next wave of students what’s possible. You’re living proof that the lessons learned in those classrooms do translate to the real world.
And beyond that — you’re reminding yourself where you came from. Success can sometimes make us look forward so much that we forget to look back. But revisiting those roots grounds you. It reminds you that nobody achieves success alone. Every entrepreneur, every leader, every innovator stands on the shoulders of teachers, mentors, and communities who believed in them.
When I spoke at the event, I saw the same spark in those students’ eyes that I once had — that mix of curiosity and uncertainty. I saw myself in them — trying to figure out how to make a difference in a world that’s constantly changing. And in that moment, I realized: giving back isn’t just a nice gesture. It’s a responsibility.
Giving back to your local community isn’t just about writing a check or showing up for photo ops (though, let’s be honest, the camera flash doesn’t hurt). It’s about being present. It’s about sharing your story — the real story, with the ups, the downs, and everything in between. It’s about reminding people that growth isn’t linear, success isn’t instant, and purpose isn’t found — it’s built, one decision at a time.
When we give back, we create ripple effects. That one student who hears a single sentence that inspires them might go on to build a business that employs fifty people in Hartford someday. That one small business owner who attends a workshop might get the knowledge they need to keep their doors open another year. Every small effort adds up — and those ripples become waves of change.
For me, Hartford isn’t just a city on the map — it’s home. It’s where I learned how to lead, how to fail gracefully, and how to start over again stronger than before. The University of Hartford and the small business community that surrounds it have always been intertwined. By giving back, I’m not just investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs — I’m helping to strengthen the very ecosystem that helped me grow.
So, if you’re an alum reading this and thinking, “Maybe I should go back and visit my old school,” here’s my advice: do it. Send that email to your former professor. Attend that alumni event. Volunteer for a student panel. You never know who might need to hear your story — or how much it might mean for you to tell it.
Because in the end, giving back doesn’t just change someone else’s life — it changes yours. It reconnects you to your purpose, your gratitude, and your beginnings.
And honestly, standing there that day with President Ward and seeing the next generation of dreamers and doers reminded me of one thing: success isn’t about how far you go — it’s about how many people you lift along the way.