The summer of 2017 was coming to a close, and it was time for me to follow my lifelong dream of playing college baseball. (PS. I began playing travel baseball at 4 years old!)

As it came closer and closer for me to move, I realized, playing baseball was just a dream, and welding was my true passion.

With my newfound passion in tow, it was time to move. By the grace of God, I was placed on the backside, ground floor. This is significant because it allowed me to put a 6ftx12ft trailer outside my apartment window with the flatbed in the grass across the parking lot.

Classes soon started, and so did the joy of baseball practice... 

College baseball is quite a bit different from high school and travel baseball. Practices started at 7:30 am and ended at 9:30 am, just in time for classes. Classes then lasted until 1:30 pm, with practice starting again 30 minutes later...

Practice lasted until 6:00 pm EVERY. SINGLE. DAY... By then, I was exhausted, hungry, and had homework to complete. AND tips to build.

I soon realized something had to give. So I started slacking off on homework and not giving it my all at practice so I would have enough time and energy to build tips in the evening.

My teammates began to ask what I was doing, some thought it was cool, but most of them just thought I was crazy! Which I probably was...

Instead of partying with the guys, I would go outside to work on my craft, rain or shine, day or night.

Later that year, in my first year in business, we had not 1, not 2 but 4 tips on display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV.

As I'm sure you know, SEMA is a BIG deal, and it put TSO on the map!

As the semester went on, I quickly realized TSO was my future. I developed a mild form of depression and became even more of a hermit than I already was. (PS. I'm still a hermit to this day...)

I had no motivation to do anything. Whether schoolwork or hanging out with teammates, or even building tips.

I soon realized I had to make the difficult decision of ending my lifelong dream of playing college baseball to pursue my passion.

After a "fun" conversation with my parents and only one semester of college baseball, I decided to quit baseball and move back home. 

I soon settled in at home and my new school, East Tennessee State University, and quickly realized I had lots of orders and NOWHERE to build tips!

PS. Want to hear how I managed to grow the business while going to school full-time with NO PLACE to build tips? Then be on the lookout for the post titled, How I Started TSO at 17... Pt. 4 of 4!