Out Of The Wild: An Alaskan's Adventure To Find America

My name is John. I was born and raised in Alaska. I have been hearing how the American Dream is no longer possible for my generation; how the pursuit of a college education will leave my peers and me in crippling debt; and America is no longer the beacon of hope it once was. Too many of my generation believe what they are hearing. I am not going to surrender to such news.

I believe what made America great in the past can make it great again. I know many small business owners that are living their American Dream right now. I have heard these people talk about their dreams. They work harder than anyone I know every minute of every day. These are dreamers that act on their dreams. I want to chase my dream in the same way. My personal motto is, “Risk much, forgive much, and gain much”. I want to pursue a career in film. I want to chase my dream too.

I need to see more of this country to better understand my homeland. I want to meet the people who make this country work. Upon graduation from high school I am riding my bicycle 6,000 miles from Kodiak, Alaska to Key West, Florida to find my America. I am not going on this tour just to ride my bike. My plan is to document the people I meet that have put their dreams to work. I will interview them in their environment and interview the people they serve.

Using my bicycle, a tent, and a camera I will tell this story in a documentary I call “Finding My America”. I will begin in my hometown of Kodiak, Alaska on May 22, 2012. I am partnering with small businesses that will sponsor this trip. I am working with many Subway restaurant owners who are sponsoring me in exchange for a commercial I will make and post on the Internet.

When my trip is complete, I want to share what I learn with everyone. Look for the finished documentary in the late fall of 2012. The blog will serve as a behind the scenes update to chronicle my grand adventure. I am accepting financial support from anyone interested in inspiring my generation to embrace the hard work of bringing America back to a new era of greatness. I hope to tell the stories of the real American dream. I hope to raise enough money to pay for college without student loans. Help me tell this American story. Together we can be the difference.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Repairs Are Made

I am in the garage of my friends the Sorrell's in Soldotna.  I have repaired the faulty tube in my tire and am repacking my trailer for balance.  I am beginning to think about how I will film the introduction to my documentary.  I have captured really great film clips.  If you have ideas about how I should start my documentary share them in the comments.


Posted by at 10:55 PM

2 comments:

Debbie Adamson said...

Hi John. It's an incredible thing you are doing and I'm enjoying following you. I'm also a Full Sail Student, working on my Master's for New Online Journalism. I have a few thoughts for your introduction. Start with what inspired you to embark on such an extraordinary undertaking - biking across America. From what I've read, I have a glimps of why you are doing it - "Finding Your America" and wanting to show people that following the American dream is alive and well. But I still don't know what inspired this tour...What were you doing or what was happening when this idea came to you? What research did you do? Who did you talk to about if this bike tour was a good idea? Things like that is what your readers want to know. They want to know you and what makes you tick...Hope this helps to spark some ideas for your introduction.

May 26, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Debbie Adamson said...

Hi John,

In addition to what I already wrote for introduction ideas, I also want to mention that if you cover the 5 W's & H (Who, What, When, Where, Why and How) in your introduction, you will have a powerful start to your documentary.

May 27, 2012 at 12:54 PM

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