The ATQ Decision: Where does Jake go

We join the interview, already in progress.

Interviewer: How many people know your decision right now?

JT: Not many. It's a very, very small number. I could probably count them on my fingers.

I: How many hands, one or two?

JT: Let's say two.

I: So when did you make your decision?

JT: It was Monday of last week when I made my decision. It was day to day. I wake up one morning it's this site. I wake up the next morning it's that site. Monday morning I woke up, had a conversation with my dad and now I'm set.

I: What was the major factor, the major reason in your decision?

JT: I think the major factor, the major reason was the best opportunity for me to write and to write now and write in the future.

Writing is a huge thing for me. You know, ever since I was in high school that was the number one thing. Help my co-writers get better and just wanting to write. I've done some great things in my two years and I want to continue to do that.

I: You've had everyone biting their nails. I guess it's time for them to stop chewing. The answer to the question everybody wants to know: Jake, what's your decision?

JT: In this fall, this is very tough. This fall I'm going to take my talents to Eugene and join eDuck.com.

I: eDuck? That was the conclusion you woke up with Monday?

JT: That was the conclusion I woke up with Monday. I mean, it's heartfelt for me. You know, it's hard to explain, but at the same time my heart, in the two years I gave to ATQ, it was everything. They saw me grow from a 25 year old kid to a 27 year old man. I never wanted to leave ATQ and my heart will always be at that site. But I also felt like this is the greatest challenge for me is to move on.

I: Ever want to go through this again?

JT: One thing my father told me when I was going through this process and what ultimately helped me make my decision is you have to do what's best for you and what's going to make you happy  at the end of the day. Once I heard that from my dad, the person that I always look to for guidance, it was easy.

I wanted to have a little fun with what amounts to my final post at ATQ. Now for the serious part. I want to thank Dave, Dom and the rest of the mods who gave me a shot here at ATQ. I was not the most talented or qualified writer but they gave me a shot.

I feel like I have grown exponentially in the time I have written with ATQ and I am going to miss writing here. I love this community and please believe that I will be lurking in the shadows and occasionally posting something that I think is funny. Once I accepted the position at eDuck, I spent several days agonizing over speaking with Dave and letting him know I was leaving.

My favorite day at ATQ comes back to the most recent civil war. I covered basketball at MKA, football at Autzen and then back to volleyball at MKA all in one day. It was my legacy as ATQ Iron Man.

As I said, I really love this community and while I may be repeating myself it's because I write this free flowing. An open goodbye if you will...even if you won't. This was difficult to write and even more difficult to publish. Today at my other job I took a stand against Twizzlers and it was a bittersweet moment. Well, so long, and thanks for all the quack.

-Jake