Arron+Winter

Hey there! I'm Arron Winter, and this is my space (that, quite conveniently, is not on MySpace.)

[A]cademic[[image:5295_133903028803_546663803_3265946_3103162_n-1.jpg width="421" height="314" align="right" caption="Me, in one of the rare photos where I look decent."]]
I grew up in a small farming town called Fairgrove, where the most exciting thing for a kid to do is find yet another way to get lost in a corn field. Not surprisingly, I developed some hobbies to pass the time. More surprisingly, they were in realms like reading, gaming, and most importantly, learning. All three carried with me as I completed my first twelve years of schooling at locations that increased in distance from my home, culminating in my high school commute of 45 minutes. This likely-to-be farmboy and huntsmen instead took the academic's path, proved he was a genius, got some great scholarships, and now finds himself at Alma College, whose surrounding businesses is New York City by comparison to his hometown. Nobody would have guessed--well, except those who couldn't answer my questions in fourth grade.

[R]andomness
I like probability. The roll of the dice, the draw of the card, or the choice of paper over rock all intrigue me greatly, but it doesn't stop at the small occasions of chance that come up during the games I love playing so much. Everything seems to follow a pattern of randomness, and I enjoy trying to find the signals that emerge from amidst the noise--the order to the chaos, so to speak. Sometimes I go so far as to call probability my 'god,' but that's a subject for another time--maybe I'll randomly bring it up later.

[R]ecalcitrant[[image:6371_152344298857_604233857_3568309_4226326_n.jpg width="421" height="315" align="right" caption="Why jump a car the old-fashioned way?"]]
Authority and I don't get along as well as authority would like. I don't mind being told what to do, but knowing the 'why' for any action is a standard stipulation before I act on it. Most of the time, this happens normally in the course of instruction; some of the time, the person can't even come up with a 'why.' Very importantly, though, I try to make any task I do as entertaining and as lighthearted as possible, much to the subverted authority's dismay. I have no defense besides insanity--that is, it's insanity to live your life in any other way.

[O]pen Minded
In the beginning, I believed what I was told, learned what I was shown, and recited what I was told to memorize. Such behavior earns you the respect of your elders, after all. As a senior in high school, I turned that on its head. I don't think my elders were quite ready for the result. Opposing viewpoints to what one believes are critical to strengthening and discovering the truths of this world (or at least, that's what I wrote in philosophy class). No matter how uncomfortable it seems, learning and development come down to accepting that what you currently believe could be entirely wrong, weighing the merits of others' observations than your own, and adjusting your opinions accordingly--although I'm always open to hearing your insights on this matter as well.

[N]erdy[[image:n591330107_1966892_4869.jpg width="421" height="281" align="right" caption="Prize money handed out: $2,000 and counting!"]]
The term "Geek" applies better, but for the sake of structure and avoiding having to change my first name, I'm a self-professed nerd for games. The 'interest' I had as a child only blossomed with time, leading me to enjoy, more than anything else, sitting down with others and spending some time engaged in gameplay. From video games to board games, role-playing games to card games, I run the gamut of interests in the various realms of play. As a game show fan, nothing gives me more satisfaction than running my ACUB-sponsored game shows here on campus; and as a gamer, nothing makes me happier than sitting down with my fellow members of ACOG for an evening of entertainment. Consider me the aspiring King of Games--without any of the cheesy Yu-Gi-Oh! undertones.