To my family and those who have impacted me

There have been many things that have defined who I am and how I got to where I am at today. I have been blessed with so many things from travel, to my health, to my education that has directed me throughout my life. To write all of these things, would take up far to much of my and your time so I will narrow it down to a very special few and those few are my family.

I cannot narrow down what exactly family is so I will simply show you who they are and how they have impacted me. I am so blessed.

These are my closest friends from Iowa. They are the greatest group of guys a person could ask for. I look forward to seeing them every time I go home or visit them where they are at. I see our friendship, though started at the end of high school, as being a friendship of a lifetime. They also are men in case the epic mountain climbing picture didn't give that away.

This is my boy Jimmy D. What a guy. He is my best friend at Ohio State, my fraternity brother, partner in crime, and my professional developer. I have been lucky to have him as my roommate these past two years and everything that has come with that. I will miss him when he goes to Duke next year. Go Bucks.

This stud is my grandpa Schoffelman. My middle name is shared with him and that alone is a big enough honor for me. This man is my hero. My role model. My best friend. His humility and devotion to character is something I strive to show in my life. I am honored to be his grandson.

Here is my dad and I during a skiing trip last spring break. He exemplifies hard work and devotion in every possible way to me. If I could be half of the man he is, I would consider that an accomplishment.

This beautiful woman is my mom Jill. She has shown me love and grace throughout my entire life and she has a special place in my heart. I always look forward to our coffee dates and her long drawn out stories as to how life is going for her.

This is my brother Alex. He will probably kill me if he finds out that I posted a picture of him wearing an OSU shirt on a public blog. Oh well. He is my exact opposite but yet I admire him for his amazing work ethic and desire to help the world with his amazing interest in agriculture.

This is my step dad Bruce. He is a fighter to say the least. He and I have had many special moments and I look back on them with extreme fondness. His fighting spirit is going on display in one of the most extreme ways I can imagine right now with his fight against cancer. Yet, throughout all of this, he still cares for and looks after my mom in a truly loving way.

This is my amazing girlfriend Liesl. I don't know where to start with her so I will say just a few words. She encourages, challenges, and inspires me everyday. She has the most beautiful personality and appearance I could ever dream of. I have been so blessed to have her in my life these past two years and I cherish every moment I have with her. She is a keeper.

All of these people only scratch the surface of those who have impacted me. I have many men who poured into my life from my pastors to my hunting buddies. I can say without a shade of doubt that I would not be who I am today without every person who has been in my life. I hope I can be as encouraging and impactful as these people have been to me to someone else someday.