Leon R.M. Auguste

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Today marks the 365th day of my blogging experience! It’s been such a fantastic ride here on WordPress’ network. I’m thrilled to have met so many great people on here during my first year of blogging.

Most importantly, I want to thank everyone that has supported me through this year! 

Through all of the hectic changes in my life, I think it’s best to say I’m blessed to still have a roof over my head. Life was never supposed to be fair, but this year of blogging (and living my life in general) taught me that nothing is ever guaranteed. Life is truly a rollercoaster full of unexpected twists and turns through a combination of luck, wit, charm, hard work, and at least a dozen-or-so other realities.

Thinking on it now, I suppose now would be the best time for you, my readers, and audience members to really get to know the man behind Leon R.M. Auguste.

Here are some questions I’ve composed to answer (with a mixture of short and lengthy responses). 

Question 1: Why did I even start this website/blog?

Well, the short answer is that I felt the need to fill a gap in my time. I once had a lot of free time and could express myself creatively more frequently than today.

The long answer? I’m an aspiring author who wants to publish a book (or 2, or 3….or 64)! However, I have an innate passion for writing. I found my creative outlet here on WordPress’ network of other bloggers/photographers/creative minds. It’s incredible to check the different articles/posts that go up each day and see what’s happening with different people worldwide. Oftentimes, we all focus too much on other “things” that don’t really amount to much in the end – but writing is just one of those expressive means of creativity that really sticks with me.

I suppose you can say that I was “cursed” with this certainly wonderful gift when I was about 9 years old. I had often felt frustrated when I was a child because I had trouble speaking orally. I had a speech impediment. It was pretty serious, and it caused me to go “into my shell” for about 2 or so years (before I hit puberty). During those dark years, I found solace in watching movies, playing video games, going on long walks nearby the apartment complex, and occasionally even drawing.

But the one hobby that really struck a chord with me was writing.

For you see; when I started writing, I would eventually come to acknowledge that small-time period of my life as the beginning of what would eventually be self-dubbed as “The Golden Era” of my life.

The first story I wrote; ended up being the same story I’m almost finished editing today. Though I am nearly done editing said book, I know the process will be a long and arduous road to getting traditionally published. Not to mention that this book is part of a series of 6 other books. But perhaps my most significant obstacles are not in the fictional world but in the real one.

I don’t have any family members who are acclaimed writers; I don’t really have any connections in the publishing community. Moreover, I’ve done countless research on publishing. I have realized that I need to grow a substantial audience before I can even hope of truly getting the recognition I believe this book deserves. It’s a road that many would consider “suicidal” or “a waste of time,” but I think it’s worth a shot, even as I work on the other aspects of my life.

Question 2: What are you currently doing in real life?

Well, this question is pretty straightforward. I’m doing what any other sensible (and lucky) young person would be doing during this period of his life.

I’m double majoring in Accounting and Financing, and potentially minoring in Computer & Information Science.

Now, for the long answer.

About a year-and-a-half ago, I decided to go back to college. I had initially started my college journey back when I was 19 years old. However, after taking a single semester of classes, I decided to take about 4 years off (originally, it was just 2 years…but life happened, as it often does). In those 4 years, I worked full time at my local supermarket (Ralphs). After that, I generally just had a good time hanging out with childhood friends and making the best of my situation. 

But, fast-forward to turning 23, I realized I was in a rut.

I had no specialized skills that this ever-changing workforce in both the U.S. and throughout the world requires of people nowadays. At best, I was a decent-enough writer who worked at a local supermarket by day; and wrote by night. Because you see, I wrote the majority of my time when I was younger. What also caused my original “3-year” hiatus from college was the relationship I found myself deeply infatuated with a woman in real life. I had a solid 3-year relationship with a woman who was about 3-and-a-half years my senior. We had the time of our lives then. Even though we didn’t have much in material wealth, we had each other during tough times. We both worked at the same place too, so it was nice to hang out from time to time.

Then the shit hit the proverbial fan.

I realized when I was 23 years old that the relationship couldn’t last forever. The reason being? I was on a fast track to going absolutely nowhere. I had managed to accrue about $10,000 in debt (now down to about $7,500 – spread out across two credit cards). Not to mention, I had also failed miserably in terms of living up to the “standards” of society. I was still living with my parents. I had a 1992 Toyota Tercel (edit: as of 2019, I have a 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback!), and I felt like I had wasted possibly the best years of my life.

It was around this time I knew I had to go back to school. I had to do something (anything really) with my still young life.

So with about 2 weeks of planning out my future life, I called her up and told her I needed to talk with her in person.

She had a feeling where this was going, as is the nature of women.

So instead, she beat me to the punch. I broke it off with her over the phone. Neither of us wanted to waste our time.

So, we had a quick break up. I thought (naively) I would magically feel better.

But I was not prepared for the emotional ramifications.

It took me a good 4-5 months to recuperate after that breakup. The woman was my first (for everything), and I couldn’t manage to get myself out of the deep depression which took a-hold of me during that summer of 2016. I remember vividly going to work almost every day and feeling useless and meaningless. 

It had gotten so bad that at one point, I had to place my 2-week notice. Miraculously, the next school semester would start in about 3 weeks, so I signed up for 5 classes (ended up dropping one class due to my depression). I passed that semester with 3 “A’s” and 1 “B.” I don’t really know how I managed to pull that off, mainly because I didn’t feel motivated at all. Looking back now, I remember immersing myself in the material from each of my classes and really delving deep into the knowledge base provided by each professor.

Fast-forward to late 2017.

I managed to get through all of my lower-division classes. I am currently working on my Accounting and Financing classes that I need to complete to get into the upper division for both majors.

The only other lower-division class I need is Calculus for Business. But that will be easy for me to complete since I’m taking it throughout 2 classes this year. 

Otherwise, from that, I’ve somehow managed to position myself to at least obtaining a somewhat decent standard of living through my major of Accounting and minor in Finance. I’ve managed to learn how to finance my daily, weekly, and monthly expenses, and I’ve learned the actual value of utilizing every single minute of a day.

Though I certainly miss the days of carefree expression and being able to “take it easy,”; I wouldn’t change what I have right now for anything. I’ve learned so many valuable things through my dedication and hard work. I’ve learned how to appreciate the little I have and be a better son, brother, and man even through tough times.

I know I may not have a private yacht or own property, but what I do know is this: I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life. I know someday I will do something (anything really) with my life. For the time being, I will continue to focus on the little foundation that I have built up for myself so far.

And with that, I believe it’s the best time to end this lengthy post!

Thank you again to all of my supporters, readers, and friends! I’ve especially enjoyed getting to know some of you throughout the last several months, and I look forward to hopefully seeing where life takes all of us. Whether I hit a couple of “bumps” along the road or whether I “fail” at something, what matters the most, in the end, is that I keep walking forward through this crazy experience called life.

May my 2nd year of blogging be as-equally-as fun and enjoyable as this one was!

Forever in Your Debt,

Leon R.M. Auguste