How I become an Amateur Radio Operator
I was introduced to Ham Radio in high school on December 1995, when I was bored during lunch and there was any meetings going on. I took a look at the daily bulletin to see if there was anything worth doing. "The Ham Radio Club is meeting today- I should pay a visit." I walked to the classroom (the "wood shop", to be more specific) and when I walked in, there was three guys, all crowded around a radio with knobs and a mike. They are listening to a guy up in Canada. The club sponsor invited me to speak to the Canadian. I accepted, and when I heard my name out of the static, I was hooked. I asked the sponsor (Mr. Robert Hazard N6NBF) if he have any publications to borrow and read. He gave me back issues of QST magazine and an info sheet, and from the minute I read QST on the way to class, I was convinced to become a ham.
I saw various faces- from the grizzled to the very young, men and women from many backgrounds- and they know some good things. The lingo was not like CB but is more refined and is timeworn: "CQ CQ CQ", "QRZ?" "CUL, OM", "73 de Phineas, W6BF". The titles of the license classes even spoke of the mystique. I was going to get my Novice Class License, but I wanted to become a Technician. The word Technician sounds like someone with a good knowledge of electronics and forethought. So I decided to become a Technician and I was loaned a license manual.
The next eight months after that revealed the challenges of getting to the examination site and achieving Technicianhood. In my Honors English grade dropped from not doing much homework and I was restricted from taking the test until my grade improved. Mr. Hazard said to me, "Your schoolwork is more important, so take this time to improve yourself and you'll have more time to prepare so you can be more ready for the exam!" My grade improved, and so, I was ready to take the exam... or so I thought. My mother was not able to take me to the site. The exam site holds these sessions on the 1st Saturday of each month. She has to go to work. What can I say? In fact, it was frustrating to wait--and it was more painful when it was stretched out to August. I talked to my friend, teacher and Christian brother, Gil Lefebvre, about it. He said to me, "God does answers prayer. But He does it on His time." I realized what I have done: I attempted to place God on my time schedule and expected to get my fruits at the wrong time. I resigned myself to Him and waited patiently. Meanwhile, wonderful things happened to me in other areas. I was placed in the Honor Roll- again, gained entrance to my high school's senior class honor society for the next year, and a myriad of other things as well. I studied for the Technician license as if the next day would be the day. At last, the day came.
The night before, I prayed to God that if the day would happen and I got my license, I will dedicate my license to Him and I prayed for an opportunity to happen. I passed the exam, and one week later, my Amateur Radio License arrived in the mail. I became KF6FNS, and when I got back to school as a senior, I became the first licensed student in school history and the Team's first president.
One day, I applied to Concordia University and got a letter of acceptance. They invited me to visit and I went on February 14. I met Professor Schramm (who is the Society's co-sponsor) and sat in his public speaking class, and after chapel, Vice-President Holl came to me and said, "I heard that you are an Amateur Radio operator." I responded correctly, and she replied that a couple of weeks ago, there was an emergency preparedness meeting where they voiced a need for a ham radio operator. She asked me if I can set up a station here. I said, "If I am accepted." Holl replied that even if I am going somewhere else, they will keep in touch. That, to me, was God's valentine. A few weeks later, when I was worshipping in church, I realized that this was His call. I responded, "God, I am answering Your call. Thank You, my Commissioner." What made this even more obvious that this was His call is that the other colleges did not give me a great scholarship package as Concordia did. I sent my acceptance, and now I am here writing this story to you. This may not be in QST, but if this story inspires you, I know that this page have served its purpose.
Coming Soon...
I will share to you how the Concordia University Amateur Radio Society got started, and how it was a blessing for me to take part of it.
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