Taylor: Chapters of My Life

Summary

In this reflective interview, Taylor discusses his life as if it were a book, dividing it into chapters. From early years marked by hyperactivity to discovering individuality during his first year at Liberty University, Taylor's narrative is a journey of self-discovery and growth. He recounts his love for cars, his rebellious phase, and the transformative experience of moving to Oklahoma with his wife. Currently, he's in a chapter of uncertainty due to global events, yet envisions a future of career fulfillment, community involvement, and possibly, political engagement.

Takeaways

• 📚 Taylor segmented his life into chapters, each with a distinct theme and age range, reflecting on his personal growth and experiences.
• 👶 Chapter one, 'What Am I Doing?' covers Taylor's early years from age zero to four, a period he doesn't remember well, symbolizing the beginning of his life's journey.
• 👕 Chapter two, 'The Khaki Years,' describes his time in elementary school from ages five to eight, where he wore a uniform and attended a school with a dress code, including half days on Thursdays.
• 🧠 Chapter three, 'Becoming Aware,' spans ages nine to twelve, a period when Taylor recognized his hyperactivity and started self-regulating his behavior to be less obnoxious.
• 🎭 Chapter four, 'The Boy with Long Hair,' covers his teenage years from thirteen to sixteen, when he was involved in theater and embraced a creative side, which was a contrast to his more reserved classroom behavior.
• 🚗 Chapter five, 'Finally Able to Drive,' encompasses ages sixteen to eighteen, a time when Taylor cherished the freedom and independence that driving a car offered him.
• 🏫 Chapter six, 'The Year of Liberty,' focuses on his first year of college at Liberty University, which was a pivotal year of self-discovery and questioning of his previously held beliefs.
• 🚙 Chapter seven, 'Doing Whatever I Want,' from ages nineteen to twenty-one, was a period of exploration and self-indulgence, where Taylor bought his first car, a Jeep named Caroline.
• 💍 Chapter eight, 'Oklahoma,' marks a significant transition in Taylor's life, as he got married, moved to a new state, and further developed his identity as part of a couple.
• 🌟 Chapter nine, 'Who Freaking Knows,' represents Taylor's current state of uncertainty and exploration, acknowledging the unpredictability of the future and the collective challenges faced by society.

Q & A

What is the title of the first chapter of Taylor's life according to the transcript?

The title of the first chapter is 'What Am I Doing?' which covers Taylor's age from zero to four.

Why did Taylor call the second chapter of his life 'The Khaki Years'?

Taylor called the second chapter 'The Khaki Years' because he wore khaki pants every single day to Montclair Elementary School, which had a dress code, during his ages five through eight.

What significant realization did Taylor have during his 'Becoming Aware' chapter?

During the 'Becoming Aware' chapter, which was from ages nine to twelve, Taylor realized that he needed to tone down his hyperactive behavior as he was coming across as obnoxious to others.

Why did Taylor grow his hair long during his teenage years?

Taylor grew his hair long from ages 13 to 16 because he was involved in theater and many boys in theater had long hair. He thought it was attractive and it helped him meet his first girlfriend.

What was the allure of driving for Taylor and how did it relate to his freedom?

The allure of driving for Taylor was deeply tied to the freedom and autonomy it provided. He had been obsessed with cars from a young age and the ability to drive meant he could go where he wanted without depending on others for transportation.

Why did Taylor's experience at Liberty University lead to a significant change in his beliefs?

Taylor's experience at Liberty University led to a significant change in his beliefs because he was exposed to ideas that clashed with his conservative upbringing. This led him to question and challenge many of the views he had been told to accept.

What was the name of Taylor's first car and why was it significant?

Taylor's first car was a 1994 Jeep Wrangler named Caroline. It was significant because it represented his newfound freedom and independence after the period of 'Doing Whatever I Want'.

How did Taylor's move to Oklahoma influence his life and relationship?

Moving to Oklahoma for college helped Taylor and his wife grow as a couple. It was a time of exploration and self-discovery, allowing them to define their identity as a unit and experience the freedom of the 'frontier'.

What is the title of the current chapter in Taylor's life and what does it signify?

The current chapter in Taylor's life is titled 'Who Freaking Knows', signifying the uncertainty and unpredictability of the present, especially with the ongoing global events like the coronavirus pandemic and social justice protests.

What does Taylor envision for his next chapter and how does it reflect his aspirations?

For his next chapter, Taylor envisions moving to a place that aligns with his career goals in history, becoming more active in his community, and potentially getting involved in politics. This reflects his desire for professional fulfillment, community engagement, and social progress.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Early Years and School Days

Taylor begins by discussing the early chapters of life, starting with age zero to four, which he humorously titles 'What Am I Doing?' due to a lack of memories. He then moves on to the 'Khaki Years' from ages five to eight, detailing his experience at Montclair Elementary School in Virginia, where he wore khaki pants daily as part of the dress code. This period included kindergarten through third grade and was marked by the school's peculiar half-day schedule on Thursdays.

05:01

🚗 Adolescence and the Love for Cars

In the next chapter, Taylor describes the period from ages nine to 12 as 'Becoming Aware,' a time when he recognized his hyperactivity and began self-regulating his behavior. He humorously notes being compared to the talkative character Donkey from 'Shrek.' The chapter from ages 13 to 16 is titled 'The Boy with Long Hair,' reflecting his foray into theater and the creative freedom it offered, contrasting with the structured classroom environment. Taylor also discusses how his long hair, a trend among theater boys, led to meeting his first girlfriend.

10:03

🏫 College Experiences and Self-Discovery

Taylor's narrative continues with his high school years, ages 16 to 18, where he finally obtained his driver's license, an event he had eagerly anticipated since childhood. This period represents newfound freedom and autonomy. At 18, he enters Liberty University, which he dubs the 'Year of Liberty,' a pivotal year where he challenged his conservative upbringing and developed independent beliefs. This chapter is marked by intellectual and personal growth, leading to a decision to leave the university due to ideological conflicts.

15:03

🔍 Post-College Exploration and Future Aspirations

The final chapters cover Taylor's post-college life, where he bought his first car, a Jeep named Caroline, symbolizing his continued love for cars and the freedom they represent. He then discusses the 'Doing Whatever I Want' phase, a period of self-indulgence and less consideration for others. The narrative shifts to 'Oklahoma,' marking his marriage and the couple's move to the University of Oklahoma, where they further defined their identity as a pair. The current chapter, 'Who Freaking Knows,' reflects the uncertainty of life during the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest, with Taylor contemplating future moves, career shifts, and a more active role in community and political engagement.

Keywords

💡Chapters of Life

The concept of 'chapters of life' refers to the division of one's life into distinct periods or stages, each with its own set of experiences and lessons. In the video, Taylor metaphorically divides his life into chapters, each representing a significant phase or turning point, such as 'What Am I Doing' for his early years with few memories, and 'The Khaki Years' for his elementary school period. This framework helps to narrate his personal history and growth.

💡Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the capacity for introspection and recognizing one's own personality, emotions, and behaviors. In the script, Taylor describes becoming self-aware during his pre-teen years, realizing that his hyperactive behavior was perceived as annoying by others. This awareness led to self-regulation, a key aspect of personal development.

💡Identity Formation

Identity formation is the process of developing a sense of self, including one's values, beliefs, and social roles. Taylor's narrative of his life chapters reflects his journey in identity formation, especially during his time at Liberty University where he began to question and redefine his beliefs, leading to a more independent sense of self.

💡Freedom and Autonomy

Freedom and autonomy are central to Taylor's story, particularly when he obtained his driver's license, symbolizing his newfound independence and the ability to make his own choices. This is a common theme in coming-of-age narratives, representing the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

💡Theater and Creativity

Theater is mentioned as a significant part of Taylor's life where he could express himself creatively. Having long hair was part of his identity as a theater enthusiast, and it was a time when he felt he could be his authentic self, aligning with the creative and free-spirited nature of theater.

💡Liberty University

Liberty University serves as a pivotal setting in Taylor's life story, representing a period of intense personal growth and ideological conflict. Despite its name suggesting freedom, Taylor found the environment constraining and ultimately chose to leave, reflecting his desire for a more open-minded and inclusive community.

💡Transition to Adulthood

The transition to adulthood is a recurring theme as Taylor navigates through various life stages, from his early years to college and beyond. This transition is marked by increased responsibility, self-discovery, and the pursuit of personal and professional goals.

💡Relationships and Marriage

Relationships, particularly marriage, play a significant role in Taylor's narrative. His move to Oklahoma with his spouse represents a new chapter, where they grow together as a couple, exploring their identities and building a life合伙.

💡Career and Professional Aspirations

Career and professional aspirations are important to Taylor as he seeks to align his work with his degree in history and personal interests. This reflects a common quest for fulfillment and meaning in one's professional life, as well as the desire to contribute to society in a meaningful way.

💡Community and Social Activism

Community involvement and social activism are highlighted towards the end of the script, indicating Taylor's growing awareness and desire to participate in societal changes. This shows a shift from personal growth to a broader engagement with social issues, reflecting a commitment to making a positive impact.

Highlights

Taylor describes life as a book divided into chapters, each representing a distinct phase.

Chapter one, 'What Am I Doing?' covers ages zero to four, a period with few memories.

Chapter two, 'The Khaki Years,' ages five to eight, marked by a strict dress code at Montclair Elementary School.

Becoming aware of his hyperactivity and its impact on others during ages nine to twelve.

The 'Boy with Long Hair' chapter, ages thirteen to sixteen, explores Taylor's identity through theater and a new look.

Driving and the freedom it symbolizes become a significant theme at age sixteen.

Chapter six, 'The Year of Liberty,' is a pivotal year of self-discovery at Liberty University.

Taylor's realization of his own beliefs conflicting with the conservative environment at Liberty.

Chapter seven, 'Doing Whatever I Want,' reflects a period of self-indulgence and less consideration for others post-college.

Chapter eight, 'Oklahoma,' signifies a new beginning with marriage and further education.

The importance of geographical movement from the East Coast to the Midwest for personal growth.

Chapter nine, 'Who Freaking Knows,' captures the uncertainty and adaptability in the face of global crises.

Taylor's vision for chapter ten includes potential career changes and community involvement.

The desire to contribute to a progressive future and possibly entering politics.

The interview concludes with Taylor's ongoing journey of self-discovery and anticipation for the future.

Transcripts

well taylor

thanks for talking with me about um

chapters of your life

and so i had asked you to sort of think

about your life as if it were a book

and sort of divvy it up into chapters

and so

what have you got for me what what did

you come up with let's talk through your

chapters

so i also put an age range okay each one

sure to kind of help divvy it up so

chapter one

is what am i doing that's age zero

through 4 because

like i don't really remember any of that

or

even if i did i don't don't know what i

was up to so

okay i'm just sort of figuring

everything out so this is the beginning

stage

few with any memories of specific things

but

it's the prelude in some ways to what's

the gum

did you have a title for it you had what

was it you call it what am i doing what

am i doing yeah

okay so that was the chapter okay and

how about

what do you do from there so chapter two

uh was ages five through eight

was the khaki years uh i went to

an elementary school that had a dress

code and so

all the boys had to wear either a white

red or

black polo shirt and then khaki pants

i see so i wore khakis every single day

every day khaki pants every day

khaki shorts khaki long pants heavy long

pants long pants

and a white red or black yes shirt

polo shirt okay and um

and this was all through this is from

great from what from five

five through eight so that was like

kindergarten through third grade

i see okay and where were you at that

point

what was the school yeah it was

montclair elementary school

in virginia a private school no it's

public school it's a public school

with a dress code like that a dress code

and uh

half days on thursdays don't know why

just they just decided to do half days

on thursdays wow

that's really interesting yeah it was a

re it was a weird school uh-huh

so but it was public okay interesting

and then where did you go from there

so age nine through 12 i called

becoming aware okay um so as a

when i was a kid i had really bad atd

and so

you know it was kind of hyperactive and

bouncing all over the place

and uh wasn't really aware that

like it was kind of annoying so from

like nine to twelve i

started realizing like okay you need to

kind of tone it down a bit

because you're a little obnoxious okay

so you begin to see in the reflection of

other people

that you were a little too supercharged

a little too annoying

yeah like what would be an example of

that of when you

you came to recognize your sounds like

you're coming to recognize your impact

on other people

um i would say i

so my family used to call me donkey

because i was like the character donkey

in shrek okay i wouldn't shut up okay i

talked incessantly

and maybe my wife would say i still do

that

but um better than shrek though maybe in

some ways

um but i just kind of realized that like

like

okay you don't need to be talking all

the time you can just kind of

calm down and like you know listen a

little bit okay so that was a time

of almost sort of self-monitoring and

self-regulating and self-checking

exactly okay okay yeah okay that's a

big transformation uh so chapter four

was

i called the boy with long hair because

when i was 13 to about 16 i had

shoulder length hair was flowy

and wavy and not always clean

it wasn't the most attractive look but i

thought it was at the time

of course you did right so i had really

really long hair

okay so when you look back on it that

what what represents that or what's that

what was it about that chapter i mean

you had the long hair

was there something inside you as well

at that time or how would you

characterize you

uh i think that was when i started to do

theater a lot and

so for some reason a lot of the boys in

theater had

really long hair and so i thought that i

would do that as well

okay um i mean it would i guess you

could say it was mildly successful

because

i met my first girlfriend because she

just wanted to come

like touch my hair oh well then no

wonder you kept the long hair so yeah

i was very stubborn about cutting and

then cutting that hair because it

worked before sure absolutely i'm also

understanding that as then

you know if that's your introduction to

theater time there's something about

that being

a creative time or a flowing time or you

coming into your own in some ways

yeah it was when i could do

quotes from movies or talk a lot and um

like that was the way to do it correctly

ah whereas in just normal everyday life

and especially in the classroom that was

not the way to do it correctly that

wasn't the time it wasn't the place

so for theater that was kind of where i

could goof off and it was

the right way to do it well that's

wonderful i mean it kind of gave you

a corridor a vehicle for being able to

express yourself

appropriately and creatively into them

you could be the donkey

in character exactly and it was cool and

okay yeah exactly

okay very cool all right then what

happens

uh so then it was finally able to drive

that was

16 through 18. okay yep um because

ever since i was like two or three years

old i've always just gravitated toward

cars

oh and so all the way up until 16 i was

just

counting down the days that i could

drive because i just

really really wanted to drive that's all

i wanted

and so that was finally like you know at

the end of high school the last two

years of high school i could finally

drive and it was like this

really cool new thing and i could go

wherever i wanted and

kind of do what i want so that was

really cool wow so it was a long time

coming

yes talk about delayed gratification

yeah yeah it was about

about 13 or 14 years

and waiting and waiting to drive what do

you mean i can't get a license at six

you know exactly so what

what when you think back on it taylor

what was the um

[Music]

what was the long allure about driving

what when you thought about driving

your attraction to cars and driving that

would be cool and that's attractive or

that's appealing

why what because uh i guess because

just on the surface level it's just more

because i just loved cars

so much and i mean even now i'm just

absolutely obsessed with cars i love

cars

um and so i grew up like my my granddad

had a 1967

beetle right and so i would just go sit

in the beetle

in his driveway for like an hour or two

hours

and just pretend like i was driving but

i guess on a

more of a like a subconscious level it

was the freedom of

being able to determine that i was going

to go where i wanted i wasn't dependent

on

my mommy taking me or my dad picking me

up and

so you know i want to go to the mall hey

mom i'm going to the mall see you later

and like

i'll be back when i feel like it but you

know obviously not so rude but freedom

autonomy and freedom yeah independence

um great that's excellent yeah worth the

wait huh

yeah yeah absolutely then what game

so chapter six is the year of liberty

that was 18 19 years old because

my first year of college i went to

liberty university

which is a private uh baptist

university sure in the hills of virginia

and um really discovered a lot about

who i was and who i was not

and so i know that's only it's literally

just

one school year and so it's like that's

the shortest chapter as far as

amount of time but i did a lot of

growing there

because i came from a relatively

conservative family

you know growing up in the baptist

church thought that i would go to

liberty and find more of

that and discovered that

when it was just me and i didn't really

have

you know my church telling me how to

think about things or

didn't have my parents telling me how to

think about things i decided that i

didn't really believe a lot of the stuff

that i've been told you know not

necessarily about

the church but just socially

and historically and looking at things

from

you know a perspective that wasn't quite

as privileged

and the reason i was only at liberty for

one year was because i clashed

with pretty much everybody there on

on a lot of those views well now i mean

the irony is not lost on me

teller that you i mean first of all the

the name of the university of liberty

actually at least for me

suggests anything but i mean it's pretty

conservative right it is very

very concerning but yet you used this

constraining

and confining kind of ideology

as a springboard to liberate yourself i

mean you

you transcended it you clashed with it

you overcame it

rather than succumbing to it or staying

within it you kind of

expanded yourself and used it as a

springboard to

move onward and upward yeah exactly and

there's a few people i know

maybe two or three other people that

went to liberty and had the same

experience and even if they finished

there or

if they did like i did and chose to go

to a different school later

they kind of had the same the same

experience that i did that

you know it was just not as inclusive as

we were expecting it wasn't as

open-minded as we were expecting and

came we came out very critical of that

interesting

um but you know i would say that 99

of the people that i know that went

there just kind of went along with it

and

just did the liberty thing and

were all you know they let themselves be

told kind of what to do and what to

think

boy that that itself is is is mind

opening for you isn't it to see

yeah the people that would succumb to

that as opposed to the people who would

rise above it

interesting what happened next what uh

you saw this it was only one year but

what a big year

it really was that was kind of there's a

there's like a pre-liberty and a post

liberty

oh because pre-liberty i you know

grew up and you just kind of when you're

younger you sort of just parrot

whatever your parents say sure you know

whether that's politically or

religiously or whatever

and then after that i just kind of

decided like

yeah i mean they might tell me that

that's what they believe and they might

tell me that's what they want me to

believe

but i'm not like i'm gonna challenge

that and figure out what i want to

believe and what i want to say moving

forward you've got your own car to drive

at this point don't you yeah yeah i did

actually as soon as i got back

it kind of goes into the next chapter

okay which is

doing whatever i want that was 19

through 21.

okay one of the first things i did when

i got back was i bought myself a jeep

oh wow okay because you know like i said

i was you know super obsessed with cars

and

wanted you know i just had always really

really loved jeeps um

it was a 1994 wrangler five-speed lifted

her name was caroline

i remember her vividly you always

remember your first caroline

but then i that kind of was the start of

me doing kind of whatever i wanted and

then

some of the other stuff where i wasn't

necessarily as respectful

of other people and kind of did whatever

i want even if it was going to hurt

someone else and

so that was there was a time in my life

when i wasn't as

friendly or as kind to other people just

because i just wanted what i wanted and

other people be damned you were breaking

free and more of a renegade kind of

and you even disassociate a jeep sort of

with freedom you know

yeah you're doing the off-roading thing

at that point exactly i don't know where

i'm going i don't need no roads

and then what happens where did you move

to where are you

so chapter eight is called oklahoma

okay yeah okay um so that was when

uh got married and then went for the

last two years

of college uh transferred to the

university of oklahoma

and um absolutely loved it and

that's when you know i had spent the

time at liberty figuring out who i was

then did whatever i wanted figured out

more who i was

and then oklahoma helped us figure out

as a couple who we were going to be

and so we did a lot of growing as a as a

couple there

so literally coming into your own

growing up

getting your own direction and uh

sort of forging taylor yeah and then in

his marriage

well and it was kind of a historic

uh thing for us because

we come from the east coast and then

we're going out into this brave new

world and we're going out west

you know we're moving westward to

oklahoma and you know the freedom that's

supposed to come with the planes

and you know all of that sure go west

young man

yeah you really think of the frontier

yeah exactly yeah the frontier thing

that's kind of what we were thinking of

you know at some point i'd thought you

know hey maybe this is just a pit stop

on the way to california like it was for

so many people

sure yeah you could have gone out for

gold mining at that point you know i

know

well very cool and then what where does

this lead you to the chapter you're in

or

so yeah this is the last one chapter

nine which is who freaking knows

because it's it's kind of like right now

you know we don't really know i mean as

we sit here now i mean there's

coronavirus going on and there's uh you

know racial injustice protests going on

everywhere and so we don't really know

where we're going to go as a country but

also

just that's kind of the nature of the

future in general you never really know

what's going to come next

so so confronting you've forged a kind

of direction for yourself you've come

into your own

but at the same time you're coming to

realize that we face

collectively on certain futures along

lots of

politically and economically and

environmentally

and medically there's the uncertainty of

life

and not knowing quite what what we have

to condemn with what we have to face

what is the next chapter for you taylor

what do you if you

were to envision a 10th chapter that you

would be moving from

this stage into what might that chapter

be or what might that chapter look like

i think that it would look like probably

moving again

just because this isn't the place that

at least that i want to be forever

it would look like uh getting

into a career field that more closely

matches with my degree of history rather

than you know working for

a government contractor and having a

clearance and all that that's not

really where i want to end up that's

just kind of a you know foot in the door

so just kind of being

more uh where we want to be physically

geographically

being more where i want to be in my

career but then also

starting to be more active in the

community as far as

you know like with all what's going on

right now with the

the protest making sure that i'm you

know being a part of that and being a

part of the progressive future

and uh you know contributing and

maybe one day going into politics or

something like that and just kind of

trying to pave

that path interesting so you're really

still very much on the journey

and you're looking for the next stage in

which you can find a place

and um put down some intent stakes

and and and and get settled and feel

like

you're doing more what you want to be

doing professionally

um you're able to make a commitment and

participate more deeply and richly in

the community

and uh and and um and stick a claim to

the future that you are forging you're

developing

yes yeah exactly very cool well thank

you for sharing your chapters and for

sharing your

your history appreciate it