Mike Antonucci

I'd say I am quite a fun kinda guy when I’m doing what I love.

I’m from Edison, NJ; I was a fat kid with an amazingly loving far from average dysfunctionally together Jersey Italian, Irish, and German family. I grew up fighting a lot, getting beat up a lot, until I started Tae-Kwon-Do at nine years old. I went through puberty in training, with support, guidance, and a good community to kick me in the face and show me love through violence and laughter.

My life was, working out, hanging with friends, learning and growing in knowledge and stature. Life was good. At 16 my Tae-Kwon-Do ended and I ended up getting expelled from school; At the same time I joined Edison Volunteer First Aid Squad and met a great mentor and his wife who would change my life and introduce me to the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) world. I finished out my senior year of high school studying for finals and for EMT school, got my EMT when I was 18.

I went to Niagara University for Freshman year where I learned that drinking and staying up all night with the Rugby team didn’t fulfill that much, and I learned that drinking buddies were in fact not real friends. I was very alone that year after I quit drinking and felt very empty and unloved inside.
That summer after reading “on the road” I decided I was going to go hitchhiking across America, mom didn’t like that and suggested I did a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) instead. I spent the month of July that summer learning how to Backpack and leave no trace camping in the ‘wind rivers’ Rocky mountains in Wyoming. Also learned that after a month of eating no junk food, a binge & snacking period leaves one very constipated and very sick. (Lesson learned)

Sophomore year I transferred to Colorado State Univ. There my life changed completely. There God showed me that he was real and that he loved me, I had a great community and explored living life with God in control instead of just me and my fickle emotions. That summer I went backpacking Europe for 2 months to discover if this “Jesus” all these church people were talking about was real. It was like a movie, best more trusting, faith walking 2 months of my life. (if ya ever wanna read my email journal updates just ask) and life was good.

I took time off of school after that just trying to figure out what to do, to see where I should go and who I should be. I had a year of searching and asking questions, rea