The Anthony Reeves Experience

When people talk about college, they often focus on the success story — the dream school, the scholarships, the 4.0 GPA. That wasn’t my story. I didn’t attend the University of Tampa because it was my first choice. I went there because I wanted to prove something — to a high school professor who didn’t think much of me. I turned down opportunities that made more financial sense, including a potential ROTC scholarship, for a private school that offered me just a small leadership grant. I told myself I’d make it work. What I didn’t realize then was that this wasn’t just a college experience. It was the first crossroad in my life — the one that taught me how to keep moving even when confidence was nowhere in sight. Surviving, Not Thriving When I got to campus, my finances were a patchwork of faith and luck — a Pell Grant, a leadership award, and a loan co-signed by my grandmother. I didn’t have backup. I didn’t have a plan. By the end of my first semester, I was already debating whe...

Intro: We’ve all heard someone say, “I’m not trying to make new friends.” On the surface, it can sound antisocial or dismissive. But if you’re in your 40s or beyond, that phrase starts to carry a whole new weight. It’s not about shutting people out—it’s about recognizing the power of relationships that have been built over decades. Listen to the Full Podcast Below:  Listen to "Friends After 40: Why Your Circle Shrinks But Grows Deep" on Spreaker. Friends from the Beginning of Adulthood Friendships you start in your teens or early 20s come with a different energy. These are the people who were there during your first job, first apartment, first heartbreak, first real success. They were becoming adults alongside you. By the time you reach 40, something strange and powerful happens: You’ve now known those friends longer than you haven’t. That changes everything. Why Foundational Friendships Hit Different at 40+ Friendships at this stage aren’t casual. They’ve survive...

Resident Assistants, ResCom Dorm University of Tampa, 1990 to 1991 When I was a senior at the University of Tampa, I had the distinct honor of serving as a Resident Assistant (RA) for three of the four years I was there. As an RA, I was responsible for overseeing a floor of students, helping resolve conflicts, planning programs, and serving as a bridge between students and the university. Before college, I had never even heard of the position. During my freshman year, I had two different RAs because I lived on two different floors, but even then, I never considered becoming one myself. RAs are seen as student leaders, often acting as the first authority figures outside of a student’s family. They play an integral role in shaping the college experience for others. When I applied for the position at the end of my freshman year, I honestly didn’t think I stood a chance. Attending a predominantly white, private institution filled with students from privileged backgrounds, I questioned wh...

Most people have no idea how close I came to dropping out of college or, at the very least, transferring. When I arrived at the University of Tampa in the fall of 1987, I was looking forward to a new chapter in my life, but I had no real idea of what to expect. Unfortunately, my first semester was nothing short of miserable. I was struggling financially to the point where even buying something as simple as laundry detergent was out of the question. Making friends wasn’t coming easily, and to top it off, I had the roommate situation from hell. These challenges compounded, leaving me feeling isolated and questioning whether I even belonged at the school. The only thing I had going for me was my academics, but that just made me lonelier. What I didn’t know at the time was that someone else on campus was going through nearly the exact same thing. He wasn’t enjoying his college experience, he was struggling financially, and, by some wild coincidence, he also had a terrible roommate situat...

Have you ever stopped to think about what it means to aspire to your “dream job”? We hear this phrase all the time—people striving for that one role, that one position they believe will fulfill their dreams. But let’s take a moment to pause and dig deeper: why do we call it a “dream job”? At its core, a job is something structured by someone else—defined by their needs, rules, and goals. So why do we attach something as personal and profound as a dream to something that’s ultimately controlled by others? It’s worth reflecting on this question because the answer might change how you approach your goals. The Allure of the Dream Job For many people, the concept of a dream job is tied to what the job represents: • Financial security. • Prestige or recognition. • Opportunities to work in exciting environments or professional circles. These are all valid aspirations. But here’s the challenge—are these outcomes exclusive to one specific job? Often, we think achieving a c...