My name is Matt Kottman. I am 37 years old and live in Rockford IL. I have a large family; we have 8 people in the house all together. My wife and I have both divorced and remarried. I have a daughter (13) and a son (10). My wife has four boys (5, 7, 11, and 12). It sounds like it would be crazy, but it’s not. The kids are all pretty well-behaved and quiet for the most part. However, they sure do keep you on the go. The five year old broke his leg on the last day of school, so needless to say everyone’s summer was a little on the boring side. 
I run an American Youth Soccer Program in Rockford. At times, it can be very demanding, while at other times it’s practically non-existent. I also work full time, four 10-hour days a week unless I am on overtime (and there sure hasn’t been much of that with this economy). I have been in steel fabrication and/or construction since I graduated from high school. I have worked and traveled all over the East Coast and Gulf Coast working in shipyards. I have also worked as a Union Ironworker. To sum it all up, I work with my back, my hands and my head, EXACTLY IN THAT ORDER. This is my driving motivator for becoming a college “kid” at this point in my life. I have settled down a lot in my personal life and matured. I guess that maybe I have finally decided what I want to be when I grow up--more importantly, what I don’t want to be.
“College, at 37?” “ You, an accountant?” And my personal favorite, “How do you do a beer bong online?” That’s what I am hearing these days. I laugh at them. I still have half of my life left to work, why not? Well, it’s time for some change. It will take a lot of patience and understanding on my and my family’s part. I am certain I will succeed. But most of all, in the end, I will be working with my head, my hands and my back (EXACTLY IN THAT ORDER).
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