As a child growing up in Peoria, Illinois, I spent countless hours reading and browsing my family's set of World Book encyclopedias. Within those bound volumes and innumerable pages, I researched my current hobbies, worked on school assignments, and (perhaps most importantly) gained a life-long appreciation for learning.
In January of 2005, I discovered Wikipedia, which rekindled this same "browsing for knowledge" that I first experienced so many years ago. I quickly realized Wikipedia's limitless potential, and I was excited by the prospect of adding my own knowledge to the collective knowledge contained in Wikipedia's thousands of digital pages.
Wikipedia articles I have created or improved[edit]
Gettysburg Address -- In early 2005, I conducted research and then substantially rewrote this article. My initial major revision was uploaded on Feb. 19, 2005. Later that year, with the invaluable contributions of User:Kaisershatner, this article completed two cycles of Peer Review and was nominated as a Featured Article Candidate on December 22nd. On December 27, 2005, on the authority of Wikipedia administrator and bureaucratUser:Raul654, this article became a Featured article! On February 12, 2006, it was the Featured Article of the Day, which marked Abraham Lincoln's 197th birthday.
SS Morro Castle -- I conducted research and then substantially rewrote this article and added illustrations. My initial major revision was uploaded on March 30, 2005. This article is currently in Peer Review.