Earned an education degree from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2003
Attended Appalachian State University, where he studied education
Prior to appearing on reality television, he established an outdoor wilderness school, Land of the Sky Wilderness, a summer-long course that teaches young adults important life skills
Immediately after college, he taught middle school social studies before turning to wilderness education
Quote: "I have a passion and curiosity for learning and can pass that on to kids․"
A longtime student of martial arts, he enjoys training in ninjutsu, tang soo do and integrated martial arts
While in college, he composed music for the Appalachian State University Marching Mountaineer Drumline