And I was lucky enough to have teachers that really, really looked out for me and really encouraged all that. And in rural Louisiana, that was a rare thing back then.

I have known lots of adults who enjoyed similar enthusiasms as a kid and weren't encouraged and then didn't go anywhere with it and so they're unhappy in their jobs as adults.

My parents really encouraged me.

I was lucky that it hit my shaft, and then my helmet, and I was lucky enough to get that breakaway.

I was lucky enough at Stanford to have Vic Fangio as the defensive coordinator for a year, and then Jason Tarver.

For me, writing is such an escape, and I felt very lucky to have this to run away to.