Ask HN: What is the most impressive thing "other than this startup" you've done? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What is the most impressive thing "other than this startup" you've done?

12 pointsdylangs103018 comments

I'm not asking to start a posturing or bragging contest. I'm actually curious to see some kind of sample of impressive things. I've already submitted my own answer on the application, I wonder what variety of things people have answered on their own.

pg - If this amounts to some sort of cheating, please let me know. That's not intended. On another thread I saw someone talk about their interest in other people's answers and realized I am as well.

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I flooded part of the University of Cambridge.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1287372/Cambridge-st...

Impressive! How deep was it?

I mentioned mine on that other thread[1], but basically these are the main things I can come up with that seem even slightly worthwhile:

1. I was formerly Fire Chief of a volunteer fire department, and one of the youngest people to hold that position in my area.

2. I was one the youngest, if not the youngest, Firefighting Instructors certified by the NC State Fire & Rescue Commission.

3. I ran for Lieutenant Governor of NC, appeared in a statewide televised debate with the other two candidates and got about 125,000 votes (roughly 3%).

[1]: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5220936

Is what you're trying to do related to firefighting?

Not in the slightest, sadly. Being a volunteer firefighter and being heavily involved in that world was a big part of my life for about 10 years, and I kinda miss it. But I'm just too busy for it these days.

I built my first website using joomla to store university work, upload photos for friends to see and mess about on. It took me a few months, its the ugliest website you'll ever see but I felt proud to have proven to myself that I could do it.

I convinced my wife to marry me.

Ha, if that's what you put on the application that's pretty funny. I like it.

I convinced my ex-girlfriend to marry me. Kind of like "High Fidelity".

I completed a 2 year Electronics trade school course in 1 year.

Very cool! Thanks for responding.

I help organize one of Canada's largest student run technology conference. http://infect.cutc.ca/

I have planted over half million trees.

Wow. How long did that take you?

I created a self-reliant social enterprise that has helped 150+ at-risk kids.

I'd be interested in reading about this as I might be going into teaching at-risk high school kids. Do you have anything written on this or a site I can visit?

You can read about my project at

http://www.charliesfreewheels.ca/social-mission/

We followed in the footsteps of larger American groups like https://bikesnotbombs.org

If you have any questions, please let me know.

I circled North America (roughly) on a bicycle.

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