User:Jason Paul Ridge

=General Information= Jason Paul Ridge is a (white) caucasian male born on November 23rd, 1971 in El Paso, TX to Robert Alan Ridge (father) and Vanda Lee Ridge (Mother). Jason is a United States citizen, and the first born of Robert and Vanda Ridge.

Early Child Hood
Jason spent his early childhood in El Paso, TX. Initially living in a small apartment with his parents and eventually moving into a homes. Jason was enrolled in kindergarten in El Paso, TX by the age of three, his sister Laura Gaye Ridge was born. By the age of six, his brother (and final sibling) Jeremy Kieth Ridge was born. Shortly after the birth of his brother Jeremy, Jason's father took a job with Phillips Petroleum. The new job was in Old Ocean, Texas and the family moved to a temporary home in Old Ocean while a new home was being built in a housing division named Columbia Lakes, near West Columbia, TX.

Pre-Teen Years
Jason spent most of his pre-teen years living with his family in a gated community named Columbia Lakes (near West Columbia, TX). He and his family lived in a medium sized three bedroom home until Jason was 13 years of age.

=Education=

1st through 5th Grades
Jason began grade school in West Columbia Elementary school, starting with the 1st grade. He continued to attend the elementary school until 6th grade.

6th through 8th Grades
Jason attended [West Brazos Junior High School] in West Columbia, TX from 6th to 7th grade. During his 7th grade year, his father was transfered to another job (still with Phillips Petroleum) to Borger, TX.

High School
Jason began his high-school education at Boger High School in Borger, TX. He continued his education at Borger High School until his Junior year. At which point, his family moved to Bartlesville Oklahoma and Jason enrolled in the Bartlesville Senior High where he finally graduated in the summer of 1990.

Trinidad Jr. College
Jason started his college education in the fall of 1990 at the Trinidad State Junior Collage in Trinidad, CO. His selected major was Music Composition and his instrument of choice was the guitar (learning classical guitar at the collage). Jason continued his education at Trinidad Stat Junior Collage for two years, graduating in the summer of 1992 with an Associates of Arts degree. It is important to note that Jason also attended Brazosport Community College in the summer of 1992 to complete a few college credits. During Jason's education in Trinidad, his family (father, mother, sister and brother) had moved back to the Texas gulf, settling in Lake Jackson, TX.

University of North Texas
Following his dream of becoming a musician, Jason enrolled in the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. He continued his path of obtaining a Bachler of Arts degree in Music Composition until the end of his 2nd year at UNT. At that point, displease with the political atmosphere and favoritisms portrayed by the school toward students, Jason re-evaluated his goals and decided to switch majors. After exploring electrical engineering, Jason finally settled on Computer Science and began his education toward a Bachlers of Science in Computer Science.

=Work=

Pizza Hut
Jason began working at the age of 16 by delivering Pizza's for Pizza hut in Borger, TX. He delivered pizzas for a few short months, and abruptly quit the job (by not showing up again) in order to attend a music concert in Dallas (with Van Halen as the headliner) with his friends.

Taco Tico
After Jason's family moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma Jason hired on with a fast-food chain named Taco Tico. Jason worked at Taco Tico through-out his High School education in Bartlesville.

Trotting Wolf Signs
After Jason's first year at Trinidad Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado Jason returned to his family home in Bartlesville Oklahoma to spend the summer. During this summer, Jason began working with a local sign painter named Edward Trottingwolf. Ed taught Jason the art of hand-painting commercial and other such signs. With the direction of Trottingwolf, Jason worked that summer painting signs for various businesses in the area in what was probably one of the most rewarding jobs he had had so far. Jason continued to return to Trottingwolf signs in the next few summers to work.

Red Lobster
After graduating Trinidad Junior College, Jason began to attend the University of North Texas in Denton Texas. Jason applied for, and was hired on by the Red Lobster restaraunt in Denton, TX working in the kitchen. Jason began his job at Red Lobster cooking their famous garlic-cheese bread, preparing seafood, and assisting other members in the kitchen. Red Lobster then began trained Jason to cook using the deep-fryers, and eventually the expo position (the one who directs all meal preparations during open hours). Jason leaned valuable techniques in cooking and preparing food (especially sea-food) that he continues to use to this day. However, the late hours required by kitchen staff was adversly effecting Jason's school work. Eventually Jason choose to spend his nights studying for his exams - and decided not to show for work. Eventually, Red Lobster was forced to terminate his position (to Jason's relief).

The Import Store
While going to school in Denton, Jason received a phone call from an employee at a small store within the Denton Golden Triangle Mall. The employee asked if Jason was still looking for a position. Jason had applied for the job a long while ago, even before his job at Red Lobster, and had forgotten about the position. Thinking it was time to begin working again while going to school, Jason took the job at The Import Store and began one of his longest and rewarding employment stints to date.