Well, I suppose this is proof of the power of this meme since it even reached me (from Hallvard). Some of these may be better known than others, but at least they're off the beaten, technical path.

1. I started my college career as a performance music major playing the trumpet. While I love music to this day, I realized early on that I didn't want to be a teacher, and I always had a knack for computers, so I switched away from music.
2. I played football for the UW-Madison Badgers in 1988. Well, "played" may be an exaggeration. I walked on under the Don Morton era and made the team as a free safety. By the spring game, I received a subluxation of the shoulder after a nasty collision. While rehabbing, I reinjured the shoulder and finally hung it up.
3. I started computer programming in ninth grade on a TRS-80, Model I. I tested out of math, so that's what they had me do instead. They eventually allowed me access to the faculty Apple ][, and I ended up teaching a bunch of faculty members how to program it. I even got my picture in the local paper for that.
4. My obsession for all things Apple lasted through college. I was a student Macintosh expert at the MACC (now known as DoIT). That's how I also got into Pascal, using TurboPascal for Mac, Lightspeed Pascal, and Macintosh Programmer's Workshop. I took my first professional job out of college working in DOS, and sadly, have never returned back to the Mac.
5. I have always wanted to work for the NSA. However, I can't ever imagine living on the east coast (how's that to slight an entire third of the nation! ). Maybe after the kids go to college, I'll see what kind of opportunities exist.

To pass it on, I'll tag Steve Trefethen, Rich Werning, Mark Edington, Geoff Lane, and fellow Badger alum Chris Peterson.