It\u2019s rare that you run across someone with the mental fortitude to shrug off something as traumatic as being laid off from his job one month into an epic, 12-month journey around the world. <\/span><\/p>\n He stares at me, unblinking, with a wide smile on his face as he nonchalantly says, \u201cI haven\u2019t found anything permanent yet, but there are jobs out there, so I\u2019m hopeful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Consider that Jason is part of a program called <\/span>Remote Year<\/span><\/a>, where a $2,000 per month payment is required\u2026 for a full 12-months\u2026 and you can only marvel at how cool and calm his demeanor is.<\/span><\/p>\n Likely, his come-what-may attitude is a direct result of his logical approach to life, fed by his career as a software engineer. The fact is, Jason is one of those types of guys who could watch a nuke fall, then lean back in his chair to calmly assess the fallout.<\/span><\/p>\n Still, that doesn\u2019t make him an emotionless automaton. In fact, he\u2019s on an incredible journey looking for his mission. When asked what his purpose is, a full ten- to twenty-seconds passes as his eyes glaze over and he appears to look past me at something in the far off distance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI love volunteering,\u201d he says after finding his thoughts. \u201cI love helping people, giving back and trying to shape the future, but I haven\u2019t figured out my unique way of doing that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He pauses again, to reach a little deeper before continuing.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere are lots of things out there, but none of it is mine, or from me, it\u2019s always been me participating in other programs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Part of Jason\u2019s personal mission statement is to not only make an impact in volunteering, but to do so within the sphere of his next career move. It\u2019s a desire that has made itself apparent in Jason\u2019s past volunteerism.<\/span><\/p>\n As a tech guy through-and-through, Jason\u2019s longest stint helping the community was in his work with the Oregon Robotic Tournament Outreach Program (ORTOP).<\/span><\/p>\n ORTOP\u2019s mission is to inspire eight- and nine-year old kids to get involved in science, technology, engineering and math through a yearly robotics competition.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI spent a lot of time volunteering for that and just kind of worked my way up until eventually I was the director of the program,\u201d he explains. \u201cThen, I got to the high school side where I actually had a high school robotics team that I was the coach and mentor for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In explaining his drive to spend so much of his personal time working with the program, Jason describes the satisfaction he got from \u201cgiving back to the next generation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n So, once his fantastic year-long adventure is over, the burning question is whether Jason will complete his personal mission back home in the <\/span>City of Roses<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf do go back to the states, I am going to return to Portland,\u201d he says without hesitation. <\/span><\/p>\n Although he laments the lack diversity in Portland, something he is getting plenty of during his time with Remote Year, it wouldn\u2019t be enough to keep him away from home, should he decide that America is still the place for him.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been all around the edges and most of the middle of America,\u201d he says, \u201cbut still, to me, Portland is the best place to be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As an enterprising <\/span>PDX Person<\/span><\/a>, Portland would be well-served to have Jason George complete his mission right here, back home amidst the beauty of his hometown. Safe travels, Jason! We\u2019ll see you next year (maybe)!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n William Bessette<\/strong> \u2013 PDX People Contributor<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Follow William on: <\/strong> Facebook<\/u><\/a>\u00a0, Twitter<\/u><\/a>\u00a0 Connect with William on:<\/strong> LinkedIn<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n ![\"pdx-people-making-it-happen\"](\"http:\/\/pdxpeople.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/PDX-People-Making-it-Happen-001.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"William](\"http:\/\/pdxpeople.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Will6-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>William Bessette is a journalist and freelance writer who has been covering politics, entertainment, culture and travel for over thirteen years. When he\u2019s not profiling Portland-area restaurants and residents, you can find him reporting on national and international travel and eco-tourism through his travel brand, <\/em><\/strong>Floppy Hat Adventures<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
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