My Story
Born Thomas James Barr III, I have taken the nickname TJ but most close to me call me TEEJ. I am confident, personable, competitive, and ambitious, qualities that have developed throughout my experiences. I am looking for a prosperous future while still contributing to society. I am very goal oriented with strong leadership skills. I am social and outgoing and always look for opportunities to grow personally. I take on projects big and small to help contribute to personal and team objectives. I believe continual self-improvement is a key to life. Therefore, I spend my time reading publications like Sports Illustrated and the Wall Street Journal, The Week current events magazine, and watch TedTalks videos. Sports has been a passion, as I read the sports page every morning, played youth sports throughout my childhood, intramurals in college, officiated games, coached, interned with a professional baseball team, hung with enthusiasts at Chambers Bay Golf Course, and learned valuable lessons in the Sports Business courses. Public speaking has also become a focus of mine, and post-game interviews have become my favorite part of watching a game. I look forward to my future, but will take my past as a platform for my potential.
I graduated from Jesuit High School in Portland Oregon. At the college preparatory institution, I maintained a 3.3 GPA while taking honors classes in math as well as a college credit statistics course. I played football where I achieved 2nd Team All-League honors. But my on-field success was not by accident. I worked incredibly hard to transform my body from a 150-pound freshman to a 206-pound senior through leading lineman workouts, lifting in the weight room and constantly eating. I led the 6th Man cheering section at all basketball games. I was voted Prom King and created a legacy with the Big Brother program mentoring new students. I loved Jesuit and I return for football games and the canned food drive.
I attended University of Oregon after high school. Determined to succeed, I achieved a 3.5 GPA my first term of college taking courses like argumentative writing and the ominous Math 111 (college algebra), all while completing my pledgeship for Sigma Chi fraternity. I completed all of the required courses for the Lundquist College of Business, but because of The Great Recession, my college fund was diminished and returned home to Beaverton Oregon.
Back in the castle, my Dad got a new job as the Business Manager at St. Anthony's School, and I took the dutiful role of stay-at-home brother. Charlie and I are separated by 12 years so I got to watch him grow up, we have become very close. Pride does not begin to describe how I feel about him... ok throw in a little love. I would wake him up, pack his lunch, take him to school, chat up some soccer moms, and return home to help with homework. I wanted to be a impact in his life, and I made sure to develop our relationship. We are very different. He likes Dungeons & Dragons, and I LOVE sports. But we found common ground through our investment in the Boy Scouts of America. I signed on to be Assistant Scoutmaster and took the title 'Trail to First Class Guru.' I took this role seriously because once a young scout attains that rank, he is statistically more likely to obtain the prestigious Eagle Scout. I also signed on to be his 5th Grade Basketball Coach. The St. Cecilia Cyclones won the city championship and I was so proud of our boys. Using the rest of my remaining money, I enrolled in classes I always wanted to take including: Acting, Music Appreciation, Ballroom Dancing, Anthropology, Golf, Tennis, and Acoustic Guitar. I got a dog named Murphy, and after finally investing in cable television, planted on the couch for endless hours of entertainment. Everyday I would walk to our local Safeway, and have breakfast with Jerry, an 80 year old retired salon owner who had the gift of gab. Chatter with maple bars and large coffees had taken its toll, and I began my ascent to my ideal physical fitness. One step at a time, I hit the streets with my dog and my ipod. From there I played in a basketball league at my church. Amid pandemic, I dedicated myself to the p90x workout videos that really propelled my current physique. Today I maintain an active lifestyle through The Mountainiers hiking and climbing club, playing basketball at the gym, and eating regular salads to help combat burgers and beers.
When my grandfather got sick, I moved up to Tacoma Washington to take care of him. He was a total inspiration to me and we were very close. Poppop had retired from Weyerhauser, and was an active member in the community. We would go on walks, and drink tea, and end every night with his favorite, a Brandy Manhattan. My favorite time was the stroll down what I called, "The Hall of Fame." He lived during the depression, so his home was humble, but there was a long hallway with pictures of our family. We would peruse the pictures down the hall and he would tell stories about the different cousins and great relatives, and I listened intently. James Francis Smith wrote 7 novels on Irish-American history and when he caught the JFK bug, I helped him market The Grassy Knoll Assassination to the community John F. Kennedy enthusiasts.
With the support from my grandpa, I returned to school to finish my degree. I was accepted by the University of Washington Tacoma, graduating as a marketing Marketing Major coupled with a Sports Business Minor. I also am the Founder and President of the “Bark No Bite” Public Speaking Club where I lead, recruit, and organize meetings to develop the art of public speaking with my academic community. I graduated Spring 2022, and aspire to work in sports in my future, but am open to any opportunity to grow professionally. My vision is to see the world and work in a big city, only to eventually return home to Beaverton Oregon to work at my dream job at the Nike World Headquarters.
I find value and purpose in giving back to my community. As an Eagle Scout, I had many, many hours of community service. For my high school Christian Service requirement, I volunteered at a week-long camp for the physically and mentally disabled. I ran and organized the Relay for Life cancer research fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. I took part in community efforts with Kiwanis, worked at a soup kitchen, and helped with the canned food drive at Poppop's church. Giving back improves everyone involved and I am happy to lend my talents towards helping others.
My jobs were pivotal, rewarding, and fulfilling to who I am today. As a Kid’s Camp Counselor, I had a summer leading children in games, activities, and camping trips. I was a waiter at the Hearthstone Retirement Home where I heard countless stories from the elderly. Cutco knives gives young entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn skills necessary to become a salesman. I took this opportunity to reconnect with families in my inner circle and beyond, contributing to my college bank account. In the Summer of 2021, I was a sales intern with the Tacoma Rainiers minor league baseball team, soaking in the ballpark all season long. Chambers Bay golf course is a world-renowned facility where golf enthusiast pay $300 to play 18 holes. I provided a special experience to every person involved in the company. Customer service was the job description, but I looked to contribute in other ways. I was a catalyst in the success of the 2022 Women's Amateur Championship, which was televised on the golf channel. This was a daunting project, and I got to see it develop into a win for everybody. While these jobs resulted in a regular paycheck, it gave me the backbone of what makes me unique, and I cherish these experiences, and know that I made an impact.
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I am very lucky to have experiences where I grew as a person. I have become mature, responsible and accountable for my influence and take my impact on others very seriously. My character has served my relationships with others well but I continue to look for ways to develop. I plan to keep on giving back to my community while starting my future professional career.