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In every man’s life, there is a driving force. For some it can be the pursuit of a lifelong dream –for others the need to make a name for themselves in the world.
For many, it takes a woman to get them out of the stands and onto the track. Still others live in opposition, sheer defiance guiding their every step.
For a select few, a far greater passion guides them in their way of life. Those men have the ability to know what their life’s work will be.
Such is the case of Drew Griffin. At the age of 28, he left a dead-end job and with nothing more than his ideals, a bike and some hand-me-downs – and of course, his trusty car – he set out to make his own way in this world.
His life would be forever altered and improved by the experiences that were to follow.
While living in Houston, Griffin caught wind of the renewable resources program that was to begin in 2009 at Amarillo College.
Having always had a soft spot for the environment and a growing desire to help his fellow man, Griffin quickly made contact with the program’s director, Jack Stanley.
Stanley informed Drew that the program was set to begin that spring and that he was first on the list.
“I told him I’d be there tomorrow,” Griffin said.
Sure enough, following an 11-hour drive, he arrived in Amarillo ready to begin at AC.
As anyone who ever has lived on his or her own knows, acquiring housing, especially good housing, can be treacherous territory.
From deceitful landlords to crumbling apartments held together with duct tape, it can be a nightmare to find a good, affordable place to live.
That was a fact that became increasingly apparent to Griffin during his initial time in Amarillo.
From barely held together to actually falling apart, there was no shortage of places he knew he did not want to live. He saw too many substandard, mildew-ridden residences.
The only place he could get a good night’s sleep was his car. After one particularly dreadful place where the ceiling actually caved in, Griffin attempted to stay in his car until the chill of the early months won out.
A particularly gracious acquaintance turned friend gave him a temporary place to stay.
Unfortunantly, the property owners kicked him out a few weeks later and he was forced to make another go at nomadic living.
Upon the return to his vehicular lifestyle, Griffin realized it was not that bad and that he actually enjoyed it.
“Most of all, I missed not filling my day with purposefulness,” he joked. “At the apartments, I’d play for hours on the computer playing poker or watching movies.”
His days were filled with classes, and his nights were spent stocking groceries at Wal-Mart.
The in-between times were filled with countless adventures to the canyon, dealing with law enforcement, biking and the inevitable search for a place to park his car and sleep.
To this day, however, he maintains that it was invaluable experience and agrees that everybody has to make some kind of intense journey to gain purpose in their life.
“At the beginning, yeah, it wasn’t so great,” Griffin said. ”I was cold and kept asking myself, ‘What am I doing here?’ But by the end, I couldn’t imagine any other way. I still want to sleep in my car sometimes.”
The nomadic lifestyle was not so dreadful, and during some eventful stays at Palo Duro Canyon, he had the opportunity to sleep under more stars than many city dwellers will ever see in their lives.
By constructing a fortress from a few surrounding trees, a tent and a portable stove he’d bought at a hunting and fishing store, he made his palacial abode under the stars.
Griffin was living, thriving even, all while pursuing his vision of working in renewable resources.
He spent a total of 153 “carefree days,” as he would call it, living in his car until he resumed paying rent and bills in an immovable domicile.
Despite hardship and pitfalls, he completed last semester, even managing to make the dean’s list.
He still was enrolled at AC in fall 2009, still in hot pursuit of his career in wind energy. He understands the stigma of being “homeless” for any period of time.
He began an online blog to ease his parents’ minds when they learned of his unconventional living conditions.
Griffin’s drive to succeed against adversety allowed him to flourish when many would have crumbled under the pressure.
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