My career is just starting as this is my 1st indoor grow. I liked OU’s self-paced Horticulture class so that I could study at anytime. I thought the Professors and Instructors were very Professional, Videos were great and brief, straight to the point. Before attending OU, I was starting to lose my first grow. I remembered that “Girls go to College to get more knowledge” and took a financial risk to attend OU. Which now, obviously was well worth it !!! There’s alot of Growers and Dispensaries in Michigan, where I live; so my plan was to grow only Top Shelf, Premium grade Marijuana. But there’s alot of competition and nobody knows who I am, so I needed to prove myself, that my Marijuana is better. I personally sampled meds from local Dispensaries and Growers and felt that my Marijuana was better. I entered the 420 CONNOISSEURS (Tasters) Cup at the Genesee County Compassion Club (GC3) and Won the 1st Place Trophy 🏆 for Flower !!! There’s alot of great Growers/Caregivers at GC3, which began in 2009. Growers here have been growing for 5, 10, 15 and more years. One Grower is even a Caregiver for a former Detroit Red Wing Hall of Fame hockey player, Darrin McCarthy. This is extremely honorable and prestigious !!! My wife Sherry doesn’t use Marijuana or alcohol, but has supported and helped me. Most importantly, she believes in me. I have told my wife all along that our Marijuana is better than the Dispensaries. When at the 420 Party and the GC3 founder started to announce the 1st Place winner, he slowly said the strain, Gelato #33, and my wife and I 🤔 thought interesting, maybe someone else grew the same strain, but then he said- the Larry Bird cut; then we BOTH really thought it was mine, because I ALWAYS state the name of my Flower as – Larry Bird cut and many others don’t. Then my name, Gregory Johnson announced as Winner and my wife said loudly- no way, as her eyes were fully lit up with excitement and joy !! My eyes started flowing with tears, but these were ” tears of joy” , and I told Sherry that ” we did it” !!! I felt like I am in a dream . We had alot of adversity to deal with and overcome with my first grow which involved creating, building our growroom. I have never had a Facebook page, which I have been planning on creating, and told my wife that a 1st Place Trophy 🏆 would look great on our Facebook page to prove to others that my Flower is better than most. I also like having the Oaksterdam University Horticulture certificate, which is framed nicely, to add to my resume. I am working to acquire new patients now and get compensated appropriately. Or I wonder if I qualify for a better job for a Dispensary/Grower ? Gregory Thomas Johnson