40 Under 40: Adam Gohn, sports and recreation coordinator

Adam Gohn

AGE: 25

FAMILY: Wife Shvetha Choudhry Gohn

EMPLOYER: Boys and Girls Club of Cape Girardeau

POSITION: Sport and recreation coordinator

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT: Big Brothers, Big Sisters; River Corridor Task Force volunteer; president of Southeast Missouri State University Cycling Team; Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative; Sierra Club: Trail of Tears Group (outings chair and secretary); Cape Bicycle and Fitness Race Team; member of the Health, Human Performance and Recreation Honor Society; SEMO Honors Program; McNair Scholars Program; Southeast Green Coalition; and Recreation Enhancement Club.

HIS TYPICAL DAY:

It's usually pretty busy. I wake up around 5:30 a.m. and eat breakfast before 6 a.m. Following that, I try to get in a morning bike ride or go to the gym until I need to get ready for class. After class, I (usually) ride my bike to work. At work, I oversee a new program called Triple Play, which helps children understand the importance of physical fitness, healthy habits and good nutrition. Additionally, I implement a program called Living in Harmony, which empowers children to become world harmony builders. I also assist with other Boys and Girls Club programs, organize field trips and book guest speakers. I typically get home around 6 p.m. and eat dinner with my wife, who is a wonderful cook! After dinner, I work on homework and usually have meetings or extra-curricular activities several evenings each week.

MOST SATISFYING PART OF HIS WORK:

Knowing that I make a difference in a child's life. I love my job and believe that I make a positive impact on the youth that I work with. It really makes my day when I'm riding through town and I hear one of my kids yelling, "Hey, Mr. Adam!" and waving out of a car window. I get to work with wonderful people at the Boys and Girls Club, the LIFE initiative, The United Way and Grace United Methodist Church (a Boys and Girls Club satellite site), which makes going to work every day a positive experience.

HIS WORST HAIRCUT:

I had really long hair and a beard for a while, which made me look like the Geico caveman. Looking back, I think that was probably the worst my hair ever looked, even though I liked it at the time.

HIS FAVORITE SONG FROM THE '80s:

I was still relatively young during the '80s, but I remember listening to New Kids on the Block and MC Hammer around that time. Currently, my favorite song from the '80s is "Romeo and Juliet" by Dire Straits.

HIS BIGGEST FIRST-DAY BLOOPER:

I worked at Blockbuster Video several years ago and forgot to unlock a few movies on my first day. People would get them home and discover they couldn't open them. ... They weren't very happy about that.

HIS MOST EMBARASSING WORK MOMENT:

It was probably the first day I came to work after commuting in the rain. The kids thought it was funny, but it was still pretty embarrassing to do a lesson while I was soaking wet.