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BRASHER FALLS - Christopher D. Lashomb has always loved the outdoors and filming his various adventures around Northern New York, mostly for he and his friends to enjoy, but after he began posting videos on YouTube he quickly realized many others were enjoying his adventures as well.
Mr. Lashomb, who graduated from St. Lawrence Central in 2000, returned to his alma mater to speak to students in grades seven through 12 and encourage them to follow their dreams.
He said after he began posting videos on YouTube, some people from WPBS saw them and offered him a small role on an outdoors adventure show called The Raquette River Experience. His role on that show has since blossomed into his own television series, Expedition Outdoors, that is set to debut on WPBS this fall.
If I didnt put myself out there, I wouldnt be sitting where I am now, Mr. Lashomb told members of the schools senior class in his final presentation of the day. Whatever your dreams are, just go for it.
While some people may think growing up in a small town may hold you back, Mr. Lashomb said his childhood in Winthrop and years spent at St. Lawrence Central helped put him in the position hes in today.
Growing up in a small town in St. Lawrence County, there wasnt really a lot to do, he said, adding the St. Regis River served as a backdrop for many of his adventures as a child and teen.
Mr. Lashomb delivered that line in the opening segment of his shows pilot episode, which was screened for students at the school.
In the shows premier episode, Mr. Lashomb tackles the adventure course at Ausable Chasm, a hike that consisted of repelling down two cliffs, one 30 feet and other 80 feet, as well as traversing across the chasm several times.
He said the as the series progresses the show will feature similar adventures all filmed in and around Northern New York and the Adirondack Park.
I absolutely loved my experience here at St. Lawrence Central, he said. At your age, you might not realize it, I dont think I did then either.
But now that hes 10 years removed from high school, he said the support he received from teachers there really helped to propel him to ultimately having his own television series.
I was always the guy filming our adventures, he said, adding that Kristen Towne, an art teacher in the district, would often let him show his films at the end of class.
That really gave me confidence, he said.
Following a full day of presentations, where he spent each period showing the pilot and speaking to students in grades seven through 12, Mr. Lashombs day wrapped up with a special meet and greet in the library for students interested in working in communications or on television.