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Melissa Michaels
Melissa Michaels
01:04

Melissa Michaels

Wild Life Productions

Boulder, CO USA

"I managed to transform a certain amount of suffering into gold."

Career Roadmap

Melissa's work combines: Art, Education, and Helping People

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Day In The Life

Founder/Director of Educational Programming

I'm creating a movement of global leaders dedicated to creating a world that is just and sustainable.

My Day to Day

My brand of education focuses on "rites of passage," giving youths significant experiences that help them mindfully transition into adulthood. I work to help students and young people know themselves more fully.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Environmental Design/Architecture

    University of Colorado Boulder

  • Graduate Degree

    Educational Leadership and Administration, General

    Fielding Graduate University

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    She was always drawn to people younger than herself; when she was 12 years old, she ran a summer camp for her fellow neighborhood kids.

  • 2.

    Her brand of education focuses on "rites of passage," giving youths significant experiences that help them mindfully transition into adulthood.

  • 3.

    When she was growing up, she was surrounded by alcoholism; as a result, she harbored a lot of anger.

  • 4.

    People suggested that she meditate to deal with her frustrations, but she never had success with meditation-she always had trouble sitting still.

  • 5.

    Finally, she found her source of true peace: dancing.

  • 6.

    She knew that there were others out there, like her, who could benefit from the healing power of dance.

  • 7.

    Decided that at 30 years old, she would go back to school and get her Ph.D. in education so she could make the greatest impact possible.

  • 8.

    Says her bout with alcohol and drugs caused her to lose sight of her "glory," so now her goal is to help kids harness and hold on to their own glory.