Career Roadmap
Melody's work combines: Writing, Entrepreneurship, and Learning / Being Challenged
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Computer Science/Psycology
Tyler Junior College/College of the Mainland
Certification
Certificate of Completion/Diploma
The Institute for Writers
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers:
Bachelor's Degree: Computer Science/Psycology
Certification: Certificate of Completion/Diploma
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Started my corporate career @ age 18. Hopped around to several jobs/companies until I found a good fit for my skill set. Planned to work at the selected company as long as possible. Advanced rapidly.
2.
Got married @ age 19. Continued my career in the corporate world. Life was good.
3.
Had my first child @ age 21. Decided to stay home for the first 2 years of her life. When she was 6 mos. old, we moved in w/a handicapped man, & took care of him for 1 1/2 yrs. for room & board.
4.
Went back to my job after 2 yrs.until my spouse broke neck in a freak accident - paralyzed from neck down. Worked while he was in hospital/rehab for nine months. Quit day job to care for him 24/7.
5.
Moved from city to rural area w/ 50 yr. old farm house on 256 acres. For 14 yrs., took care of hubby, raised daughter, worked odd jobs, lived on disability income, went to college, started own biz.
6.
Went bankrupt, ended marriage, moved to city, applied to 5 temporary service companies. Work under contract to NASA in aerospace industry. Re-married. Worked for 20 yrs. Retired early-poor health.
7.
Took a year off after retirement to rest, de-stress, re-group & address health issues. Started own business in the health & wellness industry. De-stressed. Health improved.Started own business in t
8.
Focused full time on freelance writing, teaching others how to detoxify their lives & got initial reflexology cert
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You daydream too much! Get real. Dreaming about becoming a published author is just a pipe dream. Choose a practical career instead that will pay the bills every month. Conform to societal norms like everyone else if you want to be successful in life.
How I responded:
When I was young, I tried to "conform to the norm" and ended up miserable. Stuck in a corporate job I despised, I felt trapped in the cube farm with all the other cute little cube farm animals. Eventually I came to my senses and took a leap of faith. I chose to ignore the urge to conform and carved out my own path. My writing has been recognized and published by NASA, NPR and other respected publications. Today, I am a happy and fulfilled entreprenuer, living my dreams & loving my life each day.