Connie DeMillo
ISD287
"Your inner critic never has anything good to say...listen for the voice of your inner artist. It’s a quieter, nicer voice that says things like, ‘What if I tried…’"
Career Roadmap
Connie's work combines: Design, Education, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Hibbing High
Graduate Degree
Education, General
Hamline University
Certification
Ba, studio art
University of Minnesota Minneapolis
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education:
Graduate Degree: Education, General
Certification: Ba, studio art
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Got a degree in studio art, had no idea what job I could get.
2.
A friend got me a job hand collating defense proposals; there I learned to produce printed materials.
3.
Started freelancing as a graphic designer when I got laid off from a full-time job; learned that one person can support themselves independently.
4.
Started teaching an evening design class to escape the nightly screaming of my autistic daughter just for one evening a week.
5.
A design client alerted me about a design teaching job share that fit my schedule perfectly and gave me health care coverage.
6.
Got my masters degree; my income rose $45k in the 16 years I worked there.
7.
Retired from full time teaching in 2016, but still help kids through the online classes.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You can’t be a designer, you’re no good
How I responded:
Your inner critic never has anything good to say. Deflate it by dissing it. I say, “You nutty little thing.” Then listen for the voice of your inner artist. It’s a quieter, nicer voice that says things like, "What if I tried...”