Educator. Engineer. Writer? Huh?

Yes, I'm all three. I see myself as all three. Can I make up my mind and pick a career or passion? Do I have to? I don't think so.

How did this happen? Well, contrary to what others who know me might think, it wasn't out of the blue. I've been writing in my head and on paper for years. Since when? Well, around sixth grade. When I was in college, I wanted to double major in computer engineering and theater. That didn't happen because every engineer class I had was at the same time that every theater class I needed. It was like they didn't think someone would ever be in both! So, I had to pick one.

Then, I thought that when I was ready to go back for my Master's it would be for my MFA. When I did go for my Master's, I had decided to change careers to teaching. So, I winded up getting my Master's in education. Why did I switch from the well-paid career of engineering to the not-so-well-paid career teaching? The short answer? I had done volunteer work with an organization that I was involved in as a junior/senior high student since college and wanted to continue to work with high school students. So, I became a high school math teacher. I love it. Some people are meant to teach kindergarteners and elementary school. That's not me. Whenever the thought of teaching crossed my mind it was working in a high school. Teenagers are great!

All the while, writing was there. Through junior high, high school, college, my engineering career and teaching. My writing took on different forms. I've written scripts. Short stories based on script ideas I had. And now? I've written a book. The first in a series.

Now, it's not like I have immense amount of free time. I do a lot. I'm involved in a lot. Those that know me would be shocked that I wrote a 120,000 word novel. But, they wouldn't be surprised that I completed it - only that I found the time to do it. It was important to me. I wrote every day - sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. But I wrote. And now, aside from some editing. It's done.

What's next? Well, I'm now looking into the process of getting it published. And I've started the second book. So, now it's become two projects, instead of just one. And, of course, I'm still editing the first one.