About Me, a.k.a. Shameless Self-Promotion
Hi, again. Before I get into the "about me" part, let me explain my site a little more. My blog (Pensees tab) is primarily what this website is about. I’ve loved writing since I was in grade school. My writing is often meant to help others either by making them think or making them laugh. But I ultimately write for myself as a means of catharsis. This site began as a way for me to fulfill Peace Corps' Third Goal, which is to help Americans understand the peoples and countries we serve. The first two years of my blog posts (2010- Sept. 2012) were written while I lived in Turkmenistan. When I returned from service, I expanded the site and continued to blog for two reasons: 1) as a continued outlet for self-expression and 2) as an example to potential employers of my writing abilities and my personality.
With that in mind, on to the "about me." I was first published when I was in high school. I have a B.A. in English with a creative writing emphasis. Publications my work has appeared in include the Peace Corps Turkmenistan publications Chai Times and Murphy's Law Review, the now defunct Life in the Middle of Michigan magazine, and central Michigan area newspapers.
In addition to writing, I enjoy and excel at public speaking. I've given presentations on a variety of subjects to a variety of audiences, including: presenting to colleagues on teaching methods, giving presentations on Turkmenistan to the general public, being a member of an informative panel on study abroad, emceeing, and preaching.
Blaise Pascal said “since we cannot know everything about anything, we should know something about everything.” I love that approach to life, that commitment to life-long learning. True growth takes place outside our comfort zones, so I regularly try to do things that challenge me in some way, whether it be mental, physical, or emotional. Some ways I’ve challenged myself in the past few years include: going skydiving, running a half marathon, moving across the country, traveling solo, and serving in the Peace Corps. I'm a travel junkie always looking to get my next fix. Other ways I've filled my time include community theater, chairing my church's missions committee, taking classes for fun, and reading books that I think will be "good for me." I'm currently navigating the strange and crowded world of D.C./NoVA as an English teacher.
Thank you for taking the time to browse my site. I hope you enjoy what you find here and that you'll continue reading my blog posts! If you have any questions, please let me know via the contact tab.
Blaise Pascal said “since we cannot know everything about anything, we should know something about everything.” I love that approach to life, that commitment to life-long learning. True growth takes place outside our comfort zones, so I regularly try to do things that challenge me in some way, whether it be mental, physical, or emotional. Some ways I’ve challenged myself in the past few years include: going skydiving, running a half marathon, moving across the country, traveling solo, and serving in the Peace Corps. I'm a travel junkie always looking to get my next fix. Other ways I've filled my time include community theater, chairing my church's missions committee, taking classes for fun, and reading books that I think will be "good for me." I'm currently navigating the strange and crowded world of D.C./NoVA as an English teacher.
Thank you for taking the time to browse my site. I hope you enjoy what you find here and that you'll continue reading my blog posts! If you have any questions, please let me know via the contact tab.