Growing up I thought I was a pretty normal kid. Messy room, complained about chores, threw house parties when mom was out of town. I liked art but was too practical to think I could ever make a living from it, so I decided to become a doctor.
On my journey to the top every decision was deliberately made, as my future medical school application loomed in my mind. In fact, in 4th grade I ran for (and was elected) the first female Vice President of my Elementary school because I thought it would better my chances for getting into med school. Keeping to my narrow path, I took Latin for eight years, volunteered as a Candy Striper, and even earned the highest award in Girl Scouts - the Gold Award. Did I mention I am ambitious and maybe an overachiever at times?
In 1992 I set off to North Carolina State University (NCSU) as a Thomas Jefferson Scholar, taking on a double major in Pre-Med, Zoology, and Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Healthcare. It was there at NCSU in my English class (the first ever virtual classroom at NCSU) where I first laid hands on a computer and discovered 'the internet'- not a pleasant experience. Keep in mind this was a time when the computer interface was all words and codes, offering no visual beauty or interest. Sadly enough, I spent my study time crying because I could not login to my online class rather than crying over the challenges of reading Shakespeare.
After my traumatic online course incident, I decided to block computers out of my life and refocused myself on my lifelong goal: becoming a doctor. As a college senior, I entered the final stretch to med school with the MCAT under my belt, excellent grades, and a killer resume. But as application deadlines approached, something within me snapped. I suddenly could not bring myself to fill out my med school applications but rather filled out a very different type of application, one for the Peace Corps. Three days after college graduation, I departed for Sri Lanka to work as a Community Health Volunteer, where my outlook on life changed dramatically. On my return to the US two hard years later, I came to agree with the Peace Corps’ slogan, The toughest job you will ever love. Upon my return “home” I was welcomed to a totally different and very “digitized” world; a world where everyone used not only computers but also the internet, email, and cell phones! It was at this time I discovered graphic design, the Mac, and my love for creating visual communications.
Needless to say, I deviated from my path of becoming a doctor and discovered that my passion for art overrode my practical thinking. The artist and entrepreneur within me lead me to work as a graphic designer, open my own Art Gallery, a marketplace boutique, and even design a clothing line. I embraced technology in an effort to create art.
How I Came to Interactive Knowledge
Physical proximity and common interest were the factors that initially attracted me to Interactive Knowledge, as my gallery happened to be right around the corner from IK. I got my first chance to work closely with IK on the “Girls Are IT” project after they’d heard it through the grapevine that I was a graphic designer and a Gold Award Girl Scout. (See, my ambitious cause wasn’t a loss after all.) After the project, I knew IK would be the only company where I could really see myself working outside of owning my own business. (This is a strong statement, coming from a woman who likes to be in charge.) I saw in IK the opportunity to work with leaders in the technology world and work with interesting, creative, and fun content. Most importantly, I felt compelled to work somewhere where I thought I could make a difference in the world. In August 2010 I started working fulltime at Interactive Knowledge as a Web Designer and Producer.
Remember when I said I thought I was a pretty normal kid? I was wrong. Many years later I found out from friends and family that they always knew I would never end up in the medical field - too restrictive for my personality, apparently- but would find my way into a creative field. I love these folks, but it sure would’ve been nice to hear their insights before I spent eight years learning Latin.
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