A Little About MyselfAs a 44-year-old mother of two, graduate school was not on my radar. I knew my career was stagnant, but finding another job in the same field didn't feel like the right choice. While I could do virtually the same job in a different company, I would lose my vacation time and probably cut my other benefits as well.
That's when, out of the blue, I wondered if a master's degree might be what I was looking for. I opened up my laptop on the kitchen counter and started looking through the programs at UALR. Nothing struck a chord, until I saw the Professional and Technical Writing Program. I have been a professional writer in one capacity or another for more than 20 years. When I got paid to write about things that were personal -- such as parenting and family life -- I loved it. When my career changed and I found myself writing public relations pieces, I often found it monotonous and uninspiring. I decided that if I could get back to writing about the things I loved, maybe I would start to love writing again. After a lengthy search for my required immunization records, I enrolled in the PTW program just days before the Fall 2014 semester started. Because my daughter was enrolling as a freshman in UALR that semester, I kept the whole process a secret. It was her time in the spotlight, and I didn't want to overshadow her. Now, as she prepares to graduate and I begin my thesis, I can honestly say that pursuing this degree is one of the best decisions I've ever made. |