Week 2 (September 24, 2020)

Week 2 has been enlightening!  I studied life plans, created a bucket list of 50 things, and pondered my childhood dreams.  One very eye-opening speech was given by Randy Pausch, his "last lecture."  He discussed how his childhood dream, although it took time to realize, led to his entrepreneurial goal of working for Disneyland.  His statement that "experience is what you get when you don't get what you want" resonated within me.  I have lived that statement!

My childhood dream was to be a writer.  A writer of what, I was not sure, but I knew I liked to create stories on paper.  I was also curious about history, in particular that of my ancestors.  Just out of high school, I enrolled at a state university with an intended major of journalism.  I knew I did not want to be a journalist, but I liked to write.  Journalism was the wrong writer's path for me.  I found a job doing medical transcription in an acute-care hospital, which I loved!  I considered that my career until technology modernized, and my beloved job was gone.  During my years at the hospital, I realized my passion for genealogy could become something more than just a hobby.  I switched career gears and set my course to become a professional genealogist.  I began volunteering at the local historical society and eventually was hired to be the executive director.  I had found a way to make my childhood dream into reality!  The final step in attaining this reality was to finish my education to which I was led by Heavenly Father.  His Plan all along has been for me to become a writer!

Experience, like Pausch stated, is what I got when I did not get what I wanted.  The time at a state university, my years on the job for the hospital, and my time at the historical society have provided me with much-needed experience to fulfill my childhood dream of being a writer.  And now I know, a genealogical writer. 

Week 1 (September 17, 2020)

This week, I began classes as a Brigham Young University-Idaho Online Student.  For thirty years, I have wanted to pick up the reins again and continue my education.  I am working toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Professional Studies with a focus on Family History Research).  Unlike a new high school graduate thirty years ago, I know exactly what I want to do now!

I am taking Introduction to Entrepreneurship because I would eventually like to own a genealogical research business.  In all my years of on-the-job training, I still need to bolster my business skills.  During this first week of class, something that stood out to me was the phrase "relentless curiosity."  I feel this describes my life almost perfectly.  I want to know the reason why something works or does not work.  I will try things out and then try again to make something better, do something better, just to learn more.  I also liked the statement, “…living a life of meaning is about living life with intent.”  I equate “relentless curiosity” with “intent.”  Funny story, this was a question on a quiz, but I answered “integrity.”  I believe integrity goes hand in hand with intent.  This may become my mantra as I progress on this journey.

I look forward to learning more about myself and what business model to explore.  I would like to learn more about attracting clients and marketing myself without spending a huge amount of money.  I need to work on my self-confidence and feeling at ease around new people.  I want to share this gift that God has given me to help others learn about their ancestors and ancestral stories.  I am very grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed me with the opportunity to take this course at the beginning of my re-entry into academics.