Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Switching careers....pretty scary.....

I'm sure we all remember back to high school when we had to fill out college applications and choose a major. If you think about it, it's pretty ridiculous to ask a 17-year old what they want to do with the rest of their lives. We mature so much after high school and our tastes change.

I had lots of interests back then. But I was lucky. I attended a vocational high school and already had more than 3 years of vocational education under my belt when I filled out college applications. I had already known one thing I definitely liked to do- floral design.

My high school was not one you just went to. Growing up in a large city- Buffalo, NY- there were many high schools to choose from. You had to apply, just like college. Of course, every neighborhood had their district school, where you went if you didn't get into your 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice schools. But you didn't want to go there unless you had to. There were so many other schools to pick from: a couple vocational schools, a technological school, a performing arts school, more... I chose McKinley High School and its Horticulture program. I can't even begin to tell you why...I was 13 and it sounded fun. But I've always been an artsy craftsy kind of person and came to find a real love for floral design.

But by the beginning of my senior year, there were other things I liked too.

I was the reporter for the FFA chapter at my school. I loved writing about club happenings and seeing my name in lights (or rather black print) in small local publications and also a state-wide paper. I won the NY State FFA Reporter's Award that year. I applied to two different colleges- Alfred Sate College for Floriculture Merchandising (to learn to run a flower shop), and Buffalo State College for Journalism.

I chose Floriculture and to this day have no real reason as to why.

I graduated with honors from Alfred State College and went on to work at a couple different flower shops, settling at one and became one their top employees- trusted with most of the shop's displays and about 95% of wedding work (my favorite!) I left there to start my own home-based business when my daughter was born and thoroughly enjoyed that. I wanted to be one of the top wedding florists in Buffalo! And I wanted to add Bridal Consultant to my title as well.

But reality set in and the insane amount of hours I put in was not matched by dollar signs.

And I started writing again.

I finished my first novel and felt so incredibly accomplished. All I wanted to do was write! My love for my floral business started to fade even though I forced myself to go on. My heart was not in it anymore.

Then I had to make a decision....one that was much easier than I thought it would be. I thought my husband would fight me on giving up my income, as little as it was. But he didn't. I officially gave up the business and made plans to pursue a writing career full time. I was due with our second child and we decided I had a 5-year time limit to make it as a writer. And when I say "make it", that meant I had to be bringing in some kind of money. If I didn't make that happen before my son went off to full day kindergarten, I would have to go out and get a part time job. And I did not want that at all.

So here I am...my son just turned two. My debut novel, A Bitch Named Karma, will be out this year from Lyrical Press. I am determined to be successful. People often comment on my determination....as terrifying as it was to go from a sure-thing career to one that "might" happen one day, I just cannot let myself be a failure.

15 comments:

  1. I love reading these kind of stories:) They encourage all of us to keep on. You did it and were determined!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Terri!!!! I hope I can inspire other writers to keep at it! It definitely wasn't easy for me (I did skip over the lows of my writing career to date), but I have determination and that is so important for this business!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This was a really cool post. I love learning more about writers and how they got to where they are. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Inspiring story! Hmmm...maybe you could make a business of selling your bottled determination. I'd buy some. ;)
    Winged Writer

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love reading life stories about careers and why people choose what they do. I choose flute when I was 13 and now I'm living with that choice today. I'd love to be able to do less flute and more writing.

    Good luck with your book's release! I have you down for an interview and review. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Very inspiring story! Determination will take us far in our choices, most definitely. And congrats and best wishes on your book's publication, very exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  7. So glad that your career change is working out for you! I'm on the same exact plan. I have until my son goes to kindergarten before having to go back to a paying job. So I'm hoping the writing thing pays off (at least a bit) before then.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks everyone!!! I didn't know if anyone would really care to read this!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. You know, the more I read you, the more I realize we are alike in so many ways. My time limit was exactly the same, until the monster baby goes to school full time next year. And now with this partial request, I'm one step closer to the dream. Aren't mid-life crisis wonderful?

    ReplyDelete
  10. :) So excited for you Anne!!! Can't wait to hear how the partial request turns out!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hey! Florist was my 2nd choice career! How funny is that? Sounds like an awesome high school.

    And I happen to think you'll make your goal before babyhead goes to school. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. This reminds me of Dean Koontz -- he and his wife made a deal that she would support him while he tried to get his writing career to take off, and if he couldn't make it in five years, he'd go back to work. And look where he ended up! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Piper, that is so so funny!!!!! Looks like we were just meant to find each other!!!!

    Thanks Guinevere for the encouragement!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I never knew you applied to Buff State for journalism! Of course when you graduated high school I was 15, so how much was I paying attention?! Haha! As your cousin who has always looked up to you, I marvel at your dedication and how far you have come. We all have our passion and it's so exciting for me to learn more about yours!:). And of course being family I better get special perks too, hehe!:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. LOL Krissy!!! Thanks so much for popping in!! It means a lot!!

    ReplyDelete