Welcome to rhetorator; it looks like a word, but it really isn’t. Well, actually, it’s two: a combination of rhetoric and oration. Webster defines rhetoric as “the art or skill of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people” and orator as “a person who makes speeches and is very good at making them”. At the moment, I’m not very good at making speeches, but it’s a goal that I’m working toward.
I recently completed my Master’s program at Southern New Hampshire University and am now the proud owner of an MA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. It was a long road to get there, and there were many miles traveled, but I have never been one to give up. I’ve been an adult student (on and off) longer than most kids spend in their entire school career. (Is that right? Do students consider education and going to school a career?)
Anyway, when my oldest son began preschool, I decided it was a good time for me to go school, too. I was tired of working minimum wage, dead-end jobs and I had promised myself that I would be the first of my mother’s children (I’m number 5 of her 7) to graduate from college. It took almost five years, but I did it. I graduated from college…with an Associate’s degree in social and behavioral science. Seriously? Five years for an AS?!
After a short break (a couple years), it was back to school. Originally, I started out studying computer science, because I have more than a passing interest in the technology. That really didn’t work out the way I had hoped and I ended up stopping out. Permanently. Then I tried a different track: communications. I never really did know what I wanted to do with my life.
With a background in social and behavioral science, the field of psychology drew me in and a BS in Communication–the science side of the subject–focused on different aspects of exactly that. Another short break later, there I was working on a Master’s in Communication–now venturing into the arts side of the subject. It’s a bit more abstract and much less straightforward, but to my benefit, it brings together my attraction for shiny new technology and “psychology”.
Now that I’ve finished my degree program, I wasted no time re-enrolling. Rather than jump into the English degree that I was considering, I once again changed directions. This time I’m working on my MBA/MPA-SEC (Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Sustainability and Environmental Compliance and a graduate certificate in Public Administration). This should be fun.
Like everyone, I am many things. I wear a lot of hats–sometimes at the same time. I also deal with a very full plate (unfortunately it’s not a plate of tacos). As a parent of a now-adult child with moderate to severe mental illness, it’s difficult to find balance in my life. He is unpredictable, manipulative, inclined to self-harm, occasionally mean for no reason, and so much more. I am the buffer between him and the rest of the family who are usually more than willing to see him on the street trying to make it on his own. Admittedly, by allowing him to stay in my home, I enable him. But in all honesty, what kind of parent would I be to turn him out on the street with literally nothing? It’s easy to say kick him to the curb, but in reality, it’s a lot more difficult to do.
I also have a daughter. Not a mini-me by any stretch of the imagination. She’s bold and forthright, not afraid to speak her mind or express her opinion. She makes me smile. We’re building great memories of driving around, listening to Slayer, talking crap about people. We’ve worked together to get her re-enrolled in a high school program so that she can graduate and move on to studying mortuary science. She’s the youngest old person I’ve ever met: punk rock to the core in beliefs and appearance while preferring to stay in and play video games to going out and being ‘wild’.
The third in the mix, the middle child. A sturdy and logical self-proclaimed computer nerd. More of a mini-me than my one and only girl. Together, we’re the household IT team. He spends almost his entire waking time online. … That can’t be healthy. He had a job, he wants to go back to school to graduate, he has very little ambition. Recently, he’s begun a new job and is finally finding ambition to do something more with his life, which may include returning to school.
[For a variety of different non-educational reasons, none of my kids graduated from high school.]
Oh yeah. There’s a husband, too. We’ve been married for 30 years despite his disability (he’s a Republican). We’ve been through struggles and hardships, but have somehow persevered. He’s been my side during my health issues (including a stroke) and I’ve been by his (past fight with testicular cancer, and current battle with prostate cancer). We’re still considered the ‘cool parents’ by our kids’ friends. … Well, at least I am.
So … this is me.