MY STORY
A trained architect, life took some unexpected turns that led me to leave the corporate world for an office at home in 2005. It was then that graphic i was launched and I was able to put my own graphic eye to use on thousands of design-related projects, while maintaining the flexible life of a rockstar mom of three kids.
There were many twists and turns along the way.
Now, with two kids out of the nest, I'm focusing my energy on combining my passions, and talents, into one outlet and re-birthing graphic i.
CAN'T GET ENOUGH?
Here's the rest of the story...
2001 | Architect. I graduated summa cum laude, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan on full-ride (they paid me to go to school, if you can believe it). I met the love of my life there, and we married one month after I secured my dream job as an architectural design intern at a leading company in my hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. Life was perfect.
2005 | Freelancer & SAHM. One year after having my first child (the new love of my life), my mom (and child care provider) endured 7 brain surgeries, leading me to make the difficult decision to walk away from my dream job to stay home and care for my family. I began contracting out work with my former employer under my new company, graphic i, and secured a number of new clients too, rendering site plans and drawing in AutoCAD between naps and the ABCs. Life was busy, but fulfilling.
2006 | Baby 2.
2008 | Baby 3.
2011 | Volunteer of the Year. A Type A overachiever, I extended my commitments far beyond my 2 jobs. In 6 years I had launched Paper U, a charitable service where I was able to donate my time and talents to make cards, magnets and other personalized mementos for children in long-term care at our local hospital. I also launched RACK the World, a website dedicated to infusing holiday spirit in others through Random Acts of Christmas Kindness -- I was on the Today Show -- it was cool. In addition, I poured all my (somehow extra) energy into my children's school; creating and maintaining their PTO website, Facebook page, organizing monthly events for parents, photographing events, working in the classroom and chairing fundraisers. Life was crazy, but fun!
2012 | Writer & Social Media Guru. I began freelance writing for a website that served local families. Soon thereafter, I began managing their social media page serving 54,000 families (which at the time, seemed insane). Life was becoming a balancing act.
2014 | Captain and Coach. Because more somehow equaled better, I began coaching Odyssey of the Mind (we went to Worlds) and was the Team Captain for our community's Relay for Life program. I volunteered at church. I launched a 501c3 to run our robotics program that grew from 9 kids to 54 (now 185) and coached them as well...all while doing everything listed above. Life was exhausting, and balls were dropping.
2017 | Reset. "No" wasn't a word in my vocabulary, but it needed to be. I slept at my computer every night and barely kept my eyes open during the day (you would think I would have gotten addicted to coffee, but I don't do caffeine)! I decided to take a job with the school, and get paid for some of the work I was already doing while maintaining the same schedule as my kids. I kept a few of my other projects rolling, but said goodbye to many. Life was no longer fulfilling my passions, but more peaceful.
2023 | Retire. Six years into my job with the school, now an expert on all things post-secondary, I was faced with a decision and chose to retire...at 44? The task in front of me, to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. God had his own plan and filled my hours with the gift of time, so I had less regret later. In the empty hours, I experimented with photography on my then senior...and actually enjoyed it. A lot. Passion reignited.