Career Roadmap
Kat's work combines: Writing, Entrepreneurship, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Towson University
Graduate Degree
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Towson University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Poets, Lyricists & Creative Writers:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Writing
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I have always wanted to be a writer, but I did not like journalism.
2.
I majored in advertising because it was safe; I lasted 6 months at an ad agency.
3.
I went back to school for education to become a teacher because I thought I could write at night.
4.
I bartended and taught spin classes to make extra money.
5.
I took a children's lit class in hopes that it would give me the discipline to write. Nope.
6.
I left teaching to be a full-time personal trainer, so I'd have more time to write. It kinda worked.
7.
Finally, I took the leap. I sold all my things and moved to Hong Kong to write my book.
8.
Now, I live in New York. I published my book September 2013. Next step, speaking career.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Family:
You can't just go around being a dreamer your whole life.
How I responded:
I let their fears and doubts become my own fears and doubts and it took many many years to un-bury myself from that pile. Now I see that NOISE as motivation to prove them wrong. I see the NOISE as encouragement to inspire others to plug their ears and follow their passions. I spent way too many years hoping to get back all the time I lost trying to live my life the way everyone else thought I should. True happiness is living YOUR purpose.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
When my first online business failed, I had to file for bankruptcy. It was embarrassing and stressful and time consuming, but possibly one of the best decisions I made to accept failure and move on.
2 friends were stabbed to death in a gang related fight in Florida during spring break my first year of college. Fights were fairly common in high school, but no one had guns or used weapons. It really opened my eyes to the dangers of gang violence.
My dad killed my mom when I was five. I was the key witness in the trial. I moved around from aunts/uncles and grandparents. Psychologists predicted I would never be "normal." I was a "victim" and I acted like it. I had to rewrite my story.
I used drugs and alcohol as self medication to avoid getting trapped by my own thoughts at night before bed. I had little respect for myself and my body. I was "too cool" to say no. I tried almost everything friends tempted me to.
I struggled with my sexuality through high school. In college, I was fairly certain I was gay, but my family wasn't accepting so I kept it from them till I was in my mid-twenties. My friends were supportive, but it was not easy lying to my family.