 When
I was a kid I hid behind my mother's dress while
meeting new people. I rarely raised my hand in class and
forget about getting up in front of people to give a report.
Too, too scary, I thought. After High School, I decided
to become a Cosmetologist. I think my reasoning went something
like this: I liked pleasing people. I could use my undeveloped
artistic skills to do creative haircutting and styling.
I'd get paid a decent amount for someone who was planning
to get married and have a husband to take care of me. And,
I could get over my shyness.
Most of those things happened. I became very enthused about
my career. I attended hair cutting and coloring classes,
even Vidal
Sassoon’s Academy in Los Angeles. I joined in
hair shows, preparing models and choreographing the dance
and music portion with my fellow stylists, and won recognition
in a prestigious hair competition held in Portland, Oregon.
I became so brave that I went to San Francisco by myself
to become one of only 4 hairstylists to work aboard the
SS Santa Maria. After six months of grueling paperwork,
interviews, a physical exam, and waiting, I sailed for South
America. Life could not get any better than this, I thought…
…Except for the husband part. Several years later
and after two failed marriages with three kids to support,
I realized I had no financial security. No husband, no 401K,
no job…I’d taken a break from work to raise
a family. What should I do? I needed an education because
I was tired of just surviving.
I went back to school to do something I always wanted
to do – art – painting, drawing, sculpting,
you name it, I probably tried it. While I was studying,
I applied for every scholarship I could possibly be eligible
for. I won an art scholarship and two foundation scholarships,
one from Robert
W. and Bernice Ingalls Staton Scholarship.
Yes, Bernice is related to Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little
House on the Prairie. Only 25 students a year receive
this scholarship
at this time.
Two years into my studies, I discovered computers and found
that I loved digital art and web design. Even though it
was too late to change my career path, I took enough courses
to get a minor in multimedia, now called digital arts, at
the University
of Oregon. I graduated in 2004 with a 3.8 grade point
average! Am I good, or what!
Now, I have a wonderful and humorous husband, Paul Henderson,
who loves to have me read Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie
Plum Novels or Mary Daheim's Bed
and Breakfast Mysteries every night before bed. I have
two kitties, Snickers and Skittles, three budgie parakeets,
Fred and Ethel, and their first offspring, AbbaZaba (Retro
candy – Chewy Taffy with peanut butter centers.).
My daughter, Amanda, is in and out of our house in Portland,
Oregon. Brandon and Devin live with their Dad in Eugene,
Oregon.
What do I really like to do besides work? Traveling is
number one. I’ve visited Europe, Northern Africa,
Mexico, South America, Canada, the East Coast, Hawaii, and
Italy twice for two months each time in Siena
with a study abroad art group. I’d like to see
the Orient and Alaska…and go back to Italy. I love
Italy. What else, you ask? I enjoy listening to live Blues
music, watching an occasional CSI show, indulging in a glass
of wine once in a while, gardening, and bird watching.
–Sharon
Now that I have totally bored or enchanted you with all
this chit chat, I have a résumé to share with
anyone who might be the slightest interested. Wow, a real
résumé. Who'd a thunk. It's a PDF and you
can view and download it here:
RESUME
- TO DOWNLOAD
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