Career Roadmap
CHRIS's work combines: Travel, Journalism, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Doane Stuart School
Associate's Degree
Marist College
Certification
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
Certification
Recreation Vehicle (RV) Service Technician
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Editors:
High School
Associate's Degree
Certification: Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
Certification: Recreation Vehicle (RV) Service Technician
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I grew up on a horse farm, and started RVing in a 1973 Winnebago when I was 3.
2.
My mother passed in an RV fire when I was 13.
3.
Went into fire service when I was 18.
4.
Went to Marist College to study communications, but left early to follow career in Fire/EMS.
5.
Started RVing on my own, rebuilding a Coleman popup with a friend.
6.
Sold a house and started RVing full time, still working as a FF, but starting in RV/Campground biz.
7.
Wrote for a number of online/print pubs in the RV industry while owning a small RV service company.
8.
Eventually followed opportunity to work as tech editor for industry's largest consumer publications.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
My father was a physician, and my oldest brother, who died in a plane crash when I was 3, had been accepted to med school. I was a poor student and didn't measure up. Constant pressure to stay in school/college for a meaningful career.
How I responded:
Be true to yourself but have a plan, and be prepared. At one point I had options but gave them up to do what I felt was my path. I had difficulties during my life, and I stubbornly faced them. I will admit I almost gave up more than once. I have my dream job now, and I'm doing what I did all the other stuff to get to do. There were times I never thought I'd get here, but I stuck with it, and with the help of friends and family, and my own work, here I am. I give thanks every day.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I work hard... I have that ethic, even when it really hurts, I work. I hit rock bottom at one point, and the only option I had was to work out of it.
I have a form of dyslexia that makes ordinary learning extremely difficult. My hero teacher in school taught me SQ3R which has helped me since. I learn best hearing, seeing and doing at the same time, and my hands-on work skills relate to that.