Career Roadmap
Cathy's work combines: Technology, Writing, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Abraham Lincoln High
Bachelor's Degree
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
University of California-Los Angeles
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Software Quality Assurance Analysts & Testers:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder
Certification: Automation Engineer Technology/Technician
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I took a computer class my senior year '84. I loved it. I was good at it!
2.
But I didn't know I could major in it, not ME. So I studied theater. There were computers in theater.
3.
I got good with word processing to write plays and good with the computerized light board.
4.
I graduated and ended up as the office manager for an environmental group, where I taught myself DOS.
5.
I learned to use computerized spreadsheets to keep payroll. I learned how to write macros.
6.
I worked temp computer jobs. I could use any program, troubleshoot any PC issue.
7.
I started teaching computer apps, and learned how to network computers.
8.
I started teaching network administration and wrote courseware for networking technologies.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Acting isn't a practical way to make a living. You'll starve!
How I responded:
I'm glad no one stopped me from majoring in theater. I learned for myself that it wasn't something I wanted to do full-time after graduation, but I learned A LOT in my major - How to work with others to reach a common vision. How to design beautiful things. How to finish a project on time and on budget, despite constraints. How to tell a story. Art and Tech go together. I am better at tech because of my artistic training. And with my flexible job, I can still do amateur theater.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I read "Mindset" by Carol Dweck and realized I fear failure too much. Maybe I love computers so much because I'm not afraid of crashing them, but I'm so afraid in other parts of my life that I don't take risks. I'm trying to learn to accept failure.