When growing up I always wanted to be a teacher. I think back to the 80's and remember that was an occupation that kids my age wanted to be. When I was starting middle school I decided I wanted to be a nurse. Blood, guts and bodily functions didn't deter me. It all interested me, especially how the body functioned. I also enjoyed typing class and business classes and I loved all of my math classes in high school. Well, most of them anyways. Geometry I wasn't fond of, but I still did well in the class, along with Chemistry and Physics. I loved art too and have always been crafty. I disliked english and history. I could do without either of them but im a stickler when it comes to spelling words right. Probably one of my biggest pet peeves is spelling common words wrong or using them in the wrong tense. When it was time to decide what I would do after graduation, in my junior year of high school, I was told by our guidance counselor that nurses weren't needed and swayed me to find another future career. I chose accounting and I began to research where I wanted to go. I wanted to stay near home, so I chose a nearby college. I took a few months off and decided to start my first semester in January at Waynesburg College, now Waynesburg University. When I was in high school a close adult to me told me I would never graduate college and I would be knocked up before I was out of high school. The determined woman I am had to prove her wrong. I never got pregnant and I graduated with a degree in Accounting and Business Administration. I still hold my head up high, to hear something like that when you're 16-17 years old could've sent me in the total opposite direction. I'm forever grateful that I am a strong-willed and stubborn individual who put myself through college. I also tested out in math before starting college, therefore I didnt have to take any math courses. I guess I did have a little advantage going into my life adventure. While in college I worked for a pottery company, taking orders, invoicing and customer service. I did work on the crafty side placing decals on pieces and firing them in a kiln before I moved into the office. I worked at a friend's company for my internship the last few semesters and I am very thankful he allowed me to work there and that he chose to pay me to do so. He taught me billing, customer service and working with a computer for invoicing. I was also working for my parents at their bar/restaurant, so i learned to count back money and customer service as well. When I graduated college my first "real job" was at a multi doctor facility. I was taking care of their bookkeeping and payroll. I loved the job at first but then it became very difficult. Not the actual workload, but the ladies that worked there. I came in as a newbie straight out of college making more than the ladies who had been there for 30+ years. My immediate boss was also new and wanted all things done his way when the ladies had been doing it their way for many, many years. He used me to change things and these ladies disliked me for it. They made my job so much harder and I cried every day when I left work. After a few months, I chose to be happy rather than continuing that "real job". I laugh because my customers would come into the bar and ask me when I was getting a real job since I graduated college. It was news to me since the "fake" bartender job was paying the bills and it was paying them pretty well. So well, that I bought my first house at 23 years old. I moved on to a Chiropractors office and I loved that job. I learned more computer skills, billing/invoicing, dealing with insurance companies and anyone who knows me, knows I love to talk. I love people! I worked there for 10 years until my health and family life needed me more. I currently work for a church doing their bookkeeping and was just hired by my local township to do the same. Eventhough I wanted to be a nurse, numbers were my true calling. I love working with numbers, working with people and do my best work, working under pressure. Audits will do that to you! I would never change my profession but would have also loved to help people. Over the years, all the experience I have endured helped me conquer the world. I wouldnt change a thing because I feel that I am a very well rounded individual and it made me the person I am today. I guess I still am helping people just in a whole different way. When it comes to numbers, count me in! Just another daily dose of T.