All about me!
I am a wife, a mother, a senior instructional designer, and a life-long learner!
Melissa - The early years
I come from meager beginnings. I grew up in Providence, RI, in a three tenement house, the youngest of two. My parents were divorced when I was 6 months old, so it was just my mom, my sister, and me. There are thirteen years between my sister and myself, and it was like having two moms for most of my life! As adults, my sister and I are now the best of friends, but back then...Not so much! My childhood was happy, full of fun, many laughs. We were certainly far from rich, but I never felt poor. My mother was an amazing woman; like many in her generation, she did not graduate from high school because she had to work to help support her family. She made sure that I did not take the same route. She always emphasized education as important and positively reinforced my academic achievements. My mom sacrificed a great deal for me, ensuring that I went to private elementary and middle school, as opposed to the severely lacking public school in our neighborhood. All of our hard work paid off, as I was accepted into Providence's only public college-preparatory high school, the prestigious Classical High School.
I went on to graduate from Rhode Island College where I earned my BA in Communications, with a specialization in Speech and Hearing Science. It was a wonderful achievement. MY BA was what gave me the educational scaffolding to propel me into "Corporate America," where I found myself at Putnam Investments in Training and Development. That led me to adult education and eLearning and all the wonderful things that eLearning can do! I had some WONDERFUL mentors there...And that was the start of my career...A career I love.
I went on to graduate from Rhode Island College where I earned my BA in Communications, with a specialization in Speech and Hearing Science. It was a wonderful achievement. MY BA was what gave me the educational scaffolding to propel me into "Corporate America," where I found myself at Putnam Investments in Training and Development. That led me to adult education and eLearning and all the wonderful things that eLearning can do! I had some WONDERFUL mentors there...And that was the start of my career...A career I love.
"Being happy in life is a choice YOU make..."
This is something that my mother taught me. While I fully accept the fact that I am the creator of my own destiny, I do not think I can
reflect on myself as a person without talking about my mom. My mom was that
person that gave me the confidence to tackle the obstacles of life. She was my beginning. She helped to mold and shape me into a person of
whom I am proud. She inspired me with her positive attitude and "glass half full" mentality.
My mom lost her life to breast cancer on July 1, 1993. This was undoubtedly the hardest time in my life. I was 20 years old when she lost her battle, and she had been sick - on and off - in and out of remission - 9 years prior to that. A good portion of my teenage years were spent helping to care for her, but she always made sure that I had time to be a kid too. We stayed positive; I went out with friends, dated, went to winter formals and proms, and graduated from high school. As I think about it, my high school graduation was the only big adult milestone that she ever saw me cross. And I choose to be grateful for the time I had with her, instead of regretting the time that has been lost. She may have left this world, but she is never lost and never forgotten. She is in my heart. She lives on in me. I choose to be happy. That is a choice I make.
Yes, I have had a few “life changing moments” to date. But most of them have been wonderful achievements: Graduating from college with my BA, getting married to my best friend, buying a house, finding a career that I love, the birth of my sweet, precocious son…
What makes me most happy? Spending quiet time with my husband, entertaining my family and friends, camping, playing with my four year old son (or watching him play when he doesn't know I’m watching!), my job (I love my job!), and – of course – completing the MDE…
Yes, completing this degree makes me SO happy and SO proud! I almost can’t believe that I am at the end of this journey. I count this as my latest “life changing moment”.
My mom lost her life to breast cancer on July 1, 1993. This was undoubtedly the hardest time in my life. I was 20 years old when she lost her battle, and she had been sick - on and off - in and out of remission - 9 years prior to that. A good portion of my teenage years were spent helping to care for her, but she always made sure that I had time to be a kid too. We stayed positive; I went out with friends, dated, went to winter formals and proms, and graduated from high school. As I think about it, my high school graduation was the only big adult milestone that she ever saw me cross. And I choose to be grateful for the time I had with her, instead of regretting the time that has been lost. She may have left this world, but she is never lost and never forgotten. She is in my heart. She lives on in me. I choose to be happy. That is a choice I make.
Yes, I have had a few “life changing moments” to date. But most of them have been wonderful achievements: Graduating from college with my BA, getting married to my best friend, buying a house, finding a career that I love, the birth of my sweet, precocious son…
What makes me most happy? Spending quiet time with my husband, entertaining my family and friends, camping, playing with my four year old son (or watching him play when he doesn't know I’m watching!), my job (I love my job!), and – of course – completing the MDE…
Yes, completing this degree makes me SO happy and SO proud! I almost can’t believe that I am at the end of this journey. I count this as my latest “life changing moment”.
Ron & Melissa - Our Love Story
I met my wonderful husband, Ronald Alan Smith, on March 29, 1995. I was working at a hair salon as a receptionist in Providence, RI. My desk was located at the front of the salon, and I was surrounded by windows on all sides. As I was hanging up the phone, I looked up and noticed that two cars had just collided outside. I called 911.
In Providence, a fire engine, an ambulance, and the police show up to any car accident. That day, Engine 5 reported to the scene. And on that fire truck, was my future.
I watched as the men all did their jobs - The firefighters helped the EMTs take care of the injured - The police took the drivers' statements - But there was something about one of them. I can't explain it. All I know is I felt an instant connection. When all the action was over, I caught the eye of that one special guy. He was sitting in the back of the fire truck. He looked over. I waved. He waved back. Our fate was sealed.
He came back in after he had completed his shift. I wasn't there, but he left his number. I called. We went out the next night, and we have been together ever since.
He is my "meant-to-be." Neither of us are perfect, but we are perfect for each other. He is my very best friend, my biggest supporter. I was born to love him, and he was born to love me. We are a great team. We have tons in common, and our differences balance each other out. I am so thankful that I have him in my life.
In Providence, a fire engine, an ambulance, and the police show up to any car accident. That day, Engine 5 reported to the scene. And on that fire truck, was my future.
I watched as the men all did their jobs - The firefighters helped the EMTs take care of the injured - The police took the drivers' statements - But there was something about one of them. I can't explain it. All I know is I felt an instant connection. When all the action was over, I caught the eye of that one special guy. He was sitting in the back of the fire truck. He looked over. I waved. He waved back. Our fate was sealed.
He came back in after he had completed his shift. I wasn't there, but he left his number. I called. We went out the next night, and we have been together ever since.
He is my "meant-to-be." Neither of us are perfect, but we are perfect for each other. He is my very best friend, my biggest supporter. I was born to love him, and he was born to love me. We are a great team. We have tons in common, and our differences balance each other out. I am so thankful that I have him in my life.
My Personal Statement from My 2004 Admission Application
This says so much! I am very glad that I kept this letter. This was my very first interface with the MDE program. And it gives a good look at who I was when I first started in this wonderful journey.
Sometimes you find yourself in the most unexpected places... | |
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What has the MDE done for me?
Where do I begin?
This program is very special.
On a professional level, I can truly say that I use what I have learned in this program every day. This degree has given me the tools I need to succeed, and the leadership skills I need to implement change in my workplace. My Director recently wrote on my annual review that I am her "right hand woman" and that I am "the resident academic expert" on our team. Amazing review...Due in great part to the MDE program.
On a personal level, I cannot begin to describe the feeling I have about attaining my Masters degree. Pride...Joy...Excitement...Contentment...These words do not do it justice! This program has helped to build my confidence in ways that being in the workplace alone could never do.
For me, working as an Instructional Designer was the perfect complement to the MDE. Each course I have taken has had a profound, meaningful, lasting affect on my career. I have been able to apply the foundational concepts, real world techniques and best practices that I have learned in the MDE program to my workplace. This program has helped me by inspiring me to look at the ways I can improve my current workplace situation. I can be a leader. I can make a difference. I can be a change agent. I have taken a leadership role on my team by leading projects where I have investigated new technology, helped to redefine and streamline our process and procedures, explored new ways we can better support our learners.
This program is very special.
On a professional level, I can truly say that I use what I have learned in this program every day. This degree has given me the tools I need to succeed, and the leadership skills I need to implement change in my workplace. My Director recently wrote on my annual review that I am her "right hand woman" and that I am "the resident academic expert" on our team. Amazing review...Due in great part to the MDE program.
On a personal level, I cannot begin to describe the feeling I have about attaining my Masters degree. Pride...Joy...Excitement...Contentment...These words do not do it justice! This program has helped to build my confidence in ways that being in the workplace alone could never do.
For me, working as an Instructional Designer was the perfect complement to the MDE. Each course I have taken has had a profound, meaningful, lasting affect on my career. I have been able to apply the foundational concepts, real world techniques and best practices that I have learned in the MDE program to my workplace. This program has helped me by inspiring me to look at the ways I can improve my current workplace situation. I can be a leader. I can make a difference. I can be a change agent. I have taken a leadership role on my team by leading projects where I have investigated new technology, helped to redefine and streamline our process and procedures, explored new ways we can better support our learners.
Melissa would like to thank...
1. My husband, my firefighter, my hero, my "meant-to-be," Ron Smith. He has been so very supportive while I trekked along on my educational journey. I can say that I could not have done this without his love, his encouragement, and his support. He is my very best friend and I am so grateful that he is in this life with me.
2. My son, Nathan Smith. Nate is almost 4 years old, and Nate doesn't always understand why mommy is on the computer so much. When Nate thinks I have had enough of the computer, he walks over and he closes the laptop for me. Signals like this are important. He's an amazing kid and I am blessed that he is mine. He makes my heart happy. So for that, and for openly sharing his m&ms with me (How many 4 year olds do you know that do that?! Love my kid!), I thank him.
3. Every teacher, and every manager, I have ever had. Each one has left a little something behind - A fingerprint on my success.
I will be forever grateful.
2. My son, Nathan Smith. Nate is almost 4 years old, and Nate doesn't always understand why mommy is on the computer so much. When Nate thinks I have had enough of the computer, he walks over and he closes the laptop for me. Signals like this are important. He's an amazing kid and I am blessed that he is mine. He makes my heart happy. So for that, and for openly sharing his m&ms with me (How many 4 year olds do you know that do that?! Love my kid!), I thank him.
3. Every teacher, and every manager, I have ever had. Each one has left a little something behind - A fingerprint on my success.
I will be forever grateful.