Hey Friends, today Karen is telling us about what life looked like for her after high school. Karen is our creative consultant. She has created and refined Masters of their Craft workshops and features into what it is today. We are so excited about what is yet to come with this dynamic aspect of CHAR co. Karen has a beautiful knack for catching a vision and then making into a really good tangible reality. So grateful for her. Enjoy hearing Karen’s story. Like yours, her story is unique to her.

Where did you work during high school?
At my dad and uncle’s orchard in the summers. My coworkers were often Amish ladies, my mom, and my sisters. I loved it and learned there that hard work really can be fun and little can match the beauty of nature. I grew close to my family this way too. When summer ended and school started, I was often a bit somber about not being able to spend as much time with them.

Did you go straight to college after high school? Why or why not?
I did. I knew my parents expected that path for me, and I wanted to pursue some sort of degree. I always loved learning and reading. The hard part for me was deciding what to study. In high school, I wanted to be a stockbroker or an accountant, but those interests waned before graduation, and I ended up double majoring in English and in Secondary Education.

What did life look like after college graduation?
On my 22^nd birthday, I started my first day of teaching high school English. It felt like so much responsibility to me at that age! It would take quite a few years until I felt comfortable speaking in front of a class. But I never felt quite settled as an English teacher and had a hard time envisioning myself there long term. During summers, I took exploratory trips to Cambodia and Central Africa Republic to discover if I should be teaching English in the third world. That didn’t feel right. Then I went through a phase of taking flight lessons, thinking maybe I could be a missionary pilot. That didn’t last long as I realized I have zero mechanical inclination whatsoever. I thought, “Maybe I am doing what I’m supposed to do” and kept teaching high school English enjoying more and more all the books I could teach and the creative challenge of my job—though there were many not so creative challenges too! Teaching also allowed me to get my Masters in Humanities and take other grad classes and see how much I really enjoyed learning and writing.

Then, I ended my nine-year teaching career just before the birth of my daughter. I knew I didn’t want to be a full time mother and teacher.

How did you end up at CHAR co?
My husband and I would walk by the studio from time to time, and I would always look in the windows wondering about this fascinating business. I think the aesthetics of the place caught my eye and for some reason, I felt like I belonged there. So I took a photography workshop, realized Grace was looking for a style intern, and talked to my husband about applying. My daughter was 6 months old at the time, I felt adjusted to being a mother, and I loved all the creative possibilities at the studio. After interning for a year, Char asked me to stay as the creative consultant. The job has fit perfectly—allows me to dream, write, read, do interviews, plan workshops, while allowing me to spend most of my time and days with my daughter.

Is there anything you want to share with a high school graduate?
1. Be a hard worker. It’s such a rare quality in younger people that you will immediately stand out from the masses of people your age. If you are a hard worker, you will succeed whether you pursue higher education or not.
2. Never try to fit in. High school tends to be about conformity, but in college and in the work force, seeing people’s unique natures and styles is so refreshing.
3. Think beyond college. What legacy do you wish to leave at the end of your life? Make that your goal—college is a means to an end, not an end in itself.
4. Your parents are wiser than you can imagine and have done far more for you than you can realize until you are a parent. Go to them for advice, honor them, speak well of them, and always consider their counsel.