And Kari, Rae (and others thinking about career directions) -
I am glad if this story inspires a little bit. I know times are very tough now, especially in some geographical areas and particular fields. But I also know the two of you are incredibly articulate and thoughtful people, especially for your age!! You're both superb communicators with much to share. And your creativity is part of who you are. So whatever direction you go, I think it is super important to keep hold of that and find some way to express it.
Another thing I forgot to mention. It wasn't just my direct volunteering for this company that led me to my job. For several years I also had a much bigger volunteer role as the web editor for the Kingston WritersFest. In that role I did a lot of promotional writing—and this, in turn, became good material to add to my portfolio when I applied for this job.
If I'd tried to get a paid position as a promotional writer right off the bat, I probably wouldn't have had much luck. It's not that I didn't have the skills. I did! And I even had a relevant degree. But I didn't have promotional writing experience. Getting that experience as a volunteer allowed me to segue more easily into a paid position that includes some similar duties.
