March 2025

I’ve been learning a lot recently while putting together a digital portfolio. Doing so has sparked plenty of reminiscing, both the good and the not-so-good. I intend to share these memories with you and hope they bring you joy because they do for me. I intend to share stories highlighting where I come from and make connections to who I am now. Here goes nothing.
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I learned to type on a keyboard when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade while attending the now historic St. Patrick's School on Tipperary Hill in Syracuse, NY. Little did I know this would be an essential skill throughout my life and career.

My grandparents were a big support system in my early years and long time members of St. Patrick’s Parish and the reason I was enrolled in St. Patrick’s Catholic School. I have been thinking about these grandparents recently, Jack and Dilys. I learned from my Aunt that my grandmother, Dilys, was an executive secretary before she had children. I thought she had been a court reporter because I always heard her called a typist and assumed that meant she was transcribing court proceedings at lightning speed; akin to my skills on AIM ;). I was wrong. My mistake.

Fast forward to my time studying at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia where I took a part-time job as a legal assistant in a law office and learned a lot about my grandmother and her role as a typist and secretary. It’s been a joy to try and connect with the women I come from and it’s nice to know we have something in common.

Being a legal assistant was a fine job. I gained experience in customer service, office etiquette, and the importance of a good filing system; both digital and physical. It was also where I learned a very important life lesson: Dawn dish soap and dishwasher detergent are not the same thing. That was a mistake. However, it cracks me up when I think about it.

In addition to building my portfolio and reminiscing, I recently ripped out the dishwasher in my own home and I don't regret it. 

Dislikes dishes, 

-colline.