I used to do dead-end retail jobs (this was partly tied into recurring undiagnosed depression), and then finally decided I needed to do something else.

I took the two-year Office Administration - Medical program at St. Lawrence College, and got awards both years for having the highest grades in my class (GPA=4.0). I graduated not so long ago, in May of 2004. I was a part-time secretary in a hospital outpatient psychiatry clinic for three years, starting in December 2003, doing transcription and reception and everything else. For a few months I did some cardiology transcription from home on contract. In January 2007 I got a full-time position as a transcriptionist in a hospital histopathology department (although more of the job is not transcription than was originally indicated, or than I was entirely happy with) and ended my cardiology contract.

That led to being off work for a long time due to my worst-ever depressive episode.

I took St. Lawrence College's one-year Vet Assistant program from January to August 2009, and graduated with a GPA of 3.95 (stupid grooming classes). I did my final placement at the local humane society, which led to a part-time job, but I left due to some intolerable philosophical differences -- let's just leave it at that.

I tried to start a business doing behavioural consultation for cats, you can find it at Feline Harmony, but have had to allow both that and job-hunting to drop into the background thanks to an episode that was primarily anxiety rather than depression, this time. While I try to get myself into shape to work, I foster felines and do what I can to support SNKI (Spay-Neuter Kingston Initiative) and KAR (Kingston Animal Rescue).

What'll happen next? Who knows? I'm never going to get rich, I know that, but then, what's the point of being rich if you hate getting up every morning? Being me, I really need to feel like I'm doing something useful, making the world a better place somehow. On the other hand, having enough income to support my household and pay my bills is rather helpful...