The Children Authors Show Dates Confirmed

Hi Everyone! I'm excited to announce that my pre-recorded Internet radio show interview has completed its final step, and it is now ready for the world to hear! Last night I received an email from the Executive Producer that my interview will air on April 29 and 20, 2013. Here's the link for where you can access the interview: http://www.wnbnetworkwest.com/WnbAuthorsShowChildren.html.

Photo Credit: The Authors Show

It's been a semi-long process, but so totally worth it!

Here are the steps I had to take to get to where I am now.
1. Complete a request for the Children Authors Show on their website. The cool thing is that The Authors Show has various shows for different categories of books. Check it out at the link provided above.

2. Complete a pre-screen with a short list of questions to answer.

3. Complete a detailed and thorough questionnaire for the interview.

4. Connect with the host to determine a few dates and times to conduct the interview.

5. The host then sends the questions he will ask during the recording and you prep for them.

6. Complete the Internet radio interview.

7. Once completed, the recording is sent to Arizona, where the recording is professionally edited.

8. When the recording is ready, you will be informed of when your interview will be broadcasted.

9. You promote the broadcast on your social media sites, just as much as they do.

And that my friends is what it takes to get approved to be on the show. Can't wait for everyone to hear it!

If you have any friends who have published a book (or books) and looking for ways to promote their works, I highly recommend this option. What I've listed above is all done for FREE, it just takes time that you have to be willing to commit to. They have packages you can purchase to help you promote your book(s). Lastly, there is also have an option for television interviews for a fee.

Hope this helps anyone. =)

Have a great day everyone!It's almost weekend time!

Sidenote: To keep up with all upcoming events related to the book, like our Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/WhenIGrowUp.ChildrensBook.

Ward Elementary Author Visit on 4/12/13

Friday marked the day I participated in my second author visit. This particular school, Ward Elementary, was an honor, because my oldest, Mackenzie, attends school there. It was a very cool feeling to come in,  not only as a mom, but as a professional, kind of like Career Day, but only featuring me and my book!

When introducing myself, I asked the group of approximately 250 students if they knew who Mackenzie was, and about 75% of them  raised their hands. This, of course, didn't surprise me at all since my girl is a social butterfly and loves to talk to ANYONE and EVERYONE. Needless to say, she was the coolest kid yesterday because everyone thought it was so awesome that her mom was an author.

 After introducing myself, I told the students and teachers some cool facts about me, one of which included a video of me being spun in microgravity on the Zero G plane. Can we say A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

After cool facts, we did some activities about jobs in the community, I read the book out loud and the students took the "I Know I Can" pledge. The words come from the chorus of Nas' song, "I Can," which was released in 2003, on his album, God's Son. Trust an believe I cited that bad boy in my Prezi because I wanted to make sure credit was given where it was due, which sometimes people tend to forget to do or don't do at all. Wish I could let the kiddos listen to the whole song, but somehow, I doubt the teachers or parents want their kids hearing some of the lyrics, even though the message is good; however, thanks Nas for an amazing song, just the same!

We had a Q & A session, and I loved hearing all the questions that the students and teachers had for me. Note to myself for next time: have each class in each grade level participating come up with a question as a group and request to have them ready prior to my arrival. With a list of predetermined questions with the associated class teacher's name and grade level, this would allow for a smoother Q & A session. This way, I don't feel bad when some children aren't selected to ask a question because we are running out to time. Also, it is a safeguard for the same question not to be asked multiple times.

 I'm not going to lie, it felt good to sell some books, but THE...BEST...PART was definitely when some of the students asked me for hugs, waved at me as they left the library and said thank you for the fun presentation. One little girl asked me to autograph the palm of her hand. I would have so totally done it to feel like a rock star, but I didn't want her to get in trouble with her parents when she got home.

SIDENOTE: though the book is geared for girls, the boys were just as interactive during the presentation as the girls, and enjoyed it equally. I even had a few book orders from the boys. Now, that is what I call winning! Sorry Mr. Sheen, but you ain't got nothing on me and what I am trying to accomplish with my book. ;-) (<--- This last sentence is definitely the Houstonian coming out of me y'all...LOL!)

 After the presentation concluded, Mackenzie's teacher came up to me and told me that she loved the fact that I used Prezi rather than a boring old PowerPoint presentation (no offense Microsoft). By the way, if you haven't used Prezi, I highly recommend it. It's very interactive and keeps your audience (especially children) engaged. Only downside is that your presentation is accessible to the public, well the free version at least. So glad I figured that out before I included all the pages of my book on it. Instead, I use the pdf copy my illustrator  provided me, turned the pdf into a PowerPoint slide show using the book's physical dimensions and facilitated the book reading from the computer. This proved to be a success because it was large enough for all the children to see, versus me reading the actual book.

All is all, it was a great author visit, and I can't wait to schedule more. Remember, I don't charge for author visits in the Houston and surrounding areas. I only request reimbursement of mileage to and from the venue, and the only money made is through book orders, which are discounted at a lower rate for author visits.

East author visit is a learning experience and a way for me to improve my presentation based on feedback I received for future visits. There are some vital bits of information that I left out, that I didn't realize until I sat down with the Librarian and had a nice conversation about. Needless to say, I will be updating my presentation (again). Onward and upward, right?

Lastly, if you are interested, here's the link the my Prezi, http://prezi.com/reoit6sng3ho/sharon-griffin-author-visit-presentation/. If you've never heard of it, again, I highly recommend you take a look. It's a great tool that can be used for anything, and it's FREE!

Oh yeah, before I forget, Kenzie informed me that one of her friends said that my author visit was the best one he's been to. I honestly don't know how many author visits Ward is used to getting, but the fact that HE made that statement truly made my day. Making a difference in a child's life is one of the most fulfilling feelings EVER!!! What a great way to finish out the week and start the weekend with.

Until next time...

~SVG~

Upcoming Events

Hi to all the G's out there!

(Order your copy at www.griffingirlspublishing.com )

I am so ready for Thursday to get here, because I have a few upcoming events that I am super excited about. I'm ready to get the word out there about my book and take it to the next level. If you are just tuning into the blog and didn't already know, last year I self published my first children's book, When I Grow Up: A Little Girl's Big Boy Dreams. The book serves as a motivational push for little girls to pursue male dominated fields, as well as showing boys, from an early age on, that girls are their equals and that girls can accomplish the same things as boys. The book offers a rhyming couplet of the job titles, a brief description of what each job entails and illustrations of women of all colors, shapes and size doing those jobs deemed male dominated. The book is told from a little girl’s first person perspective, in which she has supportive parents who encourage her to dream big and consider doing any job she wants to, not those just typically geared for females.

Events:
April 11, 2013 - I record my interview for The Children Authors Show, which will then be professional edited.

April 12, 2013 - I get to do an author visit at my oldest daughter's elementary school. I was very excited to hear my name mentioned in the automated school wide message this past Sunday, see my name in the school weekly call out on Sunday and see my name on the Principal's page on the school website. This event is the one I am most excited about. Ahhhh, see below!



Photo (Email) Credit: Ward Elementary in Houston, TX

April 13, 2013 - I will be doing a book event at Bouncin' Bears Texas. I hope the owner lets me jump while I'm there! (Then, I get to go back on April 16th and do it all again.)

As always, thanks for stopping by! Please share and/or subscribe.

~Sharon~

Meet Jennifer Clark - Assistant Director of Student Life for the Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLICE) Program

Photo Credit: Jennifer Clark

I've known Jennifer from my days as a grad student at the University of Houston - Clear Lake (UHCL). I was an active participant in many student organizations on campus. I worked closely with Jennifer in the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), Sigma Alpha Pi, honors society. The year that I joined was the founding year for the UHCL chapter, also serving as the Events Coordiantor. It was exciting to be a part of something that took off and is continually growing on campus, thanks to Jennifer's excitement, dedication and commitment to the students. Some exciting new: in Fall 2014, UHCL will become a full 4 year university from a higher level Bachelor's and post grad university, which means that Jennifer will have more students to help guide in having a sucessful, , memorable and well-rounded college experience.  Read about Jennifer below!

Photo Credit: Jennifer Clark

1. Name: Jennifer Clark

2. City and State: Houston, TX

3. What is your educational background? (Include colleges/universities and degrees attained)

• M.S. Education (College Student Personnel) from Miami University, OH (2002)
• B.S. Human Services (Mental Health/Counseling) from California State University, Fullerton (1999)
• A.A., Citrus College (1996)

  

4. What types of courses does your degree require? (If no degree, put "N/A" or list certificates)
Human Development, Cognitive/Social Development, Psychology, Education, Student Development Theory, Organizational Leadership, Counseling

5. What were the most challenging classes you took and how did you overcome those challenges? (If no degree, put "N/A" or list certificate classes taken)
Statistics, Research Methods.  I developed a mental block when it came to mathematics when I was in high school. I always loved subjects like English, History, Music – basically, anything Humanities related.  I lacked patience for math and science.  I believe I sold myself short.  When I first started college, I was a musical theatre major and was in a program that was heavily concentrated on music, vocal performance, acting and dance. This was a three year program and I put off college-level math as long as I could.  When I started taking my general education courses so that I could complete my Associate’s degree and transfer to Cal State Fullerton, I enrolled in the starter course for math, even though I had tested higher.  I had never learned how to properly study math, and I wanted to learn correctly.  I applied the study skills I’d developed for my other courses that helped me to be successful (mostly, a lot of note-taking and summarizing chapters and making flashcards for myself), and also forced myself to do more than was necessary.  Most math books have answers in the back of the book for some of the questions.  I made sure I practiced by working through the sample questions, and the questions that I could check my work on.  I gained confidence in my math skills, and I graduated with a 3.92 overall GPA when I finished my B.S. at Cal State Fullerton.  My particular major (Human Services/Psychology) required a Psychology Statistics course, and while I haven’t used a ton of what I learned since my career took a different path, I occasionally analyze statistics when I develop my annual report to show the effectiveness of our programs.

6. Did you complete any internships/co-ops during school? If so, where did you intern or co-op? (If you didn’t complete any, put “NA”)
In undergrad, at Cal State Fullerton, I started off as a Psychology major.  I soon learned that it wasn’t exactly what I had in mind – my desire was to be a counselor.  I found out about the Human Services major from a student co-worker. Human Services combined what I loved about Psychology (understanding behavior and motivation) and also taught me to hone my counseling skills.  At the same time I was completing my studies, I discovered a career path into Student Affairs.  I worked on campus in the New Student Information Center, gave campus tours, and was an Orientation Leader year-round.  I was given opportunities to attend conferences for higher education student affairs professionals, and I found my calling.  When it came time to do fieldwork/internship for my major, I wanted to gain more experience with student programming.  I had an internship with the Women’s Center/Counseling Center (at Fullerton, these offices were combined), and I also had a year-long internship with the Fullerton First Year program, serving as an FFY mentor.  As an FFY mentor, I co-taught a First Year seminar course with a faculty member and a student affairs staff member, and provided one-on-one advising to more than 25 freshmen.  Additionally, I worked for the College of Human Development and Community Service (HDCS) as an enrollment manager, and visited community colleges to represent our College during College Fairs.   When I went to graduate school at Miami University, my assistantship/internship was with the Student Activities office, and I was responsible for coordinating Miami’s annual student leadership conference, advised a leadership peer mentors group, and coordinated the campus cable channel.  I also did an internship teaching a Career Development class, as well as co-facilitated a Leadership class for one of their living/learning communities at Miami. During the summer between my two years in graduate school, I returned to Cal State Fullerton’s HDCS and designed a Student Success program to assist academic probationary and at-risk students, as well as continued to help with enrollment management.

7. What company do you currently work for?
University of Houston – Clear Lake

8. What is your job title?
Assistant Director of Student Life for the Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLICE) program

9. What are your day to day tasks?
I am primarily responsible for coordinating all aspects of our SLICE program, which includes marketing, recruiting presenters and recruiting students to participate in our programs, planning an Annual Student Leadership Conference (open to college students all over Texas. We usually average attendance of 325 or more per year.)  I am also responsible for designing and facilitating our annual 3-day Student Leadership Retreat for forty students, held in the Fall semester.  I coordinate our Fall and Spring Leadership Workshop Series, and also create and teach several of the workshops for that series. Last year, I launched a week-long Emerging Leaders Academy for new students.   I advise and develop the Executive Council for our UHCL student chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success, which has had more than 3000 students join its organization since Spring 2007.  SLICE is the campus clearinghouse for volunteerism both on-campus and in the community, so we communicate with local non-profit service organizations to find out what volunteer needs they have and then communicate this information to our students.  We host a Community Service Fair in the Fall semester, featuring 25 plus non-profit organizations; we coordinate a UHCL Day of Service in the Spring and work with student organizations to plan service projects all over Houston and Galveston.  I also oversee our Servant Leader Scholar Program, which recognizes participation in leadership development programs and community service performed.  Additionally, I am part of the Student Life Office team and provide support for office-wide programs, such as Student Government Association, Student Organizations, Chili-Cook Off, New Student Orientation/Programs, Student Leadership Banquet, etc.  Since my programs are seasonal, no day is exactly the same.  I am always planning details for an event in the future.  Daily tasks include communicating with students, faculty, staff, and the community; problem-solving; meeting with students one-on-one; supervising two student assistants for SLICE and making sure they have what they need from me to successful complete their work.  I participate in other campus committees and attend meetings.  We are currently gearing up for having our first group of first-time freshmen on campus, so I am also researching and benchmarking four-year leadership development programs (classes, portfolio programs) to design curriculum and create a proposal to implement phase 1 by Fall 2014.  I also have to assess all of my programs, so we have students complete evaluation forms, and that data has to be calculated and analyzed.

10. Do you work independently or in a team environment? Which do you prefer?
I work both independently and in a team environment.  I am given a lot of autonomy in my role, since I am pretty much the Director of the SLICE program.  I occasionally receive directives from our AVP of Student Services (such as developing the First Year program for leadership, or researching grant opportunities), or from my boss, the Director of Student Life (who also oversees the Coordinator of Student Activities and Organizations, and all the other functions of the Student Life Office.)  As Assistant Director, I assist him where-ever needed, and I support the other programs that come out of our office, whether it is attending a Broomball Tournament with our Fitness Zone – Recreation and Wellness Coordinator, staffing an information table during Student Organizations Expo, presenting a workshop during New Student Orientation – we work as a team to deliver these large programs to our student body.

11. What type of skill sets are needed for this job?
The technical, or “formal” answer to this question is an understanding and knowledge of student development theory and also it’s practical application.  My job requires a master’s degree in higher education/student development. You must know how to create a programming budget, how to appeal to students, staff and faculty to recruit their participation, program design, educational pedagogy, communication (written and verbal), conflict management and resolution (especially when working with a team of student officers in an organization).  You also need to know how to be resourceful, both financially and in terms of always keeping an eye on trends in leadership development and higher education.  I attend conferences around the country and take advantages of workshops for Leadership Educators and those who work with Service Learning programs.  I network with colleagues in the same field and we share ideas and strategies.  Additionally, a successful Student Affairs practitioner is an educator, a mentor, a counselor, a supervisor, a colleague, a team-player, and sometimes, you have to be a miracle worker (squeezing rocks to find money to pay for things when you don’t have much of a budget.)  We have learned to be very creative and resourceful so that we can provide high quality experiences for a low-cost, and I believe that starts with high quality people.

12. Did you have a mentor? If so, what was the most important lesson he/she taught you?
I have had many mentors throughout my life.  They have been teachers, supervisors, professional leadership speakers I’ve befriended in my years of coordinating leadership conferences.  I have learned so much from each and every one of them that I could fill pages just talking about them.  However, for the purpose of this blog, I will talk about my high school showchoir and journalism advisor, Richard Kinzler, or “Mr. K.”  I was fortunate to have Mr. K as a teacher for all four years of high school.  I was on the newspaper staff my Freshman year, and while he never took freshmen on staff, my junior high school newspaper teacher made a good case for me.  Half of the upperclassmen on staff were also in show choir, and they all seemed to really enjoy being around Mr. K.  I was curious, and I volunteered for extra assignments and stayed after school to help with paste-up. On a whim, I auditioned for show choir at the end of my freshman year, and I made the group, which meant that I had at least two classes every semester with Mr. K.  I became Features editor, then Editor-in-Chief of the school paper, which meant that I was ALWAYS at school, and always working next to Mr. K.  And, because I was in show choir and we had weekly rehearsals and we choreographed our own routines, Mr. K’s classroom and office became my home away from home.  Mr. K worked harder than anyone I’d ever known.  He arrived at school before sunrise, and worked well until after sunset.  He was there on weekends making sure we rehearsed for competitions and shows, and to make sure we put out a quality newspaper.  He was like a surrogate father to many of my peers who found solace at school as an escape from a broken home.  He was counselor and confidante.  He got upset, and he held us to high standards, and we wanted to meet those standards because we wanted to make him proud. He gave us his entire life. He was not married, he did not have children – we knew we were his children.  He passed away a year and a half ago, and I flew home to California for his memorial service. It was held in an old large cathedral in Pomona.  Former students spanning more than 30 years of his career came to his service, and many of us came from out of state.  Mr. K literally saved lives.  So many of his students have credited him with providing them with that safe space when they might have gone down a path into gangs or drugs.  Some did fall onto those paths, but Mr. K helped them to find something positive to focus their lives around.  Mr. K helped me to find my voice, to believe in myself. He gave me responsibility. I was a shy, quiet, insecure 13 year old when I met him.  Other show choirs hired professional choreographers to stage flashy dance numbers for their competitions, but Mr. K knew that if we created it ourselves, we would learn more and we would develop pride in ourselves and a strong work ethic. 

I have been in student affairs since 1997, and I have worked in my current position since 2002.  I enjoy rich fulfilling relationships with my college students, mostly because of what I learned from Mr. K.  I don’t mind the long hours, coming to work on weekends, staying until 10pm or later at night, because I’m investing in people.  I believe that people, if given the chance and responsibility to create and serve, that they can transform themselves and others in the process. Mr. K transformed me.

13. What do you believe to be your greatest strength?
I believe my greatest strength is my desire to continue learning and growing.  I am like a sponge – I collect information and knowledge and ask myself how I can pass on this awareness to others.  I am a very committed and passionate person, and my students that I am blessed to work closely with, know that I have a blast when I’m with them.  Whether we are discovering our Strengths on a three-day leadership retreat, doing a SWOT analysis of our team’s performance from the previous semester, or just chatting one-on-one with a student for an hour in my office about their goals and aspirations or whatever is on their mind.

14. What do you believe to be your greatest weakness?
I probably have a tendency to do TOO much.  In the past couple of years, I have felt more run down, and last year, I had a few health setbacks.  I have to remind myself to take time for myself, because if I do not, I stop being effective.

15. What are some of your accomplishments? What accomplishment are you the most proud of?
I have built SLICE from the ground up. When I first came to UHCL over ten years ago, the Student Life Office hosted an annual student leadership conference and offered a few workshops for student organization officers, but did not have a formalized leadership development program that was open for everyone.  Through trial and error, I believe that I have created a very successful program on-campus.  However, I would say my proudest accomplishment is my students.  Last summer, we hosted our first ever week-long Emerging Leaders Academy, and on the first night, we hosted a panel of alumni who had gone through SLICE programs and served as student leaders in many different capacities during their time at UHCL.  This panel consisted of students I have worked with since 2002.  To hear them speak with great love and pride about what they learned at UHCL, and especially for the connections they made through SLICE, filled me with such a sense of gratitude that God has placed me here to do what I do.  Every day I am inspired by our students and our alumni.  I learn so much from them, and am inspired by their stories of courage and the obstacles they have overcome. I’m inspired by the causes they choose to pursue.

16. What are your hobbies? What do you do for fun?
I love music, theatre, arts and crafts, gardening, spending time with my 10 year old dachshund (Bridget), and spending quality time with my amazing friends and family.  As a former musical theatre major, I really enjoy performing and being involved with a production, even if I’m not onstage myself.  At the moment, I’m directing several monologues for UHCL’s 5^th Annual benefit production of The Vagina Monologues, and this year, I have the delightful privilege to perform one of my favorite monologues from the show.  I enjoy being involved in things that bring joy to others.  I’ve recently discovered a love for cooking!

17. What did you want to be when you were a child?
I wanted to be a writer.  I wanted to be a newspaper reporter.  I wanted to play “Evita” or Mary Magdalene in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar”.  I wanted to be in the Mickey Mouse Club (the 70's group with Lisa Welchel from Facts of Life.) 

18. If you could switch professions with someone else for a day, what would it be and why?
I really don’t think I would want to… I LOVE my job.  But, it might be fun to be a home decorator on an HGTV show like “Design on a Dime”.  I love that stuff!

19. What advice would you give girls wanting to go into your field?
I didn’t even know my field existed when I started college.  Student Affairs can encompass so many different parts of college life. You can run a Residence Hall, teach First Year seminars, plan New Student Orientation programs, work in Student Activities and do all the fun stuff like bring in bands for concerts. You can plan service projects for the community. You can advise students on what courses they should take for their major and for their career.  You can lead groups.  You can advise student organizations or student government.  If you go into a career in Student Affairs, you have to have the heart for it.  You have to have a genuine love for helping other people to succeed.  This isn’t a career you go into to become rich.  You have to be willing to be flexible with your time. This isn’t a 9-5 job, and every day is different (which is actually the appeal for me.)  What I may not take home in my paycheck at the end of the month, I know that the satisfaction and meaning my job/career gives me more than makes up for it.  I know many people who make six figure incomes who are miserable.  I still pinch myself that I even get paid to do what I do, because I have such a blast doing it.  I work in a very positive environment, surrounded by positive people who are determined to help others be successful.  We celebrate each other.  What could be better than that?    If you want to go into Student Affairs, I say take advantage of everything your college has to offer. Volunteer for committees, be a resident advisor, be a peer mentor or orientation leader. Diversify your experience.  I went into Student Affairs thinking I would be in charge of New Student Orientation, because that was my introduction to the field, but I discovered leadership programs and it has been extremely fulfilling. Keep an open mind, and don’t be afraid to take the plunge.

Meet Sheena Mumford - Transportation Fleet Manager for Schneider Nation

Photo Credit: Sheena Mumford

Sheena and I graduated together in 2000 (Y2K baby!...LOL) from Clear Lake High School. Thank goodness for social media because without it, we wouldn't have reconnected after finishing high school. Prior to her current position as Transportation Fleet Manager, Sheena served overseas, as a truck driver, in Iraq. Thank you Sheena for all that you have done for our country. Read about Sheena below!


Photo Credit: Sheena Mumford

1. Name - Sheena Mumphord

2. City and State - Houston, TX

3. What is your educational background?
I have 40hrs complete from TSU, San Jacinto South Campus and University of the Incarnate Word online. (Include colleges/universities and degrees attained)

4. What types of courses does your degree require?
Philosophy , computer literacy, history

5. What were the most challenging classes you took and how did you overcome those challenges?
Philosophy there was a lot of reading of very dry material. I just pushed through it and got it done.

6. Did you complete any internships/co-ops during school?  If so, where did you intern or co-op?
N/A

7. What company do/did you currently work for?
Schneider National

8. What is/was your job title?
Transportation Fleet Manager

9. What are/were your day to day tasks?
Schedule coordinate the day to day activities and routes for 18 wheeler drivers.

10. Do/Did you work independently or in a team environment? Which do you prefer? 
I work in a team environment and it's what I prefer.

Photo Credit: Sheena Mumford

 11. What type of skill sets are needed for this job?

Very organized , good under pressure, ability to adapt to constant change.

12. What is it like working in a predominantly male environment? What are some of the struggles you faced?
I love it. You constantly have to push yourself to be the best.  I've found that the general belief is it's OK for a guy to be average at a job but when a women does a male dominated job she has to be exceptional.

13. Did you have a mentor? If so, what was the most important lesson he/she taught you?
Yes. I was taught always be able to adapt to change.

14. What do you believe to be your greatest strength?
I'm great under pressure.

15. What do you believe to be your greatest weakness?
I'm a perfectionist. I often spend many brain cells reworking an issue in the allotted time to=
make sure it's correct.

16. What are some of your accomplishments? What accomplishment are you the most proud of?
I spent 84 months in the Army and of that, 47 of those months were in a combat zone. As a truck diver on active duty, I was deployed in Baghdad, Iraq in 2006 and 2007. From 2010 to 2011, I was deployed to a city called Al Nasarah. I have driven over a million miles overseas. Keeping my sanity under the most horrible conditions, as well as maintaining the mental stability of my subordinates by reassuring them we would all make it home.

17. What are your hobbies? What do you do for fun?
 I love to play poker pool and call of duty.

18. What did you want to be when you were a child?
A truck driver

19. If you could switch professions with someone else, what would it be and why?
The Secretary o Defense so that I could efficiently use the US Military.

20. What advice would you give girls wanting to go into your field?

Go for it and be better than the best. You have to be above average doing the same thing in order to get the same respect of the most horrible man. Totally worth it once you get over the initial disrespect.

Photo Credit: Sheena Mumford

My First Author Visit

Date: February 27, 2013
School: Benbrook Elementary in Houston, TX

 

 

There are many words that can describe experiencing my first author visit, but the one word that comes to mind is...REWARDING!  Knowing that all my hard work from writing my children's book, to finding an illustrator who got my vision, to creating my own publishing company and lastly, seeing the final product presented to your targeted audience is exhilarating.  Seeing all the smiling faces of the kids and their excitement during the presentation is very inspiring. What I enjoyed the most was after the presentation concluded, many of the kids came up to me, hugged me and told me that they loved the book. Even though the book is geared for girls, the boys were even telling me they loved the book.

I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason, with the divine intervention of God of course! Today, that was reaffirmed by my first author visit. For the first time in my life, I feel like this is the career I was meant to have. Although I've enjoyed my past job experiences, nothing can compare to what I felt today. Some of the puzzle pieces of my life are beginning to fit into place.

Puzzle Piece #1 – In 2003, I wrote a short essay titled, "Sharon - Future Psychologist," for a scholarship. Interestingly enough, my short essay was published in; get this...Authors of Tomorrow!

Puzzle Piece #2 –I had my daughter in 2005, then the next one and so on and so forth, all the way to number 4! I was meant to create strong and independent future leaders!

Puzzle Piece #3 – Upon completion of my Master’s degree (and a year’s worth of job searches), I landed a job as a Program Coordinator in the Education Office at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). My job consisted of recruiting minority high school and college students going into Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields for paid technical internships. I also had the opportunity to manage the Pre-Service Teacher Institute program, which allowed pre-service teachers throughout the nation an opportunity to come to JSC for a week long workshop, where they learned to incorporate NASA approved Math and Science curriculum into their future classrooms, along with the use of different technologies. I also had the pleasure of planning and supporting NASA’s presence at the Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology Conference (HESTEC), down in Edinburg, TX, on the University of Texas – Pan American campus for two years in a row.

Puzzle Piece #4 – While working at NASA JSC, I also taught General Psychology, as an adjunct professor at San Jacinto College.

There are many more puzzle piece that fit into the larger picture, but at this time, these are the pieces that stand out the most. I believe each of these components is God’s way of saying, “Hey Sharon, you keep doing your thing, but I have a better plan in mind for you.” My short essay, in a way, foreshadowed what I would do in the future. At the time, it was a means to help pay for college but little did I realize that this publication would mean more to me in the future.

My job at JSC allowed me to connect with many of the women who will be showcased on this blog. I also connected with four cohorts of pre-service teachers, many of them now in their own classrooms. Possible author visits? Yes, I do believe so!

As an adjunct, I had to prepare my lecture materials, tests/assessments, grade assignments, report metrics and present lecture materials to the students. This allowed me to firm up my organization skills and perfect my public speaking skills, which is still a learning process. I believe this was a way for me to get over my stage fright and become comfortable speaking in front of crowds, both big and small.  Don’t get me wrong, I still get nervous at the beginning, but it's taking me less and less time to get comfortable and start being my true self.

It's all about bring it all back full circle and if all these are signs that I was meant to do what I did today, then I’m glad I’m on the path that was destined for me. I have always loved children, but knew I wasn’t cut out to be an elementary school teacher; therefore, being an author and visiting schools is the best of both worlds. I get to interact with the children in a fun and enjoyable environment, and best of all, I don’t have to test them over the material. Frankly, it’s a win-win situation for everyone. =)

My life's mantra comes from Mahatma Gandhi. "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Sharon Griffin - Owner/Author

Hello and welcome to HerStory by GGPub (short for Griffin Girls Publishing)! I published my first children's book, titled When I Grow Up: A Little Girl's Big Boy Dreams, in June 2012. The book is a motivational push for little girls to pursue male dominated fields and to help little boys understand, at an early age, that boys and girls are equal and that girls can accomplish the same things as boys. Having four daughters of my own, I wanted to share my passion with each of you. This blog is dedicated to providing posts, in the form of interviews, from women sharing their educational, professional and a little bit of their personal backgrounds with each of you. Though the book is about male dominated fields, the blog will feature a wide variety of professions. I am hopeful this blog will be utilized as a reference for anyone considering a certain career path, seeing what options lie ahead for them. My goal with this blog is to provide anyone and everyone an outlet to reflect on career paths they necessarily might not have considered as a possibility or even an option.
 
 I decided the first interview would be about me so that you get to know me a little bit better. I hope you enjoy this blog, and I look forward to you continuing this journey with me.

1. Name - Sharon Griffin (That would be me!)

2. City and State - Houston, TX

3. What is your educational background? (Include colleges/universities and degrees attained)

I hold a Bachelors of Science in General Psychology (12/06) and a Master's of Arts in General Psychology Industrial/Organizational Psychology Specialization (12/08). Both degrees were earned from the University of Houston - Clear Lake.

4. What types of courses does your degree require? (If no degree, put "N/A" or list certificates)

A few of the courses I had to take consisted of statistics, leadership, training and development, how to administer assessments and analyze the data and some human resources related courses.

5. What were the most challenging classes you took and how did you overcome those challenges? (If no degree, put "N/A" or list certificate classes taken)

The hardest classes for me have always been the math classes; therefore, statistics was my kryptonite. I overcame those challenges by going to tutoring sessions, studying with friends and studying hard to understand the material.

6. Did you complete any internships/co-ops during school? If so, where did you intern or co-op? (If you didn’t complete any, put “NA”)

I completed two internships for my Master's degree. The first was with the Houston Comets as the Business Operations Intern, supporting the Business Operations manager in the day to day tasks of the team. Perks were that I got to attend the Comets games. The second internship was with MDA Federal, Inc., a NASA contractor. I worked as the Human Resources Intern, supporting the HR manager in conducting research on performance reviews and increasing salaries of the engineers to meet the average of what's being paid in the United States.

7. What company do you currently work for?

Griffin Girls Publishing

8. What is your job title?

Owner/operator/author

9. What are your day to day tasks?

Accounting, advertising, marketing, website maintenance, order fulfillment, social media site maintenance and scheduling events to promote and sell book to the general public.

10. Do you work independently or in a team environment? Which do you prefer?
I work independently. I currently prefer working independently because I starting this company and like to be aware and know everything that is going on.

11. What type of skill sets are needed for this job?

Organization, time management, people skills, database management, social media savvy, networking abilities and dedication. (If you don't have them, trust me, you will get them!)

12. Did you have a mentor? If so, what was the most important lesson he/she taught you?

Not a mentor per say, but I did have an individual in the Houston chapter of the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators give me instructions on how to self publish and create my own publishing company. Everything else, I have been learning as I go and on my own.

13. What do you believe to be your greatest strength?

I believe my greatest strength is being flexible and rolling with the punches, so to speak. You have to be able to deal with anything that comes at you that you aren't prepared for and make it work in your favor.

14. What do you believe to be your greatest weakness?

I believe my greatest weakness is that I can't say no to people. I am a people pleaser and don't like to disappoint anyone. However, this has worked out in my favor because it has allowed me to hone in on my time management skills, figuring out what needs my time/attention and how much time to allot. Lastly, I work for myself and have no problem saying no to me!

15. What are some of your accomplishments? What accomplishment are you the most proud of?

These are a few of the awards I have received from my past positions:

Marshalls:

Employee of the Quarter - June 2001

Most Creative Game: Shrinkopoly - June 2003

 

NASA Johnson Space Center:

Group Achievement Award - September 2010

Superior Achievement Award - September 2010

SEA Grant Top Performer - August 2011

JSC Group Achievement Award - 2012

The accomplishment I am most proud of professionally is being published. The first was for a short essay I wrote for a scholarship, titled "Sharon - Future Psychologist," and second, my children's book, titled "When I Grow Up: A Little Girl's Big Boy Dreams."

 

16. What are your hobbies? What do you do for fun?

For fun, I like to hang out with my family and friends, read, cook, take pictures and plan/host events.

17. What did you want to be when you were a child?

When I was a child, I wanted to be an animal trainer for Sea World. I fell in love with orcas/killer whales from our yearly family trips to San Antonio's Sea World.

18. If you could switch professions with someone else for a day, what would it be and why?

I would like to switch with a Psychologist to see what it's like to help people with their problems. Sometimes, all you need is someone to talk to, who is unbiased and can see things from a neutral standpoint. Talking to someone with a fresh perspetive and someone who doesn't already have an opinion about you and your past can sometimes be better than just talking to a friend. Being physically healthy is important, but being mentally healthy is just as important, if not moreso.

19. What advice would you give someone wanting to go into your profession?

Owning your own business is hard and totally worth it. There's a learning curve, but if you get past the first year, it gets better and easier. You have to believe in yourself, your product and know that you can do it by yourself. You have to wear many hats and know when to switch those hats to accommodate the situation at hand. Organization is key, as well as knowing the trends at the time. As far as being an author, you need to decide if you want to go with a traditional publisher or self publish your work. I choose to self publish because I didn't want to wait around for someone to tell me that my book was good enough to publish, because I knew it was, and that was all that mattered. I also wanted creative control over what the illustrations portrayed because I was looking for something very specific. I believe I am one of the lucky ones. I got a great illustrator who worked with me until the illustrations were just what I wanted and needed for my book.