Growing up, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I was promptly informed that I wasn’t good enough in math or science so there was no way I could be a vet. As a naïve 10-year-old, I believed that which the adult told me and did not pursue this career path.

When I entered college, I wanted to be a journalist/writer. My freshman English professor, a PhD and graduate of Harvard, dashed that dream rather quickly. On my final essay, marked with a C+, he also wrote, in red pen, ‘This is the most unorganized writing I have ever read. Have you found your niche yet in math or science?’ How ironic, I thought.

Did I listen this time? Sort of. While I did not pursue a full-fledged writing career, I did something related that involved writing and revealed my creative flair. With a a Bachelor of Science degree in both Mass and Interpersonal Communications, I went into advertising and marketing.

Fast forward about 10 years. While writing PR materials and grants for a local community theater, I was mentored by a freelance writer who taught me quite a bit. I am not sure though that he ever thought I would really amount to much as a writer. This time, I persevered with writing. I wrote a couple of niche market books about (Cleveland Ballet) Dancing Wheels, a 200-year-old church in Cleveland, Ohio, and a family legacy memoir. I also wrote and produced an interactive stage play, radio commercials, a number of magazine and newspaper articles, grants, and many miscellaneous writing items.

Making a living as a freelance writer is challenging. Even with some success, I needed a more stable income, so I went back to the marketing/advertising world working in Public Relations. In the interim, I married, had a baby, and for a while was a stay-at-home mom. Later, I divorced, and upon re-entering the work force, I worked as a medical scribe and marketing director for an ophthalmology practice and part-time at Barnes and Noble. Currently, I work full-time only at Barnes and Noble. 

Here I am now, some 25 years later, and once again I am on the writing path. I spent this past week in Denver, Colorado interviewing and visiting with Dr. Jeff Young, Rocky Mountain vet, as I am writing his biography. (Thanks, Ted, for all your mentoring). Not only do I get to write about someone that makes a difference in life, but this visit has allowed me to live vicariously, if only for a few days, the life of a veterinarian.

One of the best parts of the visit involved a four-year-old girl. This little girl came to the clinic with her grandmother and their dog who needed a check-up. The grandmother asked if her granddaughter might be able to meet Dr. Jeff. She explained that her granddaughter often watched Dr. Jeff’s show on Animal Planet and was thoroughly entranced. Not only could this little girl recite, verbatim, many of the things Dr. Jeff said, but she also exclaimed, “When I grow up, I want to be a vet like Dr. Jeff and fix animals.” Dr. Jeff did indeed go out to meet the little girl and she was very happy although a bit shy. [Note: This truly happened. I hope this little girl will be told ‘yes’ and that her dream of being a vet will become a reality.]

Point of the matter: when you get knocked down, get back up again, don’t let anyone keep you down. Keep dreaming, keep living, and keep on keeping on, to the best of your ability. You will end up in the right place, at the right time. Instead of the noes, hear the yesses!

Good day!

Melinda Grohol 3/12/23