Mia Lathrop

In November of last year, I made the somewhat unexpected decision to return to school at Madison College.
Following are some of my thoughts regarding this decision, in no particular order.
First, I eagerly anticipate the coming semester and courses in my program. I enrolled in the Small Business, Entrepreneur curriculum. I am looking forward to learning what I can do to serve my public speaking career.
Second, I have a fear about my upcoming time at this college. This fear is based on a hope not to squander the time I am investing in myself here.
I was last a student here in 2017, in the IT Computer Systems Administration Specialist track. I learned a lot in these courses.
Now, as I am entering my new curriculum, there are many unknowns.
I once heard that one can drive from New York City to Los Angeles at nighttime, only seeing 50 feet ahead of them with their headlights.
That’s somewhat how I feel here.
While I do have ideas about possibilities between now and my graduation and after that, I am still very flexible in what type of future I am anticipating.
There are many aspects of my current reality and the future that are very interesting and exciting to me.
Primarily, I seek to grow in my capacity to serve multiple segments of the population.
You see, I am a brain cancer survivor.
Much of my life, before and after my cancer diagnosis, has been a harrowing experience. Going to school did not always seem feasible for me.
Serving others in a big way often wasn’t a reality I could even contemplate, let alone enact.
In the past several years, I have developed supports that have given me confidence that I would be successful in school.
I am identifying supports at Madison College that will make my progress here more consistent and reliable. I believe everyone here wants to see us students succeed.
Knowing this helps me to know that I am in the right place.
Within the next two years, who knows? Hopefully, I will launch a successful public speaking career.
This will include researching, writing books and blogs, giving speeches and podcasting. I also see myself coaching individuals and groups to launch a speaking career.
I am working with The Clarion to renew my writing skills.
This is my first effort to write for The Clarion (along with my book review, in an upcoming issue, “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience”).
If you are interested in entrepreneurship, public speaking, business, writing, drama, theatre, music, creativity, or student success, I would love to talk with you.
Feel free to reach out [email protected].