Newsletter of the East Bay Chapter of STC
November/December 2004 | Home

On Becoming a “Senior”

by Elaine Parrish
EBSTC Senior Member

Throughout our careers, we all experience both recurring challenges and periodic achievements. As technical communicators, most of us have grown accustomed to dealing with continual transition. In such an environment, milestones become even more significant, and reaching one offers an opportunity for reflection as well as celebration.

This December marks two milestones in my career: I achieve 25 years with my employer, and attain the rank of senior member of STC. Reflecting on these two imminent events has made me realize some important factors to career satisfaction in the midst of constant change: flexibility is vital, opportunities should be grabbed as they arise, and success is dependent on the help of many people along the way.

Employment: An Unexpected Direction

Like all companies, my employer has had its peaks and valleys over the years. To watch it grow and change over time has been an exciting ride. Unlike most workers in the corporate world, I’ve never strayed far from my beginnings—for me, in the training department. Being involved in course design and production wasn’t exactly in my plan—after collecting a degree in English, my goal was to teach English as a second language. However, I quickly began to learn that being flexible is the key to survival in the working world, so I took a chance at a position that was interesting and paid well, even though it had no relevance to my original plan. In my first job at the company, I worked for an editor, and my career began to turn in the direction of copyediting.

Much has changed over the years, and I am thankful for the help and guidance of many people who assisted me through the twists and turns of a career in the corporate environment. This December, when I accept my service anniversary gift, I’ll say a silent prayer of thanks for these inspiring mentors—and also hope that I’ve been able to help others in the same way.

STC: New Horizons Await

As a member of STC, I’ve also seen it grow and change. I first joined the East Bay Chapter because I was looking for a support group to help me in my copyediting career. Instead, an unexpected opportunity for me to help the chapter presented itself almost immediately: the Devil Mountain Views newsletter was seeking help with copyediting. I volunteered, and I’ve been the DMV copyeditor ever since. The newsletter has experienced dramatic changes over the past years, including a huge transition from print to online, as well as shifting responsibilities of various members of the production staff. Throughout these transitions, I continue to be appreciative of many people in the chapter who have contributed to my own growth along with that of the newsletter.

So now, as an almost-official senior member, I want to encourage all new members to continue being a part of STC. Remain flexible and consider new opportunities that may lead to new directions and new rewards. There will always be mentors to help you along the way, and I promise you that the satisfaction gained will be well worth the effort.

DMV Home | EBSTC | STC | Contact Us

Transition, Change, A Rose by Any Other Name... | Psst—Wanna Know a Secret? | On Becoming a "Senior"
Member Spotlight | Confounding Compounds | Director's Report | Editor's Message | President's Message
Meeting Information | Meeting Report: Sept | Meeting Report: Oct | New Members
Networking | Society News | Employment News | Book Review
Archives | About DMV | Letters to the Editor | Sponsors