2022: Year in Review
What a year of newness you've been, 2022. Let me count the reasons for my gratitude:
- Last December (12/12/21), I faith-leaped into a purchase of an Articulate360 subscription. My trial had just elapsed and I was hopeful to find new remote working opportunities as recommended by our neighbors. During my trial period, I completed 9 E-Learning Heroes Challenges, and wanted to keep learning by doing. I applied for contract work with In Focus Training.
- In the interim, I completed contract work for Artella Solutions, assisting with writing for web publication, brochure designs, and developing a branded organizational chart. My work with Artella was an extension of the relationship I had with Infinity Heart Health. I was thankful to be part of the core team for two years of the startup, creating vector graphics, short animated videos, marketing campaigns, curating and managing the company website, maintaining digital files, and coordinating weekly team meetings. I felt blessed to have these remote work opportunities that stretched me outside my Education experience and degrees.
- In January, our family of 3 started living full-time in a Class C RV. We rented out our house to an amazing family, who are taking phenomenal care of it. Then, we began our slow-travels, including road-schooling our now 7th grader.
- On February 1, I began contract work for In Focus Training on layout designs for fillable job aids, Requests for Proposals (RFP), and course catalog pages to support sales courses. I am thankful In Focus Training took a chance with me and provided opportunities for me to support work within the field of Learning and Development.
- Our family moved within 500 miles every month or two to campgrounds and explored communities surrounding us. We've had an amazing year or discovery, making new friends, and enjoying nature. By summer, contracts had slowed, which gave us opportunities to hike through several Texas State Parks, culminating with our first National Park visit at Big Bend.
- By July, I had completed 25 #ELHChallenge submissions and was completely surprised to receive an invitation to present a session about one of my challenge demos at the Articulate User Conference co-located to DevLearn 2022. After shuffling our travel schedule around, and making new campground and flight arrangements, I accepted the invitation!
- At the end of July, I noticed a posting on the Articulate Job Board for a position I qualified for: 2 years of web design or equivalent experience, skill with Storyline360 and 508 compliance. I applied. By the end of August, I was hired by Briljent as a remote e-Learning Developer! This marked my first work position using Storyline for corporate course development.
- I joined the Global Learning and Development Community (GLDC) and started participating in Project Club, where Russell Sweep leads discussions on ELHChallenge themes. The GLDC helps me connect to other professionals in my field, and has opened doors to wonderful friendships.
- In September, we flew to North Dakota to attend the wedding of our best friend's sister. We spent a week on their family farm in a Class C RV on their property. How funny! Briljent's Work From Anywhere policy allowed me to continue working and celebrating with our close family friends.
- I met up with a colleague from Briljent at a town within an hour of my campground. Our families joined for dinner and conversation. It was amazing to meet a coworker in person, to get to know her and her lovely family, and create those in-person memories together.
- 60 days into my employment with Briljent, with otherworldly timing, my PTO was unlocked to me and I took a week off to attend DevLearn at the Mirage, Las Vegas. I presented an hour session deconstructing my demo for challenge #380: Using Drag and Drop to Simulate Real World Activities. I met some amazing people within the field of L&D and part of what I consider my ELH Community. I met mentors whose work I continue to follow. It was an incredible experience!
- In November, a family we met at our first campground joined us to tag-team slow-travels. It's been amazing to have friends as travelling neighbors.
- 2022 has been a dream come true. We are living the life we dreamed about by travelling as a family on the road while living simply. I am doing my dream job and love the fusion of layout design, instructional design, and interaction development that goes into my work.