Introduction-Laura Knapke

Illumination Bio

I am semi-retired at 52 years old. I have always loved to write, I’m grateful to have found Medium. I write about self-care and self-improvement. I also like to write fiction stories. I am also thinking about other subjects I’d like to write about.

Education

I graduated from a CNA class in 1987. Worked as a CNA until I graduated from business school.

I graduated from PSI Business school with a degree in Business Management in 1988. I graduated with a 4.0gpa. I worked in this field for 30 years.

The first management job I worked after college was at CVS Pharmacy. When I was working there, I was also certified in film development and Pharmacy Technician. I then worked for American Greetings as a store manager. I also traveled as a store management trainer several times a month.

In 2013 I had a below-knee amputation of my right leg due to complications of diabetes. I’ve been a type 1 diabetic since the age of 10. In 2019 I went to Penn Foster Career School to study Medical Billing and Coding, graduated with a 96% in November 2020.

I was certified as an NHA Certified Billing and Coding Specialist in February 2021. I then tried to find a job in that field, working from home. Found that my degree and certification weren’t enough to gain employment, they insisted on 5 years of experience. While networking with others who graduated from the same field, I was told I needed to work for a doctor’s office for free to get 5 years' experience. I was 52 years old at that time, so I decided to chuck it off as a loss. I’d rather not work for free.

Needless to say, that was a big letdown, working so hard to graduate and get certified to find out I have to work for free for 5 years at the age of 52.

I started writing in a journal when I was 12, which turned into writing stories. When I had my first daughter in 1989, I stopped writing because …life happened. This is how I found Medium. I was looking for a job to do from home and ran across Medium. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed writing.

Random fun facts about me

• I am half Israeli and half Native American Indian, Cherokee.
• I’ll be 53 on October 3, 2021
• I am married to my best friend. He’s the best husband in the world, we have a lot of good times together. He’s my Hero!
• I have 5 kids and 2 step kids, and 15 grandchildren.
• I wanted to go to college to study earth science, the option was not available to me at the time.
• I love all animals and nature. I’m the one that will get the spider out of your house and set it free before watching it get murdered.
• I’ve raised rabbits, pigs, dogs and cats, birds, fish, snakes and ferrets, mice, gerbils, hamsters, and a pot-bellied pig.
• I have a shitzu pomeranian mix dog named Chumly, and a tabby kitten named Missy the Menace, sometimes it’s Missy the mean ass. She is full of energy and gets into everything.
• I drove a stock car on a dirt track before I was old enough to have a driver’s license.
• I have a bad temper, but it has mellowed with age.
• I believe in the Bible and Jesus, what the Bible actually says, not man’s version of what it says.
• I believe in the Law-of-attraction and positive thinking.
• I taught myself to crochet at age seven.
• I play the electric guitar and piano.
• I decided that I was not going to pick a writing niche. I think it’s too limiting. I have a lot of knowledge and interests and don’t want to be limited to just one niche.

Final thoughts

I am a free spirit that loves to laugh and have a good time. I love to write and wished I had never stopped. I have empathy for others and try to help in any way I can. I have a weird sense of humor and often get in trouble for it. I’ve been called eccentric, but I’d rather just say I’m different. They say patience is a virtue but not one of mine. Thank you for taking the time to read my introduction.