EJ Young About Me Page at Helium

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About me - EJ Young

About me

EJ's smooth transition into free lance writing, editing and graphic design came after a successful career as a high school English teacher. Her 20 years of experience as a public school teacher in metro and small-town classes in the Midwest provide a unique perspective on the strengths and weaknesses in today's classrooms.

Topics of Interest

Based on her personal experiences in traditional and alternative settings, current research, methodology and educational background, she believes changes in the educational system are needed. To that end, she writes white papers, reviews strategies and methods, examines new programs and writes other articles related to education focused on improving the learning environment for all students.

Topics within and related to education and careers, language arts and journalism and the need to obtain effective technology and communication skills in order to succeed, also provide areas of interest to this writer.

Benefits of Free Lancing

Working from home not only created a chance to write again, it allowed EJ more time with her three-year-old granddaughter. Shifting perspectives from a crowded classroom packed with high schoolers to the curious world of a giggling toddler seemed to refresh her belief in possibilities.

Helium allows blending her passion for writing and editing with topics of high interest. As an advocate for change in public education, she is able to keep up to date with trends in the field while exploring other venues. She has enjoyed success writing to a wide range of titles as she continues to hone multimedia skills through interaction on social websites, on-line and print publications and with fellow writers.

EJ Young is a pen name chosen for on-line publications. EJ is available on Twitter @ejjyoung, Facebook as pyusten and writes a blog, http://groupiewithcane.blogspot.com focused on entertainment. Professional credentials are listed under her given name, Patsy Yusten. Informal documents often refer to the name PJ Yusten.

Professional Credentials and Development

In addition to serving on the editorial advisory board and participating as a professional journalist, professional educator and Marketplace Premier Writer at Helium.com, she contracts for copywriting with websites and publishes work with other Internet writing publishers. Her writing portfolio zone is: http://creative-writing.helium.com/zone/2879-ej-young-personal-profile

Beyond free lancing, she holds an Iowa Teaching Certificate, certified in 7-12 language arts with endorsements in journalism, speech and theater. She holds a BA degree, plus 48 graduate hours at various colleges. All professional documents are listed under her given name of Patsy or PJ Yusten.

Other Professional Details

Who's Who Among America's High School Teachers recipient (7).

Member of Society of Professional Journalists. Iowa Education Association, National Education Association member. National Council of English Teachers member.

Heartland AEA 16 hours educational training (Understanding by Design Wiggins & McTighe and Project Based Learning (Buck Institute).

Presented professional development Future Pathways Laboratory High School staff training on essential questions (UbD). Writing workshop.

Instructed classes for co-workers on Adobe Creative Suite w/ focus on InDesign & Photoshop.

Publications adviser Theodore Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA. Co-adviser for GSA Club.

Professional Experience

Teacher-English, speech, journalism, drama at Future Pathways Central Campus, Des Moines, IA. Project Based Learning school. Curriculum team, English team member. Served as student advocate.

Teacher-speech, journalism, newspaper and yearbook. Publications adviser. Theodore Roosevelt High School, Des Moines, IA.

Teacher-speech, journalism, advanced composition and yearbook. Stephen Hempstead High School Dubuque, IA. Total of 24 years teaching experience in diverse classroom settings SD and IA.

Copy editor, reporter, for daily newspaper, The Plainsman Huron, SD.

Education software specialist inbound and outbound sales, Mattel Interactive Hiawatha, IA.

Volunteer Work and Charitable Causes

Caucus precinct chair Hillary Clinton Ankeny, IA 2008. One Iowa staff volunteer, www.oneiowa.org. Obama-Biden campaign staff volunteer.

St. Joseph's Emergency Family Shelter Des Moines, IA, provided and served meals, donated holiday gifts and clothing for residents http://www.dmdiocese.org/Index.aspx?menuitemid=607.

Reggie's Sleepout, Iowa Homeless Youth Centers, Drake University Des Moines, IA. http://www.reggiessleepout.org/faf/home/.

American Cancer Society Relay for Life team member, Anamosa, Cascade, Cedar Rapids, Ankeny, IA.

EJ Young Sample of Creative Writing (focused on personal narrative)

Through the years as a single parent-preceded by the usual dysfunction of childhood (unless you're Beaver Cleaver), an infrequent writing burst appeared in my journal. Hampered slightly by depression, combined with creative excuses (some 'borrowed' from students), getting focused didn't/doesn't always happen for me. The past several months have tested my ambition, or lack thereof, as I find myself instantly jobless after 24 years invested in education as a high school English teacher.

The college BA came shortly after the birth of my third child and featured language arts and journalism concentrations in secondary education. From small schools in SD to large schools in IA, teaching has fed my ego and the need to make a difference in the lives of students. After college I thought I could change the world. After some really long days on the job, I decided changing the world one student at a time might be less controversial and more effective! But, that was the time in my life when I was a pessimistic optimist. My disposition has changed slightly to become an optimistic pessimist.

Fast forward 25 years and maybe I'd like to be a writer when I grow up. With the support of my fam-including my biggest fan, 3-year-old granddaughter Anna, I seem to stare at the keyboard and wonder how to write again. Getting through to the other side of cheesy cliches about Anna's innocence and cuteness is way more difficult than imagined. Tiny spurts of competence come through during sleep deprived nights aided by RLS, arthritic pain and psychological stress. My goal is to ease away from self-destructive habits, read more, complain less and attend workshops and conferences hoping to catch that 'flair' I once mastered as a writer.

A 2011 update has shifted my priorities once again. Diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, my youngest daughter underwent an awake craniotomy during the summer of 2010. She spent her 30th birthday starting radiation and chemotherapy treatments for incurable brain cancer. One of the positive elements to surface from this difficult journey is the opportunity to explore new topics in the medical field as well as spirituality. She believes all things happen for a reason and is at peace with the outcome of her battle.

My advice: Cherish those you love each day of your life and always treat others as you would like to be treated.

My mantra: 1. Don't judge. 2. Don't hate. 3. Don't allow your life to be influenced by judgmental haters.

My favorite quotes:

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Guitarist Jimi Hendrix

"To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." William Shakespeare

That's about it. Plus, I love popcorn, spending time with the fam, watching Anna, MN Twins baseball, living in Polk County Iowa and, of course, writing rambling fragments.

Briefly me

I know too much about ...

the politics of public education, every diet in the universe

Why I write ...

to discover more about myself, to leave a part of who I am to my children and grandchild, to continue learning.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

research on brain cancer, inspirational books and journals, listening to Miranda Lambert, Adam Lambert, Crystal Bowersox and Zac Brown Band, Prince and Eminem.

My first job ...

babysitting for 50 cents an hour

My inspiration ...

the courage of my daughter Andy, the unconditional love of little Anna and my fam and my peeps, the influence of my grandparents, the possibility of positive change and (unfortunately) revenge.

Featured article by EJ Young

Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: What I am thankful for: 1 of 32

As I grow older and just a little wiser, I realize wallowing in a pity party over life's hardships is a waste of precious time. Dealing with divorces, financial bankruptcy and a decade of raising three children on my own, hardly prepared me for my daughter's terminal cancer diagnosis. Her challenge pulled me through a dire journey. I am thankful to share my memory of her story. I remember hearing the news from the oncologist in a zombie-like state. I felt like I was somewhere outside the room. I could hear the doctor but it didn't seem real. "Do you have any questions before we present to ...
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