Just a little bit about me
My name is Cheryl Rettig and my current location in the world is Windsor, Ontario, Canada. After living overseas for several months, I have returned to my home town to reconnect with family and friends, as well as set up my own freelance writing business. Writing has always been one of my biggest passions so I am excited to find out if I can make it as a writer. I am hoping that my experiences as a teacher, writer, researcher and human rights advocate will help me provide valuable writing services to companies and organizations in need of someone who can make the complicated simple and engage people with words. Plus, I have traveled around the world and these experiences have opened my eyes and given me a desire to empower women through the words I write. I have been fortunate to have had work, volunteer and travel adventures in Italy, Iraq, Costa Rica, Kosovo, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Ghana, India, Cambodia, Mexico, Haiti, Washington, Alberta, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. In every country, I have met amazing people, stepped out of my comfort zone, challenged myself, grown as a person, expanded my skills, increased my respect for differences, and had amazing adventures.
Years ago, when I was completing my Undergraduate Degree in History, everyone would ask me: "Are you going to be a teacher like your dad?" And I would always respond vehemently, "Not a chance." However, life is funny and after my dad died in 2004, just six months before my graduation, my life was thrown into a bit of chaos. With five younger brothers and sisters, as well as a newly single mom quite exhausted from almost two years of being my dad's primary caregiver, there was not a lot of time to fall apart (that comes a little further along my journey). Before he died, my dad and I talked about what I wanted to do with my life and I mentioned my love of traveling and writing. He encouraged me to go after my dreams. So after completing my first degree, I tackled a diploma in Journalism. I absolutely loved this program! Getting to write every day, interact with passionate people, and make some really great friends was an important part of my healing process. After completing this program, I packed my bags for a six-month internship with a women's equality organization in Ghana, followed by additional internships in Washington, DC, India, Israel and Palestine. I can barely put into words how much fun I had during this time, and how much I learned. Through these positions, however, I realized I would need more education if I was ever going to be able to work in human rights/gender equality in any meaningful capacity. So of course I went back to school. In 2010, I received my Master's Degree in Political Science. My Major Research Paper (similar to a thesis, just a tad shorter) focused on the strategic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (if you are really curious, you can download below). My passion for women's equality was stronger than ever and now I had (another) piece of paper to prove it.
Unfortunately, all my pretty papers could not help me find a job in my field. I applied for over 300 jobs in a seemingly futile attempt to knock open the door that would let me enter the life of my dreams. After moving back home, breaking up with my boyfriend of over two years, gaining close to 40 pounds (in part due to the anti-depressant medication I was taking), being rejected from jobs daily, and feeling all my independence draining away along with my mounting debt, I was a wreck. I really did not want to live very much. Suicide was never a serious option, mostly due to my extremely religious upbringing, but man, if I could have figured out a way just to not wake up one day, I would not have been disappointed. This severe depression led me to begin a transformational journey. I have read scores of personal development books, spoken positive affirmations until I annoyed myself, created vision boards, and received help from counselors and a life coach, among many other things. If you want to read more about my journey out of depression, you can read the short book I wrote (download below). However, please keep in mind that I wrote this book four years ago and I have learned quite a bit more since then. In addition, some of my spiritual beliefs have shifted dramatically. Please take from the book what helps you and leave the rest.
Now I am back in Canada, after teaching English for one semester in northern Iraq. When I couldn't find a job in my field, I worked several jobs just to pay the bills. I worked for a translation company, a tech support call center, and the mall. Until one day I finally listened to my mother (I should listen more often; she's usually right) and went back to school (again). I loved Teacher's College, despite the heavy workload and often ridiculous assignments. The people in my section were awesome and my students were a delight to teach. I am still extremely passionate about gender equality, but since I have so far been unable to find a job that pays me to fight for women's rights, I have decided to start my own freelance writing business and write a kick-ass blog that encourages, inspires and empowers people. Hopefully some of the things I write about encourages you to believe in your own awesomeness, helps start a conversation about the amazing things women are doing around the world, and helps us all focus a bit more on the positive things happening in our lives.
Inspiration Blog is a place for you to read my musings on my own personal life journey, including lessons learned in my classrooms, work environments, and in many different countries (current). Check out Synchronicity & Gratitude if you want to read about synchronistic events, spiritual insights, answered prayers, stories of gratitude, and other daily miracles, both big and small. In Travel Adventures, I will be sharing stories of my past travel experiences and all the important lessons I have learned. Finally, in Awesome Women I will highlight inspiring current events and women doing amazing things all over the world. I hope you enjoy what I write, but more importantly, I hope you are challenged, encouraged, inspired and empowered.
Years ago, when I was completing my Undergraduate Degree in History, everyone would ask me: "Are you going to be a teacher like your dad?" And I would always respond vehemently, "Not a chance." However, life is funny and after my dad died in 2004, just six months before my graduation, my life was thrown into a bit of chaos. With five younger brothers and sisters, as well as a newly single mom quite exhausted from almost two years of being my dad's primary caregiver, there was not a lot of time to fall apart (that comes a little further along my journey). Before he died, my dad and I talked about what I wanted to do with my life and I mentioned my love of traveling and writing. He encouraged me to go after my dreams. So after completing my first degree, I tackled a diploma in Journalism. I absolutely loved this program! Getting to write every day, interact with passionate people, and make some really great friends was an important part of my healing process. After completing this program, I packed my bags for a six-month internship with a women's equality organization in Ghana, followed by additional internships in Washington, DC, India, Israel and Palestine. I can barely put into words how much fun I had during this time, and how much I learned. Through these positions, however, I realized I would need more education if I was ever going to be able to work in human rights/gender equality in any meaningful capacity. So of course I went back to school. In 2010, I received my Master's Degree in Political Science. My Major Research Paper (similar to a thesis, just a tad shorter) focused on the strategic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (if you are really curious, you can download below). My passion for women's equality was stronger than ever and now I had (another) piece of paper to prove it.
Unfortunately, all my pretty papers could not help me find a job in my field. I applied for over 300 jobs in a seemingly futile attempt to knock open the door that would let me enter the life of my dreams. After moving back home, breaking up with my boyfriend of over two years, gaining close to 40 pounds (in part due to the anti-depressant medication I was taking), being rejected from jobs daily, and feeling all my independence draining away along with my mounting debt, I was a wreck. I really did not want to live very much. Suicide was never a serious option, mostly due to my extremely religious upbringing, but man, if I could have figured out a way just to not wake up one day, I would not have been disappointed. This severe depression led me to begin a transformational journey. I have read scores of personal development books, spoken positive affirmations until I annoyed myself, created vision boards, and received help from counselors and a life coach, among many other things. If you want to read more about my journey out of depression, you can read the short book I wrote (download below). However, please keep in mind that I wrote this book four years ago and I have learned quite a bit more since then. In addition, some of my spiritual beliefs have shifted dramatically. Please take from the book what helps you and leave the rest.
Now I am back in Canada, after teaching English for one semester in northern Iraq. When I couldn't find a job in my field, I worked several jobs just to pay the bills. I worked for a translation company, a tech support call center, and the mall. Until one day I finally listened to my mother (I should listen more often; she's usually right) and went back to school (again). I loved Teacher's College, despite the heavy workload and often ridiculous assignments. The people in my section were awesome and my students were a delight to teach. I am still extremely passionate about gender equality, but since I have so far been unable to find a job that pays me to fight for women's rights, I have decided to start my own freelance writing business and write a kick-ass blog that encourages, inspires and empowers people. Hopefully some of the things I write about encourages you to believe in your own awesomeness, helps start a conversation about the amazing things women are doing around the world, and helps us all focus a bit more on the positive things happening in our lives.
Inspiration Blog is a place for you to read my musings on my own personal life journey, including lessons learned in my classrooms, work environments, and in many different countries (current). Check out Synchronicity & Gratitude if you want to read about synchronistic events, spiritual insights, answered prayers, stories of gratitude, and other daily miracles, both big and small. In Travel Adventures, I will be sharing stories of my past travel experiences and all the important lessons I have learned. Finally, in Awesome Women I will highlight inspiring current events and women doing amazing things all over the world. I hope you enjoy what I write, but more importantly, I hope you are challenged, encouraged, inspired and empowered.
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