About
When I was in my senior year of college, I decided to get my doctorate in psychology.
I wanted to help otherwise highly functioning people become more resilient when
times got tough for them. I entered a PhD program and became even more interested
in studying happiness. I wanted to help people like myself who were reasonably satisfied
with life to thrive and flourish and contribute.
I was about fifteen years too early.
My dissertation proposal was in subjective well-being (the scientific term for happiness
at the time), and it was declined by the subject review board. My dissertation chair
retired and I was going to have to start over with a new proposal and a new chair.
I was too depleted and discouraged. After finishing all the coursework, my internship,
and my grueling comprehensive examinations, I withdrew from the program: ABD.
Meanwhile, my timing was perfect for starting a career in technology. I loved computers
and helping people use them. I started as an application trainer, teaching classrooms
of end-users how to navigate through the operating system and how to make the most
of the killer apps. Then I got deeper into it and started training IT professionals
in network administration. Then I moved into second-tier technical support, individually
helping people of all different technical skill levels.
Now I am a web developer, having made the transition from administration to programming.
I still try to keep that balance of my love of technology with my love for helping
people benefit from technology.
The science of Positive Psychology has exploded since I left school. The contributions
are fast and furious. The science is rigorous, the theories are inspiring, and the
interventions are fun and effective.
This has been my road to Positive Computing. It's my calling.