Introduction - Heather Sachs

Hi all! I just joined this class on Tuesday, so I am a bit behind. Trying to scramble to get this week and last week’s work done. EEK! I am happy to be here and look forward to upping my editing game. I currently work for a defense contractor in SLC, in their Communication department. I am also a grad student here at Weber in the MPC program.

My background is in Graphic Design and about five years ago I decided to jump ship and go into Communication/PR/Marketing. I just finished my undergrad at the University of Utah, where I studied Strategic Communication. 

So basically, for the 12 years I worked as a Graphic Designer I told myself that I couldn’t write. I don’t know very many Graphic Designers who also like to get their fingers wet by editing. I knew from my elementary years that I was a horrible speller, so it’s a bit crazy that I find myself in a position of editing and writing for a large employer with over 3500 employees. I don’t really feel like my undergrad prepared me for the mass amount of writing and editing that I do now, or maybe it’s just my old writing insecurities coming up for air.  Whatever the reason, when I saw that I could combine this Editing class into my MPC program I jumped at the chance. I am excited to learn and hopefully feel more confident in my writing and editing abilities.

I’ll be honest after completing a few of last week’s spelling assignments I am feeling like I need to go back to grade school. I’ll just say it… thank goodness for spell check. I know I have been saved by Microsoft Words’ squiggles and warnings. I even told my husband that this class may be a bit challenging, similar to my past math classes, but at least I can see the real-life value in it.

Which brings me to my family, I have two sons and a Spanish foreign exchange son from Spain. Pablo, will be with us until June of next year. It has been such an interesting and educational experience thus far. I am so grateful that we took the jump and decided to host. My family is involved with theatre and this week was even more crazy because my oldest son was opening a show in Centerville at CenterPoint Theatre. My husband is also rehearsing for a show up in Ogden at the Ziegfeld Theater, so it’s been a bit nuts with all the driving back and forth. I have spent over three hours a day in the car for the last week. Does that make me a mom taxi? Probably.  

So that is the short and sweet of it. I am excited to be in this class and learn from an experienced editor. I look forward to the confidence that taking this class will give me in my professional career. Feel free to say hi I would love to get to know as many of you as possible.