About Me
Well first, you should know that there is no Jem Welsh. The name is actually an alias I created so I could feel secure writing about this intensely personal struggle (that quite frankly, I'm ashamed to discuss in most of my "real life" relationships) without being "found out" by google master friends, family, coworkers, or you know, stalkers. :) I am pretty free with my photograph because I don't think there is anyway civilians can search the web using face recognition software just to find my silly little blog. For the purposes of this blog (and really, for the purposes of my weight loss struggle in general), my name is Jem.
I was born in Flint Michigan in 1976 to an air traffic controller father (who was later fired by Ronald Reagan during the infamous controller strike of 1980) and a stay at home mom. I have one biological brother, who is three years younger than me and has been married for two years to a great girl he met in college. Growing up, I was the "smart" one and he was the "athletic" one. I think we still pretty much play to those roles today, although he is pretty bright and I'm now learning to be pretty athletic!
I grew up in three cities in Western Michigan: Kalamazoo (0 - 5, college), Grant (5 - 4th grade), and Grand Rapids (5th grade - college). I graduated from an elite public school system just outside of the Grand Rapids city limits--94% of graduates attended college, and a large number were funnelled directly into Ivy League schools. My parents separated my senior year of high school, and subsequently divorced. They are both remarried to wonderful people, and I now have a step-brother who is 15 and a step-sister who is 11.
I attended and graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Writing (Although I took a year off my Junior year to build houses to replace those demolished by Hurricane Andrew in Miami Florida with Americorp and Habitat for Humanity). After a two year hiatus which involved a tour of Europe, teaching, temping, waitressing, and "chilling with my homies", I moved to Washington DC to attend Georgetown Law School.
Law School was a harrowing experience, more due to my perpetual lack of money and the huge difference (both percieved and real) in social caste between myself and my "trust fund" peers than from the rigor of the academic work. I graduated in 2003 and began working for the Small Business Administration writing legislation.
Less than a year after graduation, my old boss at my part time teaching gig recruited me to help him start an international educational company that offers academic services to the underserved--low income, minority, and non-native English speakers, to name a few. I took a leap of faith, quit my job, and joined him. I'm now the Vice President of the company, which is shaping up to a regional (and eventually, a national) power player in the academic services market. I am self-described workaholic, although my job isn't just a paycheck for me, it's a passion.
In my spare time, I mentor two kids, a senior in High School and a freshman in college. I also created a "girls club" of female friends and friends of friends called the Crafty Beaches to help bring back some of the female frienship camaraderie that is lost as we grow further away from college and closer to spouses, careers, kids, and family. We get together once a month to eat snacks, drink wine, laugh, gossip, and oh, yeah, learn to do a craft! We've tackled jewelry making and sewing projects, and are currently enamored with knitting.
I also love to read and watch Alias & Oprah (I enjoy her magazine as well!). I'm single, although I live with two finicky "men", my cats B and E. I don't think I could live without travel--I've been to 16 countries (so far), and would like to visit at least ONE new country a year until I kick it (or until I run out of countries!). My favorite countries are Scotland and Italy, which are both romantic and breathtaking in their own ways, but I have to say that China is the hands-down best place to shop!
Although I've researched WLS seriously since 1999, including going through the pre-operative process once (and being denied by my insurance) in 2000, my decision wasn't made until 2005, when both my weight had reached its peak and my health coverage had vested!
My pre-op process in 2005 was quick! I had my informational appointment at the surgeons office and did all of the pre-op appointments in March, was approved by April, and in the hospital getting surgery in May.
Feel free to ask me questions by emailing me at jemwelsh at gmail dot com. If you are interested in the "trivia" version of my life, go to my 100 things page.
I was born in Flint Michigan in 1976 to an air traffic controller father (who was later fired by Ronald Reagan during the infamous controller strike of 1980) and a stay at home mom. I have one biological brother, who is three years younger than me and has been married for two years to a great girl he met in college. Growing up, I was the "smart" one and he was the "athletic" one. I think we still pretty much play to those roles today, although he is pretty bright and I'm now learning to be pretty athletic!
I grew up in three cities in Western Michigan: Kalamazoo (0 - 5, college), Grant (5 - 4th grade), and Grand Rapids (5th grade - college). I graduated from an elite public school system just outside of the Grand Rapids city limits--94% of graduates attended college, and a large number were funnelled directly into Ivy League schools. My parents separated my senior year of high school, and subsequently divorced. They are both remarried to wonderful people, and I now have a step-brother who is 15 and a step-sister who is 11.
I attended and graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Writing (Although I took a year off my Junior year to build houses to replace those demolished by Hurricane Andrew in Miami Florida with Americorp and Habitat for Humanity). After a two year hiatus which involved a tour of Europe, teaching, temping, waitressing, and "chilling with my homies", I moved to Washington DC to attend Georgetown Law School.
Law School was a harrowing experience, more due to my perpetual lack of money and the huge difference (both percieved and real) in social caste between myself and my "trust fund" peers than from the rigor of the academic work. I graduated in 2003 and began working for the Small Business Administration writing legislation.
Less than a year after graduation, my old boss at my part time teaching gig recruited me to help him start an international educational company that offers academic services to the underserved--low income, minority, and non-native English speakers, to name a few. I took a leap of faith, quit my job, and joined him. I'm now the Vice President of the company, which is shaping up to a regional (and eventually, a national) power player in the academic services market. I am self-described workaholic, although my job isn't just a paycheck for me, it's a passion.
In my spare time, I mentor two kids, a senior in High School and a freshman in college. I also created a "girls club" of female friends and friends of friends called the Crafty Beaches to help bring back some of the female frienship camaraderie that is lost as we grow further away from college and closer to spouses, careers, kids, and family. We get together once a month to eat snacks, drink wine, laugh, gossip, and oh, yeah, learn to do a craft! We've tackled jewelry making and sewing projects, and are currently enamored with knitting.
I also love to read and watch Alias & Oprah (I enjoy her magazine as well!). I'm single, although I live with two finicky "men", my cats B and E. I don't think I could live without travel--I've been to 16 countries (so far), and would like to visit at least ONE new country a year until I kick it (or until I run out of countries!). My favorite countries are Scotland and Italy, which are both romantic and breathtaking in their own ways, but I have to say that China is the hands-down best place to shop!
Although I've researched WLS seriously since 1999, including going through the pre-operative process once (and being denied by my insurance) in 2000, my decision wasn't made until 2005, when both my weight had reached its peak and my health coverage had vested!
My pre-op process in 2005 was quick! I had my informational appointment at the surgeons office and did all of the pre-op appointments in March, was approved by April, and in the hospital getting surgery in May.
Feel free to ask me questions by emailing me at jemwelsh at gmail dot com. If you are interested in the "trivia" version of my life, go to my 100 things page.
posted by Jaime at
6:03 PM
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