Career Change Brings Unemployed Woman 'Back From the Brink'
Newly unemployed Penny Mudd has refused to let her life be defined by external events, and enrolled in a community college to become a teacher.
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November 24, 2009
Like so many Americans before and after her, Penny Mudd became a victim of the economic crisis that sent the Silicon Valley technology veteran to the unemployment line. However, she has refused to let her life be defined by external events, enrolled in a community college and plans to become a teacher.
These days, she spends her time studying math, piano and U.S. history as part of a pre-credential curriculum and looks forward to "helping kids find their place in the world," according to her guest blog on SFGate.com.
"Though the road to teaching is long and winding, studying math has been strangely therapeutic," says Mudd, adding that surviving this difficult transition has been greatly eased by a loving and supportive life partner, counseling as well as "short but fun" travel.
According to the most recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent in October, but experts say retraining through vocational or college programs may enable the unemployed compete in fields such as technology, healthcare or education.
There have also been reports of individuals who have turned the adversity into an opportunity to launch their own business, while others were able to reconnect with loved ones, travel, read or pursue a long-neglected hobby.
Affected individuals may explore the website of the Unemployment Resource Center.
Like so many Americans before and after her, Penny Mudd became a victim of the economic crisis that sent the Silicon Valley technology veteran to the unemployment line. However, she has refused to let her life be defined by external events, enrolled in a community college and plans to become a teacher.
These days, she spends her time studying math, piano and U.S. history as part of a pre-credential curriculum and looks forward to "helping kids find their place in the world," according to her guest blog on SFGate.com.
"Though the road to teaching is long and winding, studying math has been strangely therapeutic," says Mudd, adding that surviving this difficult transition has been greatly eased by a loving and supportive life partner, counseling as well as "short but fun" travel.
According to the most recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent in October, but experts say retraining through vocational or college programs may enable the unemployed compete in fields such as technology, healthcare or education.
There have also been reports of individuals who have turned the adversity into an opportunity to launch their own business, while others were able to reconnect with loved ones, travel, read or pursue a long-neglected hobby.
Affected individuals may explore the website of the Unemployment Resource Center.
