I remember as a child having one of those cool diaries with a little key. It wasn’t used much but when I did, it was with purpose, probably silly things about boys or writing something unkind about my parents after being punished. In that moment, whatever I wrote felt important. What I didn’t know then was the joy writing would bring me later in life.
High School
As I grew older, especially in my teens, I tried new things and felt proud of any accomplishments I achieved. Can’t say that I was a great student, but I loved English and writing. With imagination and creativity,my mind often wandered to places that didn’t exist. I remember sitting under the orange tree in our backyard, eating oranges and imagining my future. I had dreams. We all have dreams and even now, as I live my life, I still dream.
After taking my SATs, I sat with the school counselor who gently suggested that college might not be for me, but that I could receive a full scholarship to beauty school. Instead, I chose to attend the summer term at our local community college. I assumed college would be similar to high school and continued working full-time. It was overwhelming, and I quickly realized I was wrong.
College Creative Writing
I didn’t enjoy college, but there was one class I loved: Creative Writing. Our instructor gave us an assignment that would make up a large part of our grade. We were given characters and a scenario and asked to develop a story and write the ending. The assignment was due in a month, and I started immediately. I was excited! It felt natural.
When I turned in my paper, I smiled. I felt proud of the story I had written and hoped my instructor would enjoy it. We wouldn’t receive our grades for weeks, but that didn’t matter. I hadn’t shared the story with anyone. I had dug deep and written honestly. When I handed it in, he asked, “How do you think you did?” I told him I was proud of it. He smiled and said, “Good.”
Weeks later, we received our papers. Just as I had hoped, I got an A-. Written in red ink at the top were the words: “WOW, WOW, WOW. I didn’t see that coming. Excellent writing.” At the bottom of the page was a note: “See me after class.”
After class, I waited nervously until the room emptied. I asked, “You wanted to see me?” He looked up and said, “Your paper was quite impressive. You should consider a career in writing or journalism. All of your assignments have been excellent—I can see how disciplined you are.” I admitted that creative writing felt easy compared to my other classes and that I was struggling overall. College wasn’t what I expected. It was hard. I didn’t feel smart.
He was the first person who ever told me, “When you do what you love, it becomes easy. So do what you love. The first year of college is difficult for everyone,don’t give up.” I smiled and thanked him.
At the end of that semester, I left college. I continued working full-time, got married, and had children. Over the years, I changed professions many times, but I never forgot his words. Looking back, each job helped guide me toward my ultimate dream. I left roles when I lost interest or could no longer give my best. When you dread going to work, it always shows in the quality of what you do and it appears in every part of your life.
The Internet And Blogging
In 2006, I fell in love with the internet and especially blogging. I became active on social media and could see the future of technology unfolding. I had a natural ability to connect with others. In 2010, I landed my dream job as a content writer/ghostwriter and Social Media Manager. What began part-time grew into a small media company. I loved the creativity and freedom, but over time, working on my own projects became difficult, and my personal writing slowly faded away.
In 2019, I had published two children’s books and discovered a love for writing poetry. While the books were meaningful, blogging offered a deeper sense of connection. I wasn’t interested in promoting books. 2019 was a big year for me. I moved north and lived with my son and grandson, I was inspired enough to finish my children’s books but by the end of the year I was burnt out. Then in 2020 my work life shifted again when I began tutoring English to students from around the world. It gave me a fresh perspective. During that time,writing quietly slipped away.
In 2024, I purchased web hosting again, thankfully, I had kept my domain names. When I tried writing again, my words felt simpler, almost childlike. It made sense; I had spent 4 years teaching all levels of English BUT the majority of my students were beginners.
Now, most of my students are intermediate to advanced. The urge to write has returned,stronger and clearer than before. And here I am, writing my very first blog post of 2026. Happy New Year and happy reading!
About the Author
Midori Miller is a writer, blogger, and English tutor who has worked with students from around the world. She is the author of two children’s books and enjoys writing personal essays, poetry, and reflective stories about life, creativity, and growth. Through her blog, she shares honest reflections and rediscovered passions—one story at a time.