Airea Dee Matthews
Detroit, MI US
"There's a great weight that's there when you are not doing what you should actually be doing-some form of satisfaction that's not met by not committing to it."
Career Roadmap
Airea Dee's work combines: Acting & Theatre, Writing, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Economics, General
University of Pennsylvania
Graduate Degree
Public Administration
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Initially thought she wanted to be a psychiatrist because she liked to "read" people.
2.
Realized she didn't like the science of psychiatry at all, but still loved studying human nature.
3.
Grew up with an abusive, alcoholic father, but her mother was too afraid to leave him.
4.
Went to college and grad school for economics/public administration after her mom advised her to find a sensible career.
5.
Spent eight years in corporate America but knew she wasn't doing what she was meant to be doing.
6.
Thought she'd write and perform poetry on the side, loved it but considered it a hobby.
7.
Performed for the first time at a coffee shop, got positive feedback, realized her writing could captivate others.
8.
Was always fascinated by language "as a symbol," loved how putting words together made them meaningful.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
It was incredibly chaotic when I was growing up. My father was an alcoholic and a heroin addict. He was also very abusive.