Who's Kristen Brooke Beck?
By Kristen Brooke Beck
Updated
June 4, 2010
The Bio Summary
My name is Kristen Brooke Beck. I'm a wife,
mother, writer, mental health activist, graduate student, business owner, artist, computer geek,
amateur scientist, vegetarian, health and fitness nut,
nature-lover, comedy fanatic, and humanitarian.
Most importantly, I'm happy. And I love helping other people find their own happiness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) from Site Visitors
Are you on Twitter?
I was trying to avoid getting sucked into it, but I it's just so hard to resist.
Where are you from?
I've lived in a variety of places in California during the first twenty-five years of my life. I spent the majority of my childhood and all of my adolescence in Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley, two small desert communities near Joshua Tree National Park and the Twenty-nine Palms Marine Base. The Mohave desert was where I learned to love being in nature, learning about science (especially astronomy since the desert night sky is so beautiful), and creating art, music, movies, comedy, and writings (because there really wasn't all that much else to do out there).
I now live in a suburb of Portland, Oregon, quite the opposite of my desert upbringing. I absolutely
love it here. Portland is filled with friendly, rain-loving, bicycling,
hiking, jogging, camping, outdoorsy, art-literature-history-loving, intelligent, open-minded people. It's one of the best cities I've ever been in. Even better, it is also
surrounded by beautiful scenery (and we try to keep it that way). From rivers and waterfalls to volcanoes and forests, every scene of nature is breathtaking. Then there are the rural scenic farmlands and urban cityscapes ensuring that Oregon is a photographer's paradise.
Why did you make this site?
This site started as a place where I could collect my ideas, and since my ideas always focused on how to make life easier and increase happiness, the site evolved into having the same focus.
Striving for happiness is so important to me because I wasn't always happy. Growing up, I was plagued with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. As a child, I was afraid of everything and nearly always in tears. As a teenager I was angry and self-destructive. I dealt with my stress by binge eating, hurting myself, and hiding. I believed that some people were just blessed with happy lives, and I wasn't one of them. I often contemplated suicide. Fortunately, I still had hope that perhaps somehow, some day, I would be able to fix myself. That hope saved me.
Because of what I've dealt with, I understand what other people with these problems are going through. I also understand what it takes to overcome the problems you can conquer and how to let go of the ones you can't.
So far, I've learned that happiness isn't something you wait or hope for, and it's not the kind of goal that you can cross of your to-do list and yell "mission accomplished!" It's something you create for yourself by working a little each day toward building the life you want. You don't need to travel to distant lands to find it. You don't need to seek gurus or ancient books of wisdom either. You just need to learn some practical beliefs and behaviors that make life a bit less stressful and far more fulfilling.
Now my goal is to help other people find their own happiness.
What education/experience do you have to write about this stuff?
Here is a long section... I'm not an "expert" in anything in particular. I like to learn about and do lots of different areas to understand how everything is interconnected.
No, this is not a traditional, professional resume or CV. I know. I thought I would do something a bit more personal, since this is a personal website. Enjoy!
Preschool
I vividly remember cookies, milk, a bunch of cranky old ladies who yelled at me while they sat in in a big brown chair, and lots of kids throwing tantrums.
Elementary School
I went to three elementary schools:
- The first was lots of fun. It's where I quickly decided I was going to grow up to be a scientist. It didn't matter what kind of scientist as long as I could do something cool.
- At the second, I learned what it was like to be bullied by nearly ever kid in my class, the after-school kids, the teachers, and the kids in my neighborhood. Not a happy place in my life.
- While at the third, I learned to play the clarinet and piano, coded TI Basic on my Texas Instruments 94/A computer, and decided to become a writer when I grew up.
Junior High
Accomplishments:
- Started taking honors classes
- Played clarinet in the school band
- Played keyboard and piano with my friends
- Discovered boys
- Wrote bad teen romance and sci-fi stories
- Discovered unhealthy dieting
- Spent hours in the computer lab after school
- Decided I wanted to work in computer science when I grew up
- Started being sexually harassed and assaulted by adolescent boys and learned that self-defense is a valuable skill for a girl to have
My First Businesses
Starting my own little businesses when I was a teenager was a huge learning experience that helped me later on in starting businesses as an adult.
- Babysitting
- Landscaping maintenance
- Tutor
Adolescent Jobs as an Official Employee
- Courtesy clerk in a grocery store
- Bakery clerk
- Cake decorator
- Office assistant for a daycare
High School: Diploma (Honors)
- Focused on college prep and business classes
- Decided to become an English teacher to combine my love of writing with a stable career
- Programmed clunky computers, played with electronics and mechanics, and built various clunky (but extremely useful) contraptions as a hobby
AA in Liberal Studies (High Honors)
College of the Desert
Areas of focus:
- General education
- Psychology and psychological development
- Computer applications and web site design
- Humanities: literature, music, art, public speaking (even a little stand-up comedy)
- Foreign Language: Spanish
- Weight lifting (perk, a hobby I could get credits for!)
- Discovered I'd rather be a science teacher instead of an English teacher
- Fell in love with creative expression
- Began to "find myself" spiritually and philosophically
College Jobs
- Receptionist
- Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Supervisor
- Tutor
- Website Developer
College Volunteer Work
- Student teaching (as a part of my bachelor's degree)
- Classroom assistant
- Tutoring
Certification in Freelance Writing
Penn Foster
This was a program that taught me about the professional writing industry and took me from the "I want to be a writer" dream to actually getting paid to write non-fiction articles for organizations and publications.
B.A. in Natural Science (Cum Laude
and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society)
San Jose State University
(Classes also taken from UC Berkley, Portland State University, and Mt. Hood Community College)
Areas of study:
- Physics
- Earth Sciences: geology, Oregon geology, oceanography (focusing on the Pacific Ocean), and astronomy
- Biological Sciences: zoology, botany, wildlife (focused on the west coast of North America), ecosystems, environmental studies, health and human biology, human physical development and movement performance, organic chemistry, biochemistry
- Education (for teaching): child development, curriculum design (early childhood, elementary, and middle school ages), student teaching, science instruction, learning theory, juvenile sociology and delinquency
- Philosophy: ethics in science, comparative religion, death (multi-cultural perspectives), Judeo-Christian-Islamic history, Neo-Paganism, Eastern religions
- Humanities: drama, storytelling, children's literature, children's music
- Computer Science (studied at the same time but not a part of my degree): hardware, applications, repair, programming, website development
- Special talents: I learned how to sleep just about anywhere as I juggled work, school, and the dramas of life.
- Learned how to be a better mom by studying education and child development
- Learned how to be a better citizen of the planet by studying how we are all connected and how the universe works
- Learned how to laugh at life by hanging out in comedy clubs
- Explored and experimented with a variety of religions in my ongoing spiritual and philosophical quest to "find myself"
Marriage (Official Title "Wife")
I'm very proud to say that I have married one of the nicest men on the planet. (And he's not bad to look at either.) Every marriage has its bumps in the road, but we make a great team and truly respect each other. He's truly one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Motherhood (Official Job Title "Stay/Work at Home Mom")
Becoming a parent has been the most educational experience of my life. I'm happy that I had a background in child development and education because I believe it has helped me become a pretty good mom (not perfect, but my kids are doing great, and I have very few regrets). My background in science has been great for answering all of their "why" and "how" questions. My college experience of sleep deprivation came in handy when dealing with the sleep deprivation that comes from motherhood. There's a lot of it, and it can wear you down like nothing else. My years of practice in juggling roles and commitments also was very useful because parenthood is one big juggling act, and nobody tells you that if you want to be a parent, you should take juggling classes first.
No description of my early experience with motherhood would be complete, though, without mentioning my postpartum depression and anxiety. Everything was wonderful at the beginning, but not long after our first baby came into the world, my lifelong struggle with anxiety returned in ways I never imagined it would. I developed obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic attacks. After the birth of our second child, my OCD intensified, and I slipped into a deep depression.
I was lucky to have a strong support system: my husband, postpartum support group, and psychologist. A friend who had gone through a similar experience told that these obstacles in my life would be the "best worst things" to ever happen to me. She was right. It completely changed my life for the better and compelled me to study psychology and neurobiology.
Work-at-Home Mom Jobs
- Began my first tax-paying company just after my first baby was born (and it's still successful today!)
- Website designer
- Technical support
- Freelance writer
- Babysitting
Volunteer Work
- IT Coordinator for Baby Blues Connection (BBC; a wonderful organization that helps postpartum moms with mental disorders and stress)
- Postpartum Disorder Support Group Facilitator for BBC
- Retention and Appreciation committee member
- Campfire USA Group Co-Leader (1 year)
- Parent volunteer at my kids' elementary school
M.S. in Mental Health Counseling (in progress...)
Capella University
I'm currently enrolled in graduate school in a CACREP program. Because I've already got a lot on my plate and have learned to pace myself for everyone's benefit, I'm attending part-time and expect to graduate with my Masters of Science degree in 2014 or 2015.
Areas of study (past, current, and planned):
- Psychological and Sociological Theories: Human Development, Multicultural Studies, Personality
- Psychopathology Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- Mental Health Counseling and Psychotherapy
- Addictions and Compulsions
- Counseling Children, Adolescents, Couples, Marriage and Family Systems, Human Sexuality
- Career Counseling
- Group Counseling and Therapy
- Research
Personal Fitness Trainer Certification (in progress...)
I'm also studying to become certified as a personal fitness trainer by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). In my own experience, and in my studies of neurobiology and psychology, I've learned that improving your physical fitness and general level of health can have a huge positive impact on your mental well being. Plus, it's just plain fun. I'm happy to say that I'm a proud health fanatic with an appreciation for athletic achievement.
Current Areas of Interest
These are subjects I study in my free-time.
- Human Biology, Neurobiology, & Psychophysiology
- Psychology (especially clinical health psychology, neuropsychology, & motivation)
- Fitness & Health
- Sociology, Sociobiology & Interpersonal Neurobiology
- Parenting & Family Dynamics
- Education & Learning Theories
- Business Development, Management, & Marketing Psychology
- Ecology & Integrated Biology
- Theoretical Physics
- Computer Software Programming, Script Language Programming, & Markup Coding
What Are Your Plans for the Future?
After completing my M.S. in Mental Health Counseling and earn my CPT from the ACSM, my goal it to combine mental health therapy and coaching with physical fitness health training and utilizing physical exercise to help treat disorders like anxiety and depression. I'm currently laying the foundation of my private practice and working on putting together a wellness center.
Later, I plan to get certified in biofeedback (psychophysiology) and interpersonal neurobiology. Ultimately, I'll be working toward my doctorate degree in clinical psychology, specializing in health psychology and possibly also neuropsychology. I hope to teach at the university or graduate level and conduct research.
Meanwhile, I'm raising my kids, enjoying life with my husband, and looking forward to traveling and having lots of adventures.
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