Want A Degree in Beading?

While driving into work, I heard an ad that made me wonder if my hearing was OK. Or if I was still in a dream state where things are bizarre and unreal.

Then the ad came on again just before I got to my office. I listened closely to see if I heard right.

I did.

The ad was for an eye surgery clinic. There was the usual, predictable testimonies of how poor eye sight was restored. No longer would the patients of this clinic need glasses or contacts. Ho-hum…the usual stuff. But at the end the practitioner stated that he was Stanford University trained with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He did not say he was a physician (were we to assume that he is?). Perhaps there is something in laser surgery where an electrical engineer would have better qualifications than an ophthalmologist.

Then on another station…same place slightly different ad. This time the doctor possessed a mechanical engineering degree.

Hmmm. Sounds like an intelligent and ambitious fellow.

Maybe he received the engineering degree(s) before he got his medical degree, and felt that he should include it in his credentials.

That got me thinking….

I truly value education. I have had a good dose of college education, with 3 degrees. But really who cares? I could string a bunch of letters behind my name if I so choose. I choose not to. For my day job, I let my work quality speak for my knowledge. And in particular, I would never think of using my alphabet soup in my bead- business as it is totally unrelated.

But there are some who use their PhD, or MBA or whatever string of letters they have earned all the time. 

Someone's name could look something like this: 

Jane Doe, M.P.H., PhD, C.I.H., C.S.E.

I know someone like this. Translated the letters stand for:

Masters in Public Health, Doctorate of Philosophy, Certified Industrial Hygienist, Certified Safety Engineer

It is their right to use all the letters they have earned, but it leaves me unimpressed if they insist on using their alphabet soup in situations where those credentials are not used. In the above example, this person works in the public safety field. Do we care about those credentials if she is teaching a class in peyote stitch?

I think we should all take on letters behind our names. We have studied our craft diligently. We put hours of work and sweat and practice. I think most of us deserve to have an alphabet soup signifying our hours of beadwork behind our names. Don’t you?

Here are a few suggestions:

F.U.N.               Fantastically Unique Needleworker

S.N.O.B.           Seriously Notable Obnoxious Beader

J.E.R.K.            Jewelry Expert Restoration Knowledge

S.H.I.T.             Simply Horrendously Inept Teacher

D.I.V.A.            Distinctive Instructor (with)Various Accomplishments

E.A.T.M.E.        Excellent Artist (with) Talent Makes Earrings

C.A.S.H.L.E.S.S.  Craft Addict Spends Heaps (of) Loot Endlessly (on) Silly Stuff

B.E.A.D.E.R.      Beautifully Exceptional Artistic Diva Expects Recognition (or Riches)

Is your degree missing from the above list? Let us know what it is!!