Melanie Teegarden:  

School When I think of how little my classmates really knew me and understood me, and what they must assume about my life now, it makes me a little melancholy. We were all just kids then; what could we possibly know about the complexities of life, or of being a fallible human? Hopefully we've grown enough to no longer have the need to fit everyone into neat little boxes. I have, anyway. Have you? Let's just say that I had a rough beginning in life, and it took me years to overcome a lot of the obstacles of my upbringing. I've always had faith that I would be okay, and I am. Getting better all the time. My life is beautiful and full of blessings, and it just gets better and better the more I work and the more I give back to the world. I'm sure that I am a lot more successful career-wise and relationship-wise than almost anybody would have predicted, except perhaps for myself and those who really knew me best. Birth isn't necessarily destiny. College I attended Emory & Henry College for a while, then took hiatus to travel and get a grip on life and such. Then I went to UVA, the Wise branch. I have had some continuing education at ETSU and Virginia Highlands over the last decade. Have also taught a few classes there, mostly on botany-related and agricultural-related topics. Career I've done so many things over the years. I have a lot of interests, so whenever I have a chance to learn something new or take a new direction I have jumped on it. For many years I worked for the US Forest Service, starting out as a secretary and working my way up via training courses to several different jobs including firefighting, conservation, law enforcement, and youth counseling at a job training center for at-risk young adults. Several years ago I started putting my knowledge of plants and chemistry to work developing natural treatments for my husband's eczema. I came up with some products that got good results and were in a form that he was willing to use, so he doesn't need the dangerous topical steroid creams anymore. Word and demand spread, and a skincare company was born. After 2 years it had grown to the point where I had to make a decision between my "real" job and my "hobby". My family strongly supported making the leap, so I did. I've been in business full time for 3 years and have just opened my second brick-and-mortar store. I have accounts at spas and doctor's offices all over the world, and I do private label work and custom formulation work for several big-name skincare and cosmetic companies. My interest in essential oils moved into an interest in perfumery, and I have been studying with a mentor in Switzerland for 2 years now, learning the art of being a "nose". I have a line of 28 original Eau de Parfums in my collection now, and a total of 30 original fragrances in my bath and body line. I smile while I work, every day. P...Expand for more