What Do You Want to Be? ABC

From athlete to bricklayer, chef, diver, zydeco musician, and more, careers in Louisiana are varied and interesting.

Young readers will learn about the paths they might take when choosing a career in the Bayou State. A "What Would It Take to Become…” page gives young entrepreneurs practical tips for landing their dream job. 

Often called the “Bard of the South,” Rickey E. Pittman is an award-winning storyteller, author, and folksinger. The author of more than a dozen books and four music CDs, Pittman earned a BA in New Testament Greek and an MA in English literature from Abilene Christian University. He teaches college-level composition and literature and is a certified secondary English teacher. Pittman is a talented performer in great demand, with hundreds of appearances annually at schools, libraries, festivals, conventions, and workshops, including many in Louisiana. He can be found online at bardofthesouth.com.

Michele Olinde is a mixed media artist based out of West Monroe, Louisiana. She majored in advertising design, illustration, and drawing at Northeast Louisiana University. For thirty-plus years, her focus has been on achieving a quality art program at the high school level in Northeast Louisiana. Her personal work has been displayed in various art exhibits in Northeast Louisiana, competitions throughout the state, and internationally. Her favorite subject matter includes mixed media portraits, whimsical ink drawings, and romantic landscapes. She recently retired from teaching and is concentrating on her work with Pelican Publishing.