Sheena LeMay-Nelssen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Sheena, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Something that made me feel proud was last October I was surprised when I was awarded the Electric Educator Award by CoServe. I became a teacher 2023-2024 teaching art and principles of audio/video technology. For winning that award in my second year of teaching was such a surprise. I use all my experience from being a small business owner as well as other careers I’ve done in my principles class. I teach graphic design, marketing/advertising, communication and networking. I’ve had students for the last two years tell me they appreciate my help and how I teach. It isn’t just reading curriculum but actually having experience in it so I can share what I’ve gone through and how to do it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sheena LeMay-Nelssen. I am a middle school art and principles of audio/video technology teacher as well as a small business owner. I own Virgo Immen Photography and Stitching Star Designs. I do photography as well as create promotional material and personalized gifts. I have been a teacher for three years now, started Virgo in 2013 and Stitching Star in 2016.
One thing that makes me unique is when Covid hit in 2020, I started making masks for people in my community. Once word got out that I was making them, I added them to my etsy page and started shipping them around the country. I was able to make 1300 masks. I was also making bath bombs and lotion bars. I had an amazing donor who bought 250 each and had me ship them to their local hospital for the nursing staff. During this time, I was homeschooling my oldest daughter who was in second grade. I had her learning how to sew and help with my orders. My husband was working from home so he was also cutting strings and fabric. It was a family effort.
Besides teaching and running small businesses, I am a mom to 2 daughters and a wife. I am secretary of an elementary PTO, vice president of a middle school PTO and sixth grade team lead at my school. I enjoy being busy and creative. I enjoy volunteering to help with my daughters’ activities like dance, girl scouts and soccer.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My parents taught me the importance of hard work and gave great examples for my sister and me. My dad was an engineer with Union Pacific Railroad and worked as a cowboy for a feedlot in his spare time. My mom was a postal worker who took night classes for 10 years to earn an associates degree in science. She also decorated cakes at Dairy Queen and coached me in softball and soccer. Both of them were very creative and taught me how to be creative. At one time when I was in elementary school, my mom had a business where she made handmade gifts similar to what I make.
My mom passed away in 2006 when I was 20 and my dad passed away in 2018 when I was 32. I hadn’t thought about being a teacher beyond teaching dance or preschool for a short time while in college. But after both of them passed away, I kept having this feeling they were telling me to become a teacher. That feeling grew after I became a para professional and fell in love with what I was doing. I have never avoided hard work because of their examples. I graduated high school a semester early, graduated from two universities on the same day with two bachelor’s degrees and got my alternative certification 1 1/2 years.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Losing my parents suddenly was extremely hard. Especially losing my mom to a heart attack and stroke when she was one month from turning 51. I was 20 and a week from starting my sophomore year in college.
As if that weren’t hard enough, five months later I slipped on the ice while walking to class and ended up having to have ankle surgery. After years of dance and sports injuries, my tendon was overused and I had to have screws put in. Then there were complications which caused three more surgeries. Between the surgeries, casts, walking boots and braces it took at least three years and now I still live with nerve damage and permanent swelling.
In 2018 I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was having unexplained swelling in my arms and fingers as well as brain fog. Then in 2022 I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Having both of these means I’m worn out quickly, immune compromised, in constant pain and can become confused easily.
All of these things combined have helped me. I keep my mind and body busy with work and it motivates me. My parents would be proud of the woman I’ve become because even with all of these challenges, I’m still pushing forward. I have to give myself grace when I’m easily tired but have orders to ship or teach students all day. I have to give grace when my hands don’t want to work. I also use my story to help others navigate a new diagnosis. It is about planning and preparing. I give honesty and show I’m not always put together and I do forget things but I don’t let any of it stop me.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. I show the good, the bad, and the ugly. I tell my students my story and I say I don’t pretend to know all of the answers. When I was first offered my AV class, I was so nervous because I don’t have a lot of experience in audio and video production but where I lack at, I make up for by doing research, by trying to learn new things constantly and connecting with those who know better. I admit my faults and when I am wrong. I’m not afraid to make a mistake because I know I make them all the time. I own my faults. I tell my students ADHD is my super power because yes it can be frustrating when you are forgetful or distracted but it also allows me to get things done. I’m always thinking and switching between all my different roles.
I teach my students how to be confident and share my story of how I was actually a shy child growing up. I asked them if I seemed confident while teaching and they all said yes. I said no, I’m not always confident. But I don’t let it show. I can be shy in certain situations but I’ve learned I can’t just sit back if I want something. I have pictures of me in middle school to show my students and say we all go through an awkward phase. I had braces, pimples and am short but I embrace it all.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I absolutely am. I actually do tap dance at school. I get to dress up as my favorite artists, share my excitement for art with students, act like a kid with my students, collaborate with other amazing teachers who are just as excited. I also get to do this with my oldest daughter at my school. I get to be creative daily. When I’m working my small businesses I am putting my heart into my work and sharing it. I have a map of all the states I’ve shipped products to and even have two countries. I’ve photographed families that I’ve seen grow up and now have those kids as students. I’ve networked with other businesses to promote them and seen their businesses grow.
My parents both worked jobs they did because they were good at them but they didn’t really enjoy. Their part time occasional jobs like my dad being a cowboy and my mom’s small business didn’t pay a lot of money but made them happy. I’m very fortunate that I get the best of both worlds. Also, I was able to stay home with my daughters when they were little.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virgoimmen
- Linkedin: Sheena LeMay-Nelssen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stitchingstar
Image Credits
Sheena LeMay-Nelssen for all photos
