Today, I’m flying to Pittsburgh, PA, for the annual conference of AASECT; the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists.

I’m a bit nervous. I’ve never been before. Why? Because I often feel quite a bit of a black sheep in the field.  Because I teach adults about how to add a variety of pleasure to their sex lives, from communication to fisting, safer sex to fire play. Because I don’t work in a “traditional” area of the field. Because I’m often told I’m too “risque” or “on the edge” by many of my cohorts. Because I was alienated during my time at Widener for working in both the feminist porn and sex toy fields.

So we’ll see. I want to learn and grown and network, and meet other interesting educators.  I want to be a small part of this community. But on the other hand, I’m also not looking to be judged. I LOVE the type of education I do, and each time I teach, I feel on top of the world.  I love it when someone emails me a question they haven’t been able to have answered, or approaches me after a class, telling me they’ve never had an orgasm, and want a toy suggestion.

I do so much more than sell toys. I educate the community. I speak at colleges and universities, educating students and educators alike. I do outreach online.  I love my “job” and what I do.  And I hope to bring some of that passion to the academic world.

Wish me luck!

-Shanna