The LinkedIn Memorial

I am not sure how I got started on the LinkedIn social media platform.  I had been on Facebook for just a few months, and I was still trying to find people.  I guess I was using LinkedIn as a secondary source for information to find people.  When I first started out, I literally did not know what I was doing.  For my other forays onto social media, I had guides.  Not so that time around.  The only one I have, I got months after the fact, and it was already partially out-of-date when I read it. So, I did the best that I could.  I randomly threw in information, including a statement, that while accurate, did not really say anything about my needs or future goals.  I didn't even put up a picture for a few months.  I made mistakes everywhere.  I accidentally clicked onto some contacts that really didn't suit my needs.  I also accidentally dismissed others who I did want as contacts.  I got confused over some of the techniques.  I know I should have done better, but I really didn't have much of a clue over what I was doing.  About the same time I added my picture to my profile, I finally realized what my ultimate career goal should be, becoming a professional writer with a primary/backup goal of teaching at the collegiate level, just in case if I had problems getting published.  I know I am somewhat old to be figuring out my career plan, but I had a lot of problems of the decades, and I am only now  getting back on track.   I started to curate my profile.  I got rid of contacts that didn't seem to have a direct bearing on my future career.  I would include an example, but I have totally forgotten anything about them.  I cleaned up my statement, emphasizing my future plans.  Particularly, I tried to get people who could recommend me for graduate school.  It seems silly when I write that, but as a self-employed unintentional loner, I don't have a large social circle to draw on directly.  Using outside sources seemed like a given.  Recently, I even managed to contact some of the people that I wanted to find when I first signed up.  I have even been the target for some searches.  I am not sure if I really have the experience, or even the interest, for those who did the searching, but at least I am out there, in a fashion.  Really, when you consider how the majority of my work experience has been as my own boss, I am lucky I know as much as I do about working.  Actually getting noticed there has been a great experience for me, after all the setbacks I have had to face.  I might even be able to be hired soon, which is great.