mariposa was born in the summer of 1980, as Mark Mislivec. For those of you that don't know me, "Mariposa" or "Mighty Mariposa" has been my nickname for a number of years. Obviously, it's Spanish. The literal translation is "butterfly," but the slang translation is a little more lively than that.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's move on to my life, the things that motivate me, and the things that make me tick. Hopefully, you'll find the remotest part of all of this interesting. If not, at least the animation is here to amuse you.
Jimmy Carter was still President when I was born, though for only a short time, and the peanut farmer was facing a recession of record proportions. Ronald Reagan had already appeared on the horizon with solutions to all our ills. Such was the world when I arrived in a modest Minnnesota suburb.
I stayed put for most of my early years, bearing the "tough love" of my older brothers. It's what I would call an extremely uneventful decade. Don't be decieved, I certainly had my share of self- and brotherly-inflicted stitches, but nothing abnormal for older siblings. It made me stronger.
As you can see from the pictures, I was an adorable little kid (at least my mom tells me so). What's lacking are pictures from the "in-between years." This was the period where I cocooned into complete dorkdom. Big glasses, Star Trek conventions, lots of plaid, the works.
Fortunately, I outgrew this stage in due time. I went off to college my junior year of high school and began to take on different interests. At first my major was computer science, but that changed as well. My interest in computers, however, did not.
My new passion became the world of politics. I started working in the public policy department at a local AIDS nonprofit, and I attended my first caucus. Before long, I was helping out with a state Senate campaign and attending political conventions.
The summer I graduated from high school, I decided to blow all my graduation gift money and take a trip to Europe. Thanks, Don for the idea and plane ticket, and mom and dad for not panicking when I didn't come home. I returned five weeks later, but I had caught the bug.
In the fall of 2001 I transferred to a new school, and with it I changed my major. Obviously, it became political science. I enjoyed school, but I enjoyed travelling even more. A couple years in the slammer and I was ready to get my feet wet with other things.
The summer before my last semester, I jet-setted with little warning to Cape Cod. Who knew when I vacationed out there that I would be back nine days later ready to stay.
Spending a summer on the Cape inspired my move the following spring to Boston, and after a few months of bouncing around, mom and dad helped me pack up the car and drive cross-country. My disenchanting job for a company that tracked the state legislature taught me a few lessons, not the least of which was that politicians usually keep very busy doing nothing.
I wasn't sure when I moved to Boston just how permanent it would be, and since my job wasn't keeping me satisfied, it didn't take me long to start seeking other options. As is usually the case, one fell into my lap by virtue of a friend. Grad school abroad for two years, what could possibly be better?
Over two years of globe-trotting Germany, South Africa and India were supposed to prepare me for the next phase of my life: the career. I'm not sure if that was a success, but it certainly made me appreciate the virtues of my roots and dear old Minnesota. After a few months back home, I moved to Washington, DC to look for work. Finally I found it at PSI, an organization that does international development through social marketing for health.
That brings me to where I am now. I think I'm in this career business for the long haul, though perhaps I'll head back to school at some point. I'll keep you updated, but until then enjoy your stay and come back soon!
