Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Southeast alumna's book published

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Motivation can be hard to come by and sometimes it's a stranger that provides it to those who need it.

Ellen Shuck has been dishing out motivational musings in the Southeast Missourian newspaper in Cape Girardeau every other week for over a decade, and now she has put her collections in a book.

Shuck has been writing her column "Reflections" in the Southeast Missourian for the last 12 years, and her book "Wisdom for the Journey," published in August. It is a collection of real-life scenarios of life's struggles and bumps along the way. The chapters of the book are organized into individual life lessons in motivation, endurance and human resilience.

Shuck had such positive responses to her articles that she decided to write the book.

"I had so many people tell me that they cut out my columns and use them as motivation for employees and friends," Shuck said.

Shuck, originally from Caruthersville, Missouri, moved to Sikeston, Missouri, as a child and moved to Cape Girardeau in her senior year of high school.

She graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She also earned a master's degree in religious education from Loyola University in New Orleans.

In addition to her column in the Southeast Missourian and her newly published book, Shuck is an adjunct professor at Southeast.

Shuck also writes for the Mirror, which is the newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau based out of Springfield, Missouri.

"I've always been a thinker, even as a child I was always evaluating why things happen, the cause and effect," Shuck said.

Shuck is a trained spiritual director and public speaker who started motivational speaking about 10 years ago.

She has conducted workshops and given presentations at the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women at St. Mary's Cathedral Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau and Cancer Support Group at St. Francis Medical Center. Shuck also does presentations in the business sector as well.

"I have a motivational presentation coming up for a jewelry company's sales people," Shuck said.

She is a former director of religious education at St. Mary's Cathedral Catholic Church and has written pieces for the Southeast Missouri Catholic Ministries Bulletin at Southeast.

"I'm kind of spiritual, and I believe the Holy Spirit guides me," Shuck said.

She has also authored monthly interviews with seniors called "Age for Sage" in the Southeast Missourian publication "The Best Years."

Her book "Wisdom for the Journey" can be purchased through Barnes and Noble, at booksamillion.com or ordered through her website www.ellenshuckselfhelp.com.

Comments