Way to go Kayla. Cheering you on from afar. Like Emily, I switched from a stable government job with benefits to starting my own PR company at 31. With three little kids. I told my husband if it didn’t work out our neighbour said she would hire me as a hostess at the pizza restaurant she managed. That was my back up plan. Luckily I didn’t need it. Switched careers again at 51.
Follow your intuition and one career feels complete it’s ok to move on. 🎉💪
I loved reading this, Kayla! My ears perked in a way because I went to school for speech therapy. I stopped at undergrad because of how fiercely competitive getting in grad school was in the Midwest. And I don’t think I was “allowed” to leave my state. I also didn’t wanna put down the funds for grad school either, or applications (peers were putting in dozens!).
It didn’t happen anyway. Soon after graduating I became a full-time caregiver for my mom. Fast forward eight years later and I abruptly no longer am! She passed December 2022 and I’m now turning 33 in the summer and am just out here figuring out “what’s next??” day by day :)
It’s been a journey! And I can’t imagine how scary a switch up for you could be with a decade of dedication!
I LOVE that you shared Emily’s “completion” mindset—I feel like I’ll need it as I continue sampling what life has to offer!
Cierra, thank you for sharing! I'm sorry to hear about your mom. It's exciting and terrifying to have the freedom to choose your path at this point in life. I believe you not pursuing speech therapy was a blessing in disguise, though haha.
It honestly feels validating that I didn’t continue! That I couldn’t and I mean now… I’m glad I’m not! 👀🐸🍵 Life’s a wild ride, and I’m glad we’re both finding the courage and gumption to search and find what really suits us and makes us happy! :)
Also thank you for the condolences; I like to say that we’re both so so free now! :)
YES. Never, ever too late to switch/pivot/start again/learn something new. I'm 33-year-old single mum and have just started a psych degree. Sure, I'll be nearly 40 if I want to go all the way to becoming a clinical psychologist – but I'm going to be nearly fucking forty one day anyway, so might as well have a new psych degree (and some HECS debt). Go you. Fuck yes for being brave.
Thank you for sharing! I really relate to this as an educator who is working to “close” this chapter of my life and move onto something else. I hope you’re loving your new career!
34 years old here, left my career in September and still figuring out my next step! Big YES to therapy, it’s taken me a long time to grieve the loss of who I was in my previous role. Growth is inevitable but man it can be hard too. Cheering you on!!
Good for you! I’m in my 14th year of being an SLP and understand how draining it can be. And also how HYPED it was in grad school without really any acknowledgement of the challenges. Good luck on your next career!
Way to go Kayla. Cheering you on from afar. Like Emily, I switched from a stable government job with benefits to starting my own PR company at 31. With three little kids. I told my husband if it didn’t work out our neighbour said she would hire me as a hostess at the pizza restaurant she managed. That was my back up plan. Luckily I didn’t need it. Switched careers again at 51.
Follow your intuition and one career feels complete it’s ok to move on. 🎉💪
This is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing a bit of your story 💖
I loved reading this, Kayla! My ears perked in a way because I went to school for speech therapy. I stopped at undergrad because of how fiercely competitive getting in grad school was in the Midwest. And I don’t think I was “allowed” to leave my state. I also didn’t wanna put down the funds for grad school either, or applications (peers were putting in dozens!).
It didn’t happen anyway. Soon after graduating I became a full-time caregiver for my mom. Fast forward eight years later and I abruptly no longer am! She passed December 2022 and I’m now turning 33 in the summer and am just out here figuring out “what’s next??” day by day :)
It’s been a journey! And I can’t imagine how scary a switch up for you could be with a decade of dedication!
I LOVE that you shared Emily’s “completion” mindset—I feel like I’ll need it as I continue sampling what life has to offer!
Cierra, thank you for sharing! I'm sorry to hear about your mom. It's exciting and terrifying to have the freedom to choose your path at this point in life. I believe you not pursuing speech therapy was a blessing in disguise, though haha.
It honestly feels validating that I didn’t continue! That I couldn’t and I mean now… I’m glad I’m not! 👀🐸🍵 Life’s a wild ride, and I’m glad we’re both finding the courage and gumption to search and find what really suits us and makes us happy! :)
Also thank you for the condolences; I like to say that we’re both so so free now! :)
Jumping up and down for you Kayla!!! I’m so happy to hear how much that piece resonated.
PS, the first time I switched careers, I was 28 and all my peers were straight out of undergrad. I worried I was too old too. ❤️
Thank you soso much for your words and your encouragement 💖🥲
YES. Never, ever too late to switch/pivot/start again/learn something new. I'm 33-year-old single mum and have just started a psych degree. Sure, I'll be nearly 40 if I want to go all the way to becoming a clinical psychologist – but I'm going to be nearly fucking forty one day anyway, so might as well have a new psych degree (and some HECS debt). Go you. Fuck yes for being brave.
Thank you for sharing! I really relate to this as an educator who is working to “close” this chapter of my life and move onto something else. I hope you’re loving your new career!
Good for you! I quit after teaching for 10 years —with a Masters degree, so this resonates with me. 🙂↔️
34 years old here, left my career in September and still figuring out my next step! Big YES to therapy, it’s taken me a long time to grieve the loss of who I was in my previous role. Growth is inevitable but man it can be hard too. Cheering you on!!
Good for you! I’m in my 14th year of being an SLP and understand how draining it can be. And also how HYPED it was in grad school without really any acknowledgement of the challenges. Good luck on your next career!