The Comfort of a Well-Planned Path
For the first twelve years of my career, I worked in accounting. I loved the structure, the logic, and the sense of order that came with balancing books and solving financial puzzles. It was a steady, respected profession that provided stability for my growing family. On paper, everything made sense. I had a good job, a supportive husband, and two wonderful boys who filled my life with meaning.
But deep down, there was always a quiet voice whispering that I was meant to do something more. From a young age, I had been fascinated by the law and the way it could be used to protect people and uphold fairness. Still, I kept pushing that thought aside, convincing myself that it was too late to make such a big change. Life was busy. I was comfortable. And comfort can be the hardest thing to walk away from.
The Moment I Decided to Take the Leap
Sometimes, the right moment doesn’t come, it has to be created. After years in accounting, I realized that my curiosity about the legal field had never gone away. Instead, it had grown stronger. I wanted to challenge myself in new ways, to think critically, and to be part of something that helped others.
So, I made the decision that would completely change my life: I applied to law school. It wasn’t a decision I took lightly. I knew it would mean late nights, financial strain, and years of hard work. But I also knew that if I didn’t take the leap, I would always wonder what could have been.
When I received my acceptance letter from Marquette University’s part-time law program, I felt equal parts excitement and fear. I would be working full-time while going to school in the evenings, which is a challenge even without kids at home. But I wasn’t just doing this for myself. I was doing it to show my children that it is never too late to follow your passion, no matter how long you’ve been on another path.
When Life Tested My Resolve
The universe has a way of testing our strength just when we think we have it all figured out. On my very first day of law school, my husband and I received devastating news: our two-year-old son had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. That day, every part of me wanted to quit. I remember sitting in the car before class, overwhelmed with fear and guilt, wondering how I could possibly focus on school when my family needed me so desperately.
My husband, who has been my greatest supporter since we started dating at sixteen, encouraged me to go to that first class. He reminded me that pursuing my dream didn’t mean I was choosing it over our family, it meant I was choosing to keep growing, even through pain. With the support of our family and our son’s incredible care team, I found the strength to keep going.
Those next few years were not easy. I worked during the day, attended law classes at night, and cared for my family in between. I gave birth to our second son while in law school, which added to the exhaustion but also deepened my sense of purpose. When I finally graduated, my oldest was six and my youngest was two. That moment symbolized everything I had fought for and the belief that with faith and perseverance, even the most impossible dreams can come true.
Starting Over in a New Career
Transitioning from accounting to law was both humbling and invigorating. I joined the legal department of a global organization as a Securities Attorney, where my accounting background turned out to be an incredible asset. The financial knowledge I had built over fifteen years gave me a unique perspective on corporate law and compliance.
Over time, I worked my way up to Associate General Counsel, overseeing Securities and Corporate Governance. Each step reminded me why I had taken the leap. I wasn’t just crunching numbers anymore I was helping guide ethical business decisions, protect the integrity of the organization, and ensure fairness in complex situations. It felt like advocacy in action.
But more than that, I had proven to myself that reinvention is possible at any stage of life. It’s not about abandoning who you were, but about expanding who you can become.
Lessons from the Journey
Looking back, I’ve learned that there is never a “perfect” time to chase your true calling. Life doesn’t pause to make room for your dreams, you have to make room for them yourself.
I’ve also learned that passion and practicality can coexist. My accounting background didn’t disappear when I became a lawyer. Instead, it became the foundation for my new career, giving me skills that translated seamlessly into my legal work. Sometimes, the paths we take before finding our calling are not detours; they are essential parts of the journey.
And perhaps most importantly, I learned that success isn’t about titles or timelines. It’s about fulfillment. For me, that fulfillment came from knowing I was brave enough to start over and patient enough to see it through.
Why It’s Never Too Late
Today, my sons are 23 and 18, and I see in them the same spark of curiosity and ambition that once drove me to take that leap. My oldest has graduated from college with a degree in finance, and my youngest is beginning his own college journey with an interest in sports law. Watching them chase their dreams reminds me that our children learn more from what we do than what we say.
If I could give advice to anyone standing at a crossroads, it would be this: it’s never too late to follow your true calling. You don’t have to have everything figured out, and you don’t have to do it perfectly. What matters is that you start. Whether it’s changing careers, going back to school, or pursuing a passion project, growth happens when you’re willing to take that first uncertain step.
Life doesn’t always unfold in a straight line. Sometimes, the most meaningful chapters begin when you decide to rewrite your story. And if my journey from accounting to advocacy has taught me anything, it’s that the courage to begin again can lead you exactly where you were meant to be all along.