From the Office Chair to a Life of Purpose

How One Woman’s Journey Through Loss, Caregiving, and Self-Discovery Led to New Beginnings

I spent many years working in corporate as an administrative assistant. While some days were better than others, I often felt like I was wasting away. I’d sit in my office chair, gazing out the window, wondering what I was missing. After our miscarriage in 2014, I realized I didn’t want to spend my career or life behind a desk in a dusty office. So, at the age of 35, I made the decision to go back to school.

Balancing a full-time job and school was challenging, but I completed my studies and earned a certification as a CNA. However, the job wasn’t exactly what I had expected. My comfortable office life had softened me, and the physical demands of the role were more than I could handle. Realizing that this wasn’t the right fit, I decided to start fresh.

While considering my next steps, I accepted a para job at a school for special needs students. It was rewarding work, but I quickly learned that school politics and systems could be difficult to navigate. The following school year brought…