Finally, Taking the Leap: Venturing into Design

This month I said good-bye for now to a career I’ve known for 11 years. I’ve been an elementary school teacher for over a decade and with bittersweet emotions, I said farewell to some amazing colleagues and friends at a wonderful school last week.

I started my career as a reading specialist in 2007 then went on to teach 4th grade then 2nd grade as a classroom teacher. Two school districts and over 200 students later, I loved helping children grow and thrive but more recently I began to crave a more creative outlet. Always a lover of interiors and obsessed with beautiful spaces, I always knew I either wanted a career in interior design or in education. Teaching pulled my heart at time of applying for college but I always knew I’d eventually end up in some type of creative industry. In the past couple years I really began to feel the pull to pursue designing after helping a few friends and family members with design projects in their own homes.

More recently, after getting a skin cancer diagnosis this past December, my perspective and goals truly shifted. I’m a stage-4 cancer survivor of almost 20 years and to get another cancer diagnosis (even a highly treatable one), well, it kind of shakes you. Cancer is traumatic, frightening, and heartbreaking and I was lucky enough to survive it the first time. Another cancer diagnosis forced me to look into the mirror at my new scar with new tears and tell myself “Enough wasting time. Go for it.” Pushing through fear and hesitation and with the support of a pretty cool husband, friends, and family, I started studying design more intensely and earned my home staging and redesign certificate. In January this year, I opened my design and home staging business and have been really lucky to have worked with such wonderful clients helping them create peaceful and beautiful spaces. I love helping people in this way- bringing a client to tears because the home is now so calming and relaxing - a space you want to come home to every day. Now that’s an exciting feeling. Being in a creative field fills me and even with all the highs and lows of running a business, I’m thankful I took the leap.

I’m hoping my story can encourage you to achieve your goal - whatever it is, even if it’s a small step towards something you’ve always wanted. It’s totally worth the risk and the sacrifice if it’s something you love.

I’d love to hear your story if you’ve ever stepped out of your comfort zone and jumped into something new!