I love the study of law. I met some truly amazing people while in school, and I experienced something that only those who attend law school can (the sleep-deprived, brain-over-stimulation, classmates-turned-family, love-hate relationship that is law school). I don't regret for a minute that I went to law school, but I also don't regret that I left. When I looked at my priorities and how I wanted to spend my future, I realized that what I truly want is a family and the opportunity to write.
My background is in Public Relations and I love it! I love writing in general and, since I was 8, I've declared my dream of becoming a writer. Though Public Relations is a different type of writing, it's a creative outlet that allows one to write and work with people. For now, it's exactly what I want to do! And, in the future, I hope to maybe write a book -- something creative, not legal or dry. I also want a family. To me, family is the most important thing in the world and I can't imagine a future where I can't spend time with my family like I want. I don't want to be married to my job; I want to be married to my husband. At this point, I do Public Awareness for a company that I've wanted to work for for years and I am married and have two childdogs. One day, we hope to have children and when that happens, I plan to be available to them. I couldn't guarantee that had I further pursued a legal career.
Since I attended law school and went a different direction in life, I love hearing stories of successful people who made similar choices. You would be surprised how many actors and writers there are that went to law school and either finished and went another direction or completed part of it and left to do something else. Lately, I've noticed that I've appreciated authors who chose to write and raise a family instead of continuing a legal career -- and I love it!
Today, I won a copy of Emily Giffin's newest book (release date 7/24!) Where We Belong. I'm excited to read it because every once in a while, you just need a little chick-lit in your life. I started to read a little more about her and found out that she was a lawyer who practice in NYC and then decided to pursue writing. She now has 3 beautiful children. Her legal career inspired her first book Something Borrowed (which I watched with some of my law school friends and completely related to some of the flashbacks to 1L days!).
I also told you guys about how much I loved The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin who also practiced law for a while before deciding to write and stay at home with her family. I guess part of the reason I enjoy reading authors like this is because I can relate to them. I also respect people who can turn down esteemed job titles and take a chance to share their writing with the world. It is never guaranteed that people will like a book you write and there is no job security like that of a corporate legal career, but that doesn't matter.These women probably got push-back, like I did, when they announced their decisions to leave the legal world but they didn't care. And look at them! They are successful writers that can do what they love while sharing their lives with their families. Now, THAT is something I love!