When I was a young girl, I dreamed of being a hairstylist or someone who worked on a cruise ship. My barbies, God love them, were the unfortunate victims of my scissors, and markers doubled as makeup so that I could transform them into my latest creations. At that time, I believe my fascination for cruise ships came from watching The Love Boat.
As time went on, I remember sitting down with my guidance counselor during my senior year of high school to talk about my future. I didn’t want to follow the same path as everyone else who was heading off to college to become teachers, doctors, lawyers, or pursue other traditional careers. Not that I thought there was anything wrong with it, but at the time, all I saw was four years away from home doing something that felt ordinary and uninspiring to me. I appreciated those careers, but they were not for me, and I also could not stand school at the time. I was so ready to get out of there, lol.
I wanted to create. I wanted to use my imagination and my creativity, so I enrolled in cosmetology school, and I loved it.
I excelled. I won a hair show contest, participated in professional hair shows, and even worked as an independent contractor for Matrix, traveling across parts of NC, SC and VA, teaching other hairstylist color and cutting techniques. I have owned my own business, managed a salon, and I loved the freedom that came with being my own boss. I never liked feeling tied down, and setting my own schedule seemed to have suited me perfectly.
Today, I no longer practice cosmetology full-time, but I still maintain my license. If a close friend or family member needs their hair done, I’m always happy to help. Looking back, I realize what a gift that talent has been in my life.
Time marches on, and eventually, another dream came true. I became a flight attendant while continuing to do hair and run my business. Life was exciting. If I wasn’t behind the chair, I was using my flight benefits to travel somewhere new or working a flight to who-knows-where. Every day was different, and I loved that.
Then one day (and I honestly can’t remember exactly when) it all changed.
I found myself grounded. Doctors told me I would never be able to fly professionally again because of ongoing issues with my ears. By the time I was told I couldn’t fly, I had already had five ear surgeries/procedures to help me. The last resort was to place a balloon through my sinus cavity, an exploratory procedure through Duke. I really did not want to put myself through all of that, so I made the very difficult decision to come down.
It felt like someone had taken away a part of my identity.
Outside of being a mom, flying was the most rewarding, exciting thing I had ever done. It was in my blood, a poison if you will. I loved the unpredictability of every trip, meeting people from all walks of life, and having the opportunity to make someone’s day just a little better, and that is what I loved the most – making a difference in the lives of others. I absolutely loved it.
Of course, anyone who has worked in aviation knows it’s also a love-hate relationship. If you’ve read some of my older blog posts, you know exactly what I mean. That’s just life in the airline industry.
After leaving the industry, I began looking for ground-based jobs. It wasn’t easy. It felt like I had swallowed sand. I dreaded every bit of it. Life in real world jobs is not the same as when you are a crew member. It is truly a lifestyle, not a job,so I had a hard time trying to adjust to life on the ground.
In the fall of 2019, I decided to go back to school and pursue my Paralegal degree. At the same time, I started working at my local Marshalls (I have always loved TJX stores) and I balanced work, school, and everyday life.
Within a year, I was promoted through the ranks and transferred to help open a new Marshalls store on the North Carolina coast as a merchandising manager. It was exciting, and life seemed to be moving in the right direction. Still, I found myself wanting more.
Then, in the winter of 2021, I accepted a position with Lowe’s Home Improvement. It was a significant jump in both responsibility and income, so I made the difficult decision to put college on hold, but I was ready for the new challenge.
I embraced every obstacle, challenge and curve ball that came my way, and I gave that job everything I had. Looking back, though, I sometimes think God knows when we’re in places that no longer serve us. He has a way of revealing what we need, and what we don’t need.
One opportunity led to another, and I continued climbing the corporate ladder. The pay was better, but the hours were long, and the quality of life wasn’t as good to me as I had hoped it to be.
Toward the end of 2024, my health had begun to decline, but I kept pushing because that’s what I had always done. I’ve always worked. I’ve always believed in showing up and trying to be better today than I was yesterday. I was always the one who worked 60-hour work weeks, staying late to meet deadlines and many times correcting others work because of said deadlines. Often times I was the ‘bad’ guy because I held people accountable and a lot of people didn’t really like that. I am not a pushover in the workplace so when you stand up for your right as a woman who has earned her place, you are often overshadowed by egos that struggle with women being in positions of power.
October 2024, I was hospitalized and learned I had extremely dangerously low levels of iron and ferritin. It was so low that I had to receive both an iron infusion and blood transfusion. I had hoped I had received someone’s blood that would help me look like a gorgeous model but oh well, I got some of my energy back. Soon, I was back at work, doing what I had been doing, and working 60 hours a week.
I got married in January 2025 and two days later I was in the hospital for a week. Some way to spend a ‘honeymoon’ huh? January 2025 was a slow fade to a lot of health issues that had obviously been brewing for a long time. I wrote about that journey in one of my previous blog posts, titled “What’s Your Elephant?” and you can check it out here https://thesunwillsettorise.org/2026/04/26/what-is-your-elephant/
Eventually, my doctors sat me down and told me something I didn’t want to hear.
Retail was simply too hard on my body. It wasn’t helping my health, and it wasn’t compatible with the future I wanted for myself. I couldn’t go back to flying, and the long hours of standing on my feet and working with my hands in the capacity of a hairstylist were no longer serving me either.
My next steps weren’t easy.
I went back to college to finish what I had started.
Seven years after enrolling, I finally earned my Paralegal degree, June 2026. I want to give a big shout out to the team at Monroe County Community College in Monroe, Michigan. So many played such an important role assisting me in finishing what I started, and I was also a Cohort of the first ever MCCC Momentum program. It was a lifesaver to me during this past year! I am still waiting on my diploma to be sent to me, but I am thrilled with the lovely graduation gifts I received!
Sometimes I look back and wish I had never put it on hold. I was only two semesters away from graduating when I stepped away. Life has a way of taking us on detours, bumpy roads, blocked roads and several challenges but we learn to navigate through that, and I’ve learned not to regret the path that brought me here, where I am today.
This fall, I’ll begin pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Law & Policy: Pre-Law at Liberty University. I have added the link in case you are reading this and you might be interested in learning more about their program. https://www.liberty.edu/government/pre-law-degrees/
Yes…I’m going to law school!
After spending so many years as a hairstylist, one of my favorite Legally Blonde moments is when Elle Woods solves the case because she understands how a perm works. I laughed so hard the first time I saw it because I understood exactly what she was talking about. Will that knowledge ever win me a case? Probably not…but you never know.
What I do know is that every season of my life has taught me something valuable, even the darkest seasons taught me something as well. Every job I’ve had, every challenge I’ve faced, and every hat I’ve worn has prepared me for what’s next.
Life moves fast. One day you think you have everything figured out, and the next you’re standing there wondering what happened.
Sometimes I wish I had started this journey many years ago, but I’ve come to realize that God had different plans for my life. His timing wasn’t mine, but it was exactly what I needed.
I’m here now, and I have put in so much hard work, both academically and personally, and I’m not stopping.
Years ago, a highly respected educator told me something I’ll never forget: “They can take your house, your car, your clothes, and your money, but they can never take your education.” I’ve carried those words with me ever since, and I believe them with all my heart.
Despite the health challenges I’ve faced, I’m working hard to improve my health so I can continue pursuing my dream. I don’t know exactly what area of law I’ll practice one day, and I’m not putting that pressure on myself right now. I am just trying to make it to the next chapter.
I do know that God has equipped me with the heart, the knowledge and the tests of life, that will prepare me to understand the people I will serve, stand beside them and fight for them.
I’ve spent much of my life fighting for my family, for my children, for my health, and for opportunities that didn’t come easily. Along the way, I’ve become an advocate in ways I never expected.
I believe that is a gift, too.
I see the world through my own experiences, but I also value the perspectives of others. My prayer is that God continues to use me as a vessel to encourage people not to let their circumstances define them. No matter what life looks like today, you have a choice. You can keep moving forward. You can trust God with your future. You hold all of the power to reach out to Him and give yourself the opportunity to become something greater!
Please keep me and all college students in your prayers as we are all entering a significant chapter of our lives.
Peace, Love & Happiness
Christian ♥
The Sun Will Set To Rise 