Let’s get you caught up….
In the spring of 2025, I hit a point in my career where everything felt stale. I have always been an over‑achiever, and I was not over‑achieving, which made me bored and uninterested. I had spent 25 years in the financial industry, mostly in property and casualty insurance. I am a true supporter and believer in insurance. It’s very important to our economy and to families and people. I’m so grateful for everything I have learned and all of the wonderful people I have met and worked with throughout the years.
But I knew deep down that it was time to do something else. Like any over‑achiever, I’m not done yet. There is a lot more left in the tank, and I still have that strong desire to help people.
So I started exploring law school. And when I say exploring, I mean researching everything, because that’s what I do. I explored the process, the time commitment, the LSAT, the application requirements, the real and opportunity costs, the expectations, the realities, even the various types of law I could pursue. I wanted to understand exactly what I was getting myself into so I can be confident that I would remain secure. I am the only breadwinner in my family, which is me and two dogs. Eating and having a safe roof over my head is very important to me. I had to make sure I could do this without worrying about how to pay for my basic life needs.
In July 2025, while I was visiting my beautiful family up north, I told them I was thinking about applying to law school. My uncle is a retired attorney and several of my cousins are active attorneys. I knew they would be straight up with me. They didn’t hesitate; they immediately encouraged me to go for it. I quickly reminded them that I was turning 50 in a month. My cousin Dan told me he went to night school while he was in law school and that several of his classmates were older students working on their second or third careers. He said I should at least take the LSAT and see how I do. That was the logical voice I needed to hear.
When I got home, I signed up for the LSAT and started studying. I took the exam a few months later. Scores take about a month to come back, so while I waited, I worked on the rest of my application materials. When my score arrived, I applied to the two schools I was interested in right away.
I was admitted to one and wait‑listed at the other. I’m pretty sure I cried when I got both results. It was incredibly encouraging to know that both schools believe I can succeed in law school and go on to become an attorney. That meant a lot.
I know attorneys who graduated from both schools, so I knew I couldn’t go wrong either way. Both are highly respected. By early December 2025, I knew I was going to law school starting in August 2026. I just didn’t know which school yet.
Seat deposits are due in April, and I was told by the school where I was wait‑listed that they wouldn’t review the list again until sometime that month. I wanted to keep an open mind and make sure I felt good about any decisions I made. I went to Admitted Student Day at the school that had admitted me, and everything felt peaceful and right.
I had conversations with several deans, professors, and administrators. I met incoming students. I met current students. Everyone was so kind. The drive was easy. The law building is new and beautiful. The entire environment felt supportive, intentional, and focused on student success. I left feeling excited, grounded, and confident. I found my school!
I paid my full seat deposit and made it official, and I asked the other school to remove me from their wait‑list, respectfully.
I’m currently in the process of sharing the big news with friends. Of course, I have already started studying; I’m currently reading a book about how lawyers write. I am very grateful for my insatiable love of learning.
It is this experience that really fueled my desire to start the Grit With It! podcast. All of the intentional life decisions I have made are why this opportunity is even possible. It truly is my GRIT that got me into law school, and you better believe I’m already thinking about all of the opportunities I will have to serve others once I have my JD and pass the bar.
But, first things first.
1L is going to be very difficult and yes, Taylor, I AM READY FOR IT.
This girl is on FIRE!! 🔥