Starting Over Isn’t Starting From Scratch
From Job Loss to Redirection: How Being Let Go Led Me to Reclaim My Future
There’s a moment in life when everything you thought was stable suddenly disappears, and you’re forced to look at yourself, your future, and your worth in a completely different light. For me, that moment came in 2024, when I was let go from my temporary position at Spirit Halloween right before the holidays. It was the biggest wake-up call I’ve ever experienced.
Working for Spirit Halloween wasn’t “just a seasonal job.” It was a place where I learned leadership under pressure, how to manage teams during chaos, and how to keep moving when everything felt urgent. Long hours, high expectations, and nonstop problem-solving shaped my work ethic. So being let go so suddenly, at one of the most financially and emotionally stressful times of the year, was devastating. It forced me to confront a hard truth: temporary stability is still temporary, no matter how much effort you give.
That moment hurt. It shook my confidence. But it also stripped away the illusion that familiarity equals security.
Being let go pushed me into a career crossroads I didn’t ask for, but desperately needed. I realized I didn’t want to keep building my future on roles that could disappear overnight. I wanted something lasting—something that belonged to me. Losing that job didn’t mean I failed; it meant the path I was on had reached its limit.
So I chose to start over.
Starting over didn’t mean erasing my past. It meant taking every skill I had learned and redirecting it toward a future built with intention. That decision led me to fully commit to college while raising my children, being a wife, and carrying the weight of adult responsibilities that don’t pause for dreams.
In 2025, I finished my associate’s degree in Digital Marketing. That milestone came after countless online classes, late-night study sessions, and sacrifices no one saw. Homework was done after bedtime routines. Exams were taken while managing family schedules. Progress was slow at times, but it was relentless.
In Fall 2026, I will officially earn my bachelor’s degree, something that once felt impossibly out of reach. That degree represents years of persistence, exhaustion, discipline, and belief. It represents choosing growth when quitting would have been easier. It represents showing my children what resilience truly looks like.
Finishing college became my greatest success—not just academically, but personally. It restored my confidence and reminded me that I am more than a job title or a temporary role. Education sharpened my voice, strengthened my professional skills, and gave me clarity instead of fear. I didn’t just earn credentials; I earned self-trust.
Looking back, being let go in 2024 was the turning point that changed everything. What felt like rejection became redirection. What felt like loss became momentum. Success didn’t come from staying comfortable; it came from choosing growth when life was already full and demanding.
I’ve been working in silence—building, learning, sacrificing, and preparing for what’s next. And I can’t wait for you all to see what’s coming.
Starting over taught me resilience. Changing my career path taught me courage. Finishing college while raising a family taught me discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering determination. Together, those experiences redefined success for me. It’s not about how long you stay in one place; it’s about knowing when to move forward, even when the road is heavy.
Sometimes life forces the restart before you’re ready. And sometimes, that restart is exactly what builds the future you were meant for.
