Starting Over From Experience: Transitioning Careers in My 50s and Finding My Next Calling

After 29 years in the classroom, I made the hardest decision of my life: to walk away from teaching—with no pension, no benefits, and no clear plan forward. In this deeply honest episode of Life’s Next Lesson Plan, I’m sharing what it really looks like to start over in your 50s.

From the fear of leaving job security and identity behind to navigating the unknown of midlife career reinvention, I walk you through the emotional, mental, and practical shifts that helped me leave “Rachel the Teacher” behind and begin the journey toward something new.