When I graduated from Lower Merion High School, I knew exactly what career I wanted. Now that I am back in Lower Merion School District as the director of school and community relations, I’ve learned that it is OK, and often even necessary, to pivot during a career journey to end up exactly where I should be. The key is being flexible enough to pivot, without letting go of the passion.

At first, my career path followed a straight course: from graduating from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University to my first job as an anchor and reporter at KWQC-TV in Davenport, Iowa. After three years, I made pivot number one: taking an off-air job as a producer for 6abc’s morning talk show, “AM/Philadelphia.” It was a tough decision, since I’d always wanted to be on-air, but I also wanted to be near my family and knew that my husband’s career wasn’t one that could shift easily from city to city, as many broadcaster careers demand.

As it turned out, my off-air detour didn’t last too long. I had been sent to “babysit” the opening days of a murder trial that was expected to go on for weeks, when the defendant unexpectedly pleaded guilty. The station had sent a news van and videographer, but no reporter, so, I went on the air to share the breaking news. My Iowa reporter skills had me in good stead and in the following months and years, I went on to become a correspondent for a morning talk show, a weekend reporter, and eventually a full-time general assignment reporter for Action News. It was exactly where I’d hoped to be.

In all, I spent 25 years at 6abc, working every imaginable shift and developing an online and on-air franchise of money-saving tips called “Saving with 6abc.” It was wonderful and also exhausting. I missed many of my three sons’ school and sporting events and other significant family gatherings. So, when my contract was nearing an end and my 50^th birthday was approaching, I decided to take another career turn. When I left 6abc, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, other than that I wanted to use my communications skills for something about which I was passionate.

Knowing that I’d been on the receiving end of many PR pitches – both good and bad – I began looking for PR jobs, landing at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com as manager of public relations and special events. There, I helped develop events as an additional revenue stream for the legacy publication and also helped develop the reporters into personalities with whom readers could interact via social media and events, pushing them out of the traditional comfort zone of being “just bylines.” As passionate as I remain about the importance of independent journalism, in the newspaper world, salaries and benefits aren’t great. And the daily SEPTA commute left a little to be desired.

And so it was time to turn once again. I’d worked with my predecessor here in Lower Merion School District when I was reporter and interacted with him when my three sons were in school. A mutual friend let me know he was leaving and I applied – and was hired – for my current job. As an alumna, district parent, community member, and communications professional, I brought many perspectives to the role. In addition, I am passionate about public education. I have great coworkers, get to work with amazing students, and tell important stories.

We try to teach our students flexibility and resilience, because we know that the paths we imagine aren’t always the ones we end up on. It’s a lesson we adults should remember in our professional journeys as well. Take those turns to follow your passions, and you’ll likely end up right where you belong.