Turning a Passion Into a Second Career

published 3 June 2011

Why did you leave the insurance industry? I worked for John Hancock and took a buyout in 2004. I then became a consultant at Sun Life. But in 2008, when the company was having issues during the financial mess, I decided to get out. I finally sat back and decided what I really wanted to do.

What guided your thinking? I started doing a lot of nonprofit work in the late '90s, including visiting elementary schools in the poorer parts of Boston. And in looking back at my career, I felt that one of my strengths was in being an advocate.

Did your family influence your interest in helping children? I have seven kids, most of whom are grown, who have all had a lot of privileges and the benefits of a great childhood. Through my volunteer work at places like Bottom Line, which helps kids through college, I saw many kids who were not as fortunate. I think seeing that contrast sparked my interest in becoming a child advocate.

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So you applied to law school? I realized that as a lawyer I could help people directly and help change policy at the same time.

Any reservations? I was concerned about starting a new career in my fifties. But my husband is an attorney and was supportive.

Is school a challenge? For the last part of my former career, I was working 60 or 70 hours a week and traveling a third of the time. School looked like it might be a little easier. The biggest adjustment was doing in-class work on a laptop. It certainly wasn't that way the last time I was in school.

What will you do when you finish? I don't know yet the exact form my advocacy will take. Northeastern Law School gives you an opportunity to participate in its co-op program to figure out what you want to do. That's extremely important because I want to hit the ground running.

How long do you see your second career lasting? I hope 20 or 30 years. I can't imagine just lying on the beach or gardening. One of the things that drove me to make this dramatic change was a desire to give back 24/7.

John Miley is a Senior Associate Editor at The Kiplinger Letter. He mainly covers AI, technology, telecom and education, but will jump on other business topics as needed. In his role, he provides timely forecasts about emerging technologies, business trends and government regulations. He also edits stories for the weekly publication and has written and edited email newsletters.

He holds a BA from Bates College and a master’s degree in magazine journalism from Northwestern University, where he specialized in business reporting. An avid runner and a former decathlete, he has written about fitness and competed in triathlons.