The Story of a Second-Best Career

The Journey of Rediscovery Series - Post 1

by Valerie L Valentine

When a Question Became a Mirror

When I began looking for a new career after eighteen years in education, a recruiter asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks:

“So… what’s your story?”

My story? I had no idea what he meant. Did he want to know why I was leaving teaching? My personal history? My goals? I wasn’t sure, so I asked him to clarify.

His answer surprised me.

“What can you do for a prospective employer? What’s in it for them if they hire you?”

Wow. That wasn’t a question about me — it was about the value I could bring to them. And to answer it honestly, I realized I’d have to do something uncomfortable: talk about myself. Illuminate who I am, what I can do, and — worst of all — “sell” myself.

Yikes.

Not a Pop Song (or a Sitcom Theme)

I tried to approach it playfully at first.

“This is the story of a girl…” No.“

Here’s the story… of a lovely lady…” Definitely not.

“Now this is a story all about how…” Nope.

My story isn’t a pop song or a TV theme. It’s not catchy or perfectly rhymed. Mine is the story of someone who always puts the needs and success of others first. Someone passionate about helping people become their best selves — whether in a classroom, a restaurant, or a family.

Mine is the story of a mom looking for her next second-best career.

The Best Career I Ever Had

Let’s be clear: motherhood has been, and always will be, my best career. It’s demanding, rewarding, exhausting, and miraculous all at once. There’s no paycheck, no title, and no retirement plan, but the dividends — love, resilience, and perspective — are priceless.

This is the most recent picture I have of myself with my grown children. It's hard to get us all in one place at the same time.

Every mom (and dad) knows the job description changes daily. Over the years, I’ve served as:

• Chef (not five-star, but five-heart)

• Chauffeur (thirty cheerleaders in one van, need I say more?)

• Personal assistant and scheduler

• Seamstress, crafter, and artist

• Mediator, negotiator, and life coach

• Financier, nurse, psychologist, and advocate

  
  

Motherhood teaches multitasking, empathy, crisis management, and resourcefulness on a level no MBA could touch.

The Second-Best Careers (So Far)

Before I ever stepped into a classroom, I spent ten years in the restaurant industry — learning about leadership, accountability, and service from the ground up. I managed shifts, franchises, and eventually my own restaurant. That career taught me how to juggle payroll, budgets, marketing, and people — lots of people.

I loved teaching high school seniors.

Then came my second “second-best” career — teaching. For over eighteen years, I taught, coached, mentored, and guided more than 4,600 young minds (and a few hundred adults, too). My classroom became a microcosm of the world: part research lab, part theater, part counseling center.

Teaching taught me to:

• Communicate complex ideas simply

• Motivate reluctant learners

• Mediate conflicts and build community

• Mentor new teachers

• Design curriculum and integrate technology

• Advocate fiercely for students who needed a voice

  
  

In both careers, my success was measured by the success of others — by the growth, confidence, and joy I helped spark.

What I Really Bring to the Table

When I look back, what ties all these careers together — mom, teacher, manager — is a shared core: perseverance, empathy, and creativity.

I’ve balanced tight budgets on teacher salaries while raising three kids. I’ve scheduled, counseled, and coached more people than I can count. I’ve navigated every imaginable kind of chaos — from a broken arm at cheer practice to a classroom full of seniors on “senioritis” autopilot.

Life has tested me in ways that don’t fit neatly on a résumé. I’ve built restaurants from the ground up. I’ve built confidence in teenagers who thought they couldn’t learn. I’ve built a family, piece by piece, through love, loss, and laughter.

And yes — I’ve learned to rebuild myself, too.

The Hardest Lesson

The most profound lesson came from heartbreak.

This picture was taken about 10 days before he passed away. He was always smiling and happy.

My second child died at five months old from acute infantile leukemia. That experience reshaped everything I thought I knew about strength, faith, and purpose. It taught me how fragile and precious time is — and how to keep moving forward with compassion and grace, even when the path is dark.

That’s the kind of resilience no training program can teach.

The Next Chapter

So here I am, once again reinventing myself — this time as an artist. The creative spark that once fueled bulletin boards, lesson plans, and children’s projects now finds expression in color, texture, and story.

This is me. Getting my hands (and clothes) "dirty" creating a unique artwork.

Maybe this is another “second-best” career. Or maybe it’s the one I was always meant to find after all the others.

Because the truth is, every chapter has built the foundation for the next. Every job, every role, every heartbreak, every success — they all tell my story.

And if you ask me now, “What’s your story?”I’ll smile and say,

“It’s still being written — in full color.”

Reflections & Resources

When someone asks you, “What’s your story?”, what moments come to mind first — your achievements, your struggles, or the lessons that changed you?

Artist’s Notes:

This piece reminds me that every career, no matter how humble or temporary, leaves an imprint. I’ve come to see my “second-best” careers not as detours, but as necessary stepping stones toward my creative life. It is the first installment in my The Journey of Rediscovery Series.

Further Reading / Inspiration:

• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

• “What’s Your Story?” by Donald Miller (Building a StoryBrand)

• Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans

• Coming soon: Tempering My Fire