When I was in high school, I told my guidance counselor that I wanted to be an interior designer.

She looked at me blankly and said, “There’s no money in interior design.”

As an impressionable teen living in overpriced southern California, I took her advice to heart.

I decided to double down on the subject I enjoyed most in school, which was English.

I joined the staff of the school newspaper, became the editor of the high school yearbook, and forgot about interior design.

At community college, I majored in newspaper journalism, making the switch to magazine journalism when I transferred to California State University Northridge.

Funny thing was, there was no money in journalism, either.

My first job out of high school was at Blockbuster Video. I was only there for two years, but by the time I left, I was managing the store.

In every job I took after Blockbuster I gave myself a specific goal to learn the business, excel, and get promoted. Once I reached my goal, if I wasn’t earning what I needed, I moved to the next job.

It took me 10 years to complete my bachelor’s degree, at times juggling two full-time jobs to pull it off. The stress of studying, working, and attempting to maintain a social life landed me in the back of an ambulance more than once, but after going so far, I wasn’t about to give up.

Once I graduated, I landed my dream job, working as an editorial director; and shortly after, I was hired as a real editor of a magazine!

Nearly two decades, a few jobs, and a couple of moves later, I still enjoy interior design, but I’m so glad I stuck with journalism.

I get to learn the who, what, when, where, and why behind the people and the businesses they’ve nurtured from the ground up, and sometimes, I get to brainstorm marketing ideas or help someone gain more customers.

I also found a niche that fit me just right. No more jumping from gig to gig. I’ve been writing about the restaurant and F&B industries since 2007 and have no plans to switch.

Today, I work remotely, for many years, from a cozy home in the south where my hunky husband (adjective provided upon request) cooks me breakfast every day and tomatoes and figs grow in our back garden.