From School Principal to Retail Clerk: A Career Reset

The transition began after a series of personal and professional stressors, including the death of her father and a lack of institutional support. Devore found herself exhausted by the constant performance of leadership, describing her time as an administrator as wearing a mask that stifled her natural, creative personality. A year-long sabbatical in Puerto Vallarta failed to provide immediate clarity, but it planted the seed for a complete departure from the sector.

Following a debilitating panic attack that signaled her body had reached its limit, Devore resigned in June 2022 with no backup plan. She walked into a local mall and secured a part-time position at Anthropologie, a store she had frequented for years. This retail role served as a period of decompression, allowing her to detach her self-worth from her salary and job title. After more than a year of stillness, she successfully transitioned into a new chapter as a life coach, motivational speaker, and business owner.