Page 34 - Diane Musgrove Issue

Women of Distinction

When Rachel King was grow- what you were expected to do,
ing up, she knew one fact for sure; no matter how grueling it was,
she did not want to move into a ca- you could get through it if you ap-
reer in which she could not make proached it one step at a time. I still
her own decisions. Always an in- use this approach in parenting and
dependent thinker, Rachel realized as a wife, attorney, and business
that the natural progression of a owner. So, no matter how bad a
college education straight out of situation is, you can survive and
high school was not the path she flourish if you just take the next
would take. A short stint in college step. Eventually, you’ll get through
was proof enough for her to ap- whatever it is you’re doing. I call it
proach her future in a very differ- ‘embracing the suck,’ You just do
ent way. “When I was 18, I quickly it because it’s not going to suck
realized, after about six weeks in forever. If you can keep inching
school, that I just wasn’t really in- forward, you will eventually make
terested in college. I wasn’t ready your way out. And that concept is
for it.” so hard for most of us. It happens
Not having too many options in every area of your life. I absolute-
at the time, she decided to make ly credit the Army, the long stupid
a move that would surprise many. hikes they would take us on, and
The young women who did not all the horrible things you are ex-
want to be told what to do, de- pected to do. All you can think at
cided to Join the Army. “The Army the time is God, this sucks. I just
was probably the best thing that want out. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.
could have happened to me. It’s a And then the minutes tick by, and
very fast way to have a pretty good at the end, you’re like, okay, I did it.
income and become completely It’s over. At least it’s over.”
independent, which is what I truly As a teenager, Rachel decided
desired. You grow up quickly when to be a lawyer based on her view-
you are in the Army.” point at the time. “I flirted with the
Born in Tacoma, Washington, idea of being a lawyer my whole
her family relocated shortly after life; my dad is an attorney, so I was
her birth to California, taking up raised in the legal lifestyle. Some
residence in the Los Angeles area. parts of it were very attractive to
, “When I was 12, we moved up to me, particularly through the lens
Thousand Oaks. And I lived there of a teenager. I liked the power and
until I graduated high school.” Photos by Dawn Nicoli/Nicoli Productions opportunities that came with be-
Rachel’s future took shape ing an attorney; I remember think-
in the Army, “I was in the Army ing primarily about the money
for seven years. It taught me ev- Rachel King you could make, and at that stage
erything I needed to be able to of life, it was all about wanting to
make my own decisions and be an buy stuff. But as I grew up, I realized
adult.” Rachel was first stationed that I really liked talking to my dad
in Alaska, which was a big change Owner-King Law Firm, Attorneys at Law, Inc. about it. I was very interested in it.
from Southern California. “I really I seemed to have a natural under-
enjoyed the Army, but I knew it By Judith A. Habert standing of how the law worked.”
wasn’t something I would do for During Rachel’s time in the
a career. But I decided to reenlist Army, she had grown up a lot, and
during my first four years since I attorney and as a business owner. own law firm upon graduation, that was when the decision be-
finally felt ready to tackle college. I I think even the things I didn’t like and King Law Firm, Attorneys came set in stone. By age 21, she
wanted to earn my college degree about the Army were really help- at Law, Inc. was born. “I learned, realized that she wanted to have
while in the Army, which would ful. In the Army, I was forced to see again, what I had learned in my a career as an attorney, but for the
allow me to use the GI Bill to com- what I could or could not tolerate. I early twenties that I don’t do well right reasons. She wanted to help
plete my education to obtain the didn’t do well with all the levels of if I am not my own boss. I don’t people and found so much joy in
career I truly desired. I would be- authority I faced in the service. Still, like that kind of environment. It how much she could help in this
come a lawyer.” Rachel was sent I think my experiences there made doesn’t allow me to be my best. profession.
to Fort Hood, Texas, and during me realize that the real issue was So, I contemplated how to create While in the Army, I started
her time there, she completed her being expected to do exactly what an environment that would make in community college, using the
degree and continued with her ed- I was told to do in the exact man- me comfortable and allow me to Army College Fund to pay for my
ucation as a civilian. ner I was told to do it, especially blossom. Opening my own firm tuition. Then I ultimately got my
Rachel has only great things when I believed there was a better was the obvious decision.” bachelor’s degree from Cal State
to say about serving in the Army, way to do things.” I do believe that the single San Marcos, with a degree in liter-
“A lot of the things that I learned in This was the primary reason most important lesson I learned ature and creative writing. I chose
the military have helped me as an that Rachel decided to open her while serving was that no matter this major specifically because I
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