How I earned Personal Lines and Life License

“You always end up where you are supposed to be.”

So, I’ve heard.  But I sometimes believe you end up realizing you embrace a version of yourself you never saw coming.

Let me explain.  

How did I end up where I am today?

It all started…just kidding.

After earning my Master’s in Fine Arts degree in creative writing, I applied for retail positions instead of writing jobs.

Why the heck would I do that when I earned my degree?

By the time I graduated, I had already applied for positions outside my creative writing degree.

Within the day I graduated, I had been offered an interview.  A week later I received an email that I was hired.

I accepted, but only part-time.

I thought it would give me time to add more to put my writing portfolio together.  

Little did I know that part-time meant anytime of the week.

However, I did start a blog but had no idea what I was doing.  I would randomly post once in a blue moon.  I hardly gained an audience. I ended up not renewing my URL and website.

When Covid-19 hit I didn’t realize it would allow me time to do other things, so I thought.

But, that wasn’t the case.

I was exhausted to point literally caught up in sleep.

By the time I received a call that it was easily okay to come back to the store, I felt drained.   I knew I had to make some changes in my life.

I went ahead and applied for a technical program and got accepted.  By the time the program ended, I had applied for tech jobs.

However, most of the feedback I received was that I needed more experience.

Luckily, I had someone reach out from a place I’d volunteered at since high school.

It was a paid seasonal volunteer position that lasted two months and could take place twice to three times a year.

Even though I did get called back to work each term, I knew I needed more to pay off my student loan debt, put into my savings, and investments.

During my free time, I crafted three resumes that highlighted my specific skill sets.

One of the resumes I sent was in sales.  For years, I gained experience in sales because of the marching band.

I worked at Gwinnett arena, GA dome, and more during the summer events to pay off any band dues for the upcoming year.

As my term was about to end at the place, I volunteered, so I received an email for an interview.  I followed up on the email, set up a time to do the interview for the sales agent position.

Ten minutes after the interview, I received a call informing me I had got the job.

However, I had 90 days from the day I started to get my licenses.  I did some research online and found the Insurance exam queen prior to my start date to prepare.

When I arrived at my first day, I was ready to start my paid-for training classes with AD banker.  

Within 3 weeks, I completed my AD banker chapters and signed up to take my exam that Friday.  I went back and reviewed the Insurance exam queen videos.

When test day arrived, I felt relaxed because I knew the material.  

I carefully read each question.  When I finished, the screen went back to the main page.  I sat there for a minute thinking, “What’s next?”

I got up from my seat, stepped out of the testing room, and the lady at the testing center said I passed as it printed out.

I was ecstatic!

Next, I signed up for classes with the company to go over the systems used by clients.

During the month and two weeks, I learned how to navigate through each system and prepare for my life exam.

Even though I passed my personal lines exam I knew earning my life license would be the perfect way to end my first 90 days at the company. 

Right after training ended, I set aside a week to just study for life exam.

A week later I booked my test.

I passed on the first try. 

All my hard work paid off. 

I could officially say I am a licensed insurance agent.

Overview of getting my Personal Lines and Life

So far, being an agent has really allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, be bolder, more confident, and at peace with the decisions I make for myself.

Thanks to the guidance I received, it has allowed me to grow as an individual.  I’m not as shy as I used to be when it comes to meeting new people.   

I look forward to what else this year brings and seeing how things turn out as a licensed insurance agent.

Progress as an insurance agent never felt better!