During my years in the insurance industry, I have been blessed to work with some dynamic, engaging, and brilliant professionals. I have also worked with others who were difficult and unprofessional—and, sad but true, some who were outright bigots. What I gained over the years from those polar opposite experiences is that each was an opportunity to learn and grow, both personally and professionally. My route to working in insurance claims is less conventional than most. I started out as a legal assistant in a plaintiff’s personal injury law firm while in college, an experience that was important in terms of both gaining maturity and developing a skillset. Those skills proved to be extremely helpful as I transitioned into claims.