JUNIOR ARTICLES

Until she turned 27, Amber Anderson anticipated her life would consist of getting recruited for rowing at a top university, completing her doctorate “and then you are professional, wearing a pencil skirt and sometimes going to the gym like Kate Hudson to punch a punching bag” Anderson, now 29, said.

Little did she know, following the loss of her father and a diagnosis of Lyme disease, she would find herself in the hot seat, grappling with her next move. 

After rowing for Great Britain throughout high school, Anderson spent four years on the varsity team at Yale University and took her junior year off to care for her father who suffered from terminal illness. This was alongside her own increasing loss of awareness and extreme fatigue that would, nine years later, be attributed to Lyme disease. 

When the doctors suggested she walk every day in order to regain strength, Anderson left her position as a banker at Blackrock, a prestigious investment management firm, and turned to dog walking. 

Anderson describes the challenges she faced as “blessings in disguise.” As she sat at her desk scrolling through Excel spreadsheets, feeling increasingly unwell, she experienced her greatest epiphany: “If today isn’t making you happy, then it is a waste,” she said while mapping out her daily route around the park. 

Her father passed away in 2019. She attributes her happiness to his wisdom and, specifically, one life lesson: “always follow your dreams”. 

Your dad said he always wanted you to follow your dreams. Do you think you are?

I actually do think so. I know it is such a humble pocket of happiness, but I am so happy to wake up everyday and do what I do. I am still rebuilding and am not there yet, but my days are so much more multifaceted than I even dared to dream two years ago. 

How have you grappled with society's expectations of how your life should unfold versus the choices you have made?

I laid low and didn’t speak up about dog walking for ages, not even to some friends. I thought, “I really shouldn’t be having this much fun in a day. I should be grinding the grind and feeling the Sunday scaries,” and I didn’t. 

You get these horrified looks, but they don't know the things that were at stake. I feel kind of smug because, honestly, I remember the angle that these guys see me through. I used to be like that. I know that they think I'm a bit kooky. 

A lot of my clients are actually bankers. I'll pick up their dogs and they'll be wearing a headset and say, "I hate my life so much. If ever you want to take my job, just let me know, we will swap places. You've hit the jackpot, don't ever come back to banking.” They say this on sunny days, never rainy days.

Luckily, my dad always told me he was proud of me regardless. He would say, “I'm so proud of you. We're going through all of this and you get to walk dogs.” 

How did your diagnosis with Lyme disease influence your change in career path?

It was my ticket out. It made me realize that we are all here until we are not and, usually, that is because of a health issue. I then became really unapologetic about prioritizing my health and following my joy no matter what. I thought, “how do I want to live my days?” 

What would your life have been like if you didn’t switch careers?

Frankly, it would be a lot flatter. I feel super stimulated doing this work. I get to listen to my online lectures whilst I am out in nature with a bunch of dogs. Something chaotic happens every single day. When I get home, my hair is all messed up, I am covered in mud and I am just so happily exhausted and beaten down by the elements, but I had such a fun time chasing after a bunch of dogs. 

I said to myself when I left banking, “So I’m making a third of the money, but I’m 20 times happier”.