Life & Work with Rachel Burch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Burch.

Hi Rachel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Hi! Thank you for this opportunity to share my story. I am originally from Chapel Hill, NC (go heels!) and I moved to Nashville a little over two years ago.

Since then, I have been in the education field. In my first year here in Nashville, I worked with kids with Autism in an applied behavioral analysis role, and then the last year I’ve been working in both elementary and middle schools as a teacher.

The past two years have probably been the hardest and most challenging times of my life. Within the span of a few months, my family and I lost two very special and close family members – my cousin and my grandmother. I went through challenges mentally and physically and it was very hard to navigate. Then, my family and I found out my uncle was diagnosed with Leukemia. It truly has felt like the old adage, “when it rains, it pours,” has been the essence of my life. During that tough time, I had to cling closely to the one thing I knew would get me through and that is my faith and relationship with God. I am attending a church called Crosspoint here, and it has helped me to trust again and believe in God’s plan for my life.

Out of the darkness and pain that I’ve experienced, I wanted to find a way to break that and shed light on the good things in my life. That’s when I turned to create- more specifically, a new jewelry brand called, “Light to Life Jewelry.” I wanted to bring light to my life and the other people around me. I love creating and crafting and making beautiful things for people. It has brought so much light back into my life. I’ve been able to complete some special projects. One of which is a “warrior” bracelet for my uncle with Leukemia.

The bracelet is made with beads and a design he helped me come up with. It resembles his strength and resiliency throughout his journey with cancer and I can’t wait to sell these and make more for the people that have battled this and people who have family members/friends enduring this.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The struggles are a list of many. It starts with losing the people in my life that meant so much. Their presence gave me purpose and light. My cousin and my grandma were the two people I admired most. Then, with diagnoses and life events in the family, it has all kind of felt like crashing down at once. I think one of the biggest mental blocks was not believing in myself enough.

My mom always told me, “The day you see yourself the way I see you, is the day I’ll be the happiest.” It has been a journey to gain confidence and believe in myself to accomplish the things I want. But, trusting God had given me the faith and trust I need to take life head-on and with passion, positivity, joy, and confidence. I have my family to thank for being my biggest support system!!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve been in education and have a passion for the education system and special education, specifically. The joy that students and clients have brought me is unmatched, especially at my most recent job this year. I wanted to add a “side hustle” to my life and that is when I founded “light to life jewelry.” I enjoy making earrings, necklaces, and bracelets right now.

I can make jewelry for bridal parties, engagements, fun social events, and themed jewelry. Right now, I’m focusing on a beach line because I love the beach and was recently inspired by a beach trip I took to Destin, Florida. I completed a fun project of 8 gold bar necklaces for bridesmaids recently and loved doing that for a customer!! I am passionate, cheerful, joyful, determined, kind, purposeful, and intentional. I do believe that these qualities help me in my business and everyday life and are continuing to grow every day!

Any big plans?
I would love to continue making jewelry and have that become a bigger business. My twin sister, Carlen, is also passionate about crafting and creating and she had this idea to do bride and groom boxes. We actually did one for our older sister, who got married in January.

I put a signature piece of beaded jewelry, (I made the earrings from my grandmother’s old beads), flowers, candles, favorite scented perfume, and other small accessories, in a box that my sister hand painted and decorated herself.

She loved it! So, we definitely want to continue on a path where this could become a reality and I can make more jewelry and have a bigger client base and even sell at stores and local markets.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @light_to_life_jewelry