Once again, I was asked to respond to a question posed by a reader of the Career Builder section of the Arizona Republic newspaper, in a column known as “Ask The Experts.” Following is a recent Q&A from that column.

Question:

I was convicted of a felony 13 years ago. I wanted to change my life, so I made the decision to go to school. This year I will be graduating with an MBA in Project Management. Have I wasted my money going to school? Was I just dreaming thinking I could be a professional even though I have a felony conviction?

Answer:

In spite of what you’ve done in the past, good or bad, there are three types of people that you will encounter in the world. They include those who are for you, those who are against you and those who don’t care.

I’ve coached people in your situation so I know that there are opportunities out there that are “for you,” although some industries are sensitive and have more rigid hiring policies. You may be better off looking at companies that are more people-driven and not policy-driven. In any event, your job is to find those opportunities, and then honestly convey to them that you have the ability to accept consequences, overcome poor choices and accomplish positive things like getting an MBA.

Going forward, the only thing that could be a waste of time is to dwell on the past. Do your best to let that go, keep dreaming and expect good things for your future.