New Delhi, June 19 -- For many students, a law degree is seen as a pathway to a stable and well-paying career. For 28-year-old entrepreneur Elyse Burns, however, law school ended up becoming a stepping stone to something entirely different.

According to a CNBC Make It report, Burns enrolled at Duke University Law School in 2019, taking out federal student loans to cover tuition and living expenses. Yet before completing her degree, she realised she did not want to pursue a career in law. Instead, she decided to focus on the art business she had been building for years on the side.

Burns began selling hand-painted canvases on Etsy in 2015. She opened an Etsy seller account on her 18th birthday and, according to CNBC Make It, sold two pai...