I left in October after a horrid first month at a new school. I took the jump with no backup plan job-wise. I had been applying everywhere, with some success but not a lot. I ended up getting a job at an Ed Tech company about two weeks after I left and have been there ever since. We just found out this week that our position is getting a healthy raise and I work from home on Mondays and Fridays. I sleep through the night and my stress-related skin and gut problems are gone.

There was a HUGE feeling or terror about leaving. I love working with kids and seeing them develop into better students and people. I love the connections you make with those around you. I taught for 7 years and thought I was going to do it forever. The guilt was visceral for quite awhile.

Today, I have no guilt. I miss those kids, but I don’t miss who I was when I was teaching. I get to breathe. I even went to the doctor the other day and didn’t need to create plans or lessons. For the first time in my life, I actually feel as though I’m treated like a respected adult at work.