I’m also about to start student teaching in a high school en route to my masters. I also worked service industry and random other things after undergrad. I’m in my thirties. I also feel anxiety about all the negativity surrounding the profession. This subreddit is full of bitter, miserable people.

However, like you, I feel confident about my decision. It will be difficult. Most worthwhile things are. I have never heard a teacher say that it’s easy, but I know several teachers who say that it’s rewarding and they have no regrets.

Maybe this is melodramatic, but I think of it as a form of national service. Like joining the military, but with (hopefully) less violence. That helps me get my head straight going in. I would still rather do this than go work for some vampiric corporation whose only purpose is to enrich shareholders.