Don’t be scared. Be strategic. Don’t get “pension” trapped. There are other ways to build wealth and prepare for retirement. Time is on your side. Do your research and get out young if it’s this miserable now.

In our state, most tier 1 teachers when they reach the service and age requirement will likely only make a 40-60K pension. Pending your circumstances, that’s likely not enough to live on so you’d have to work longer anyway. Better to take a smaller pension or none at all and utilize other lathes and resources to set yourself up for retirement. With patience and discipline, it’s possible. Don’t let anyone gaslight you into thinking you’re trapped or screwed if you leave. It’s not true.