Sept. 6, 2026: Retirement? A Resounding NO!
I have apparently reached that age where people assume you are retired, thinking about retirement, planning for retirement, or wishing you could retire. Add in the fact that my husband has recently retired, and everyone seems to assume I am right behind him.
But that is not the case.
I love what I do and I believe I am fairly good at it. Why on earth would I walk away from that?
This is especially puzzling to people because I am a teacher. And everyone knows that teachers have an almost impossible job. They are asked to do herculean tasks with little or no support; they are vilified by those trying to dismantle public education; they have an endless list of mandates they must meet; and all of this is done for insultingly low pay.
So why do I want to stay?
CONTRIBUTIONS
Because every day I get to make a difference. A true difference. Public Education is the foundation of our nation. And that education lays the groundwork and shapes the people who will lead our world into the future. Every day I get to make positive contributions to this endeavor. I get to help young people discover, imagine, explore, and create. Clichés abound about teaching- “Teachers touch the future”, “The influence of a good teacher can never be erased”, “A good teacher can change everything”. But most of them are true.
CONNECTIONS
Every day I get to build connections. With my students, their families, and my colleagues. And many times, the connections that are built with my students become relationships that last far into the future. Those connections allow me to see the seeds that I plant every year, grow and blossom as my students grow. There is no greater joy than running into a past student and hearing all about their life journey. Or getting an invitation to a medical school graduation from a student you taught in 4th grade. Or going to the polls and getting to cast a ballot for a former student.
CONTENTMENT
Teaching is filled with moments of magic and joy. Most of these moments are small, some so tiny they can easily go unnoticed, but they are amazingly powerful. Watching a struggling student experience success. Seeing a lonely student make a friend. Helping a student uncover a hidden talent. Watching a passion grow. The smiles and giggles. The wide-eyes of wonder and amazement. Classrooms are filled with these moments every single day. And once you are aware of them and look for them, they feed your soul on a daily basis.
I do not begrudge those who have decided that it is time for them to retire. I am enjoying watching my husband transition to this new stage in his life. I just know that it is not time for me to do that.
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