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The
first half of the 1990s was the “medical
age” for me. I
entered the field of medical microbiology, working at both Hahnemann University
Hospital (cancer research) and the School of Dental Medicine at the University
of Pennsylvania. I loved this field,
even became a lab supervisor, but I realized there was something missing. So, in 1992, I began training to become a
teacher. It was a leap of faith, and we
had very little money at the time, but I’ve never regretted changing careers.
The
lesson from this experience:
At the circus, the guy
who sees a tightrope walker and says, “He’ll make it across” doesn’t have
faith. The guy who sees the same
tightrope walker and says “He’ll never make it across” doesn’t have faith. The tightrope walker is the one with faith.
So now, here I am, teaching in Delaware since 1994. This is the hardest job I’ve ever had. I’m constantly on my toes, constantly trying to come up with new ways to keep my skills sharp and my students learning. The lesson from this experience:
Anyone
can be poor, unknown, and immensely happy.
Unfortunately, too many of us are rich, famous, and miserable. Choose your priorities wisely.