In 2024, I announced that I was quitting my high paying tech job to become a high school computer science teacher. This Big Scary Thing™, as I called it, was a huge leap of faith; I had no formal experience in education, but I had spent years volunteering in classrooms and mentoring students, and had an opportunity to take a break from my burnout that I simply couldn't turn down.
After two years, I can safely say that it was the most fulfilling professional decision I've ever made. I have had the privilege of inspiring and empowering the next generation of software developers and cybersecurity professionals, and built relationships with students that I will cherish forever. I've treasured being "the best teacher," a "trusted adult," and "like a second dad" to so many of these kids (words I will hold dear for the rest of my life); and while I have come to believe that our public education system is broken in countless ways, I have also seen firsthand the incredible potential of our students, and the impact that a passionate and dedicated teacher can have on their lives.
Unfortunately, good feels doesn't pay the bills, and as much as I love teaching, the financial realities of the profession (and the economy as a whole in the US in 2026) have made it increasingly difficult for my family to make ends meet. So, after much soul-searching and discussion with my loved ones, I have made the difficult decision to step away from teaching and jump back into the tech industry as a software engineer.
It's been nearly six years since I truly enjoyed working in tech, and I believe that I owe a large part of that disenchantment to my transition into management. As a Director, I took the stewardship of my team very seriously, and while I am proud of how I showed up to that job, the emotional toll was what ultimately led to my burnout. I'm hopeful that by returning to an individual contributor role, I can rekindle my passion for software development and find joy in the craft once again.
And if I don't?
That's okay.
I learned a lot about myself over the past few years, and know that education comes in many forms, so this isn't the end of my journey, but rather an evolution of it. For one, I intend to earn my Master's in Computer Science while I'm working so I can widen my options (part-time adjunct professor, anyone?), and I have no doubt that the skills and experiences I've gained as a teacher will serve me well regardless of what my job title is.
So... what exactly is next?
Well, my family and I have made the decision to sell our house (which will officially be on the market in about one week) and transition into a more nomadic lifestyle in order to (hopefully) find our new "forever" home. What started as a plan just for summer break has evolved into something... bigger. I'm under no illusions that this will be an easy transition (homeschooling two tweens introduces a whole new set of life challenges), but I'm excited for the adventure and the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.
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