I became a teacher...

My mother always told me that in order to be happy, I had to work hard. I never really understood what she meant because in my eyes, I was happy with how my life was going. Following in thefootsteps of my brother and father, I entered Business School to purse a degree in marketing. During my sophomore year of college, I was actively seeking employment to help relieve the financial burden thatcame with attending college. I finally found employment at an elementary school that welcomed me with open arms. At the time, I found it so hard to find a job in my future field of study, beingmarketing. The job at the elementary school had great hours and great pay. What else could a 18 year old ask for? Little did I know, the four years that I worked at the elementary school were about totransform not only my professional life but my personal life all at once.
The joy that I felt working with children was so unexpected. I never really knew that I would develop such amazingrelationships with “my kids” as I like to call them. Being in a classroom and teaching students came so naturally to me. I remember the principal of my school telling me that I had what it takes to be agood teacher. I though to myself, “who me?” For me, this was only a part-time job and in a couple of years I was bound to be in corporate America as my parents had hoped for. I soon realized that aseach day passed I began to fall in love with my job. It was so unexpected. One day I had a conversation with my students by the name of Richard. Richard was going through some stuff at home and hereally needed someone to talk to. I remember sitting down by the playground and just listening to what he had on his mind. All he needed was someone to listen him. I didn't want to say any clichécomments and deep down in my heart, I knew that is all that Richard wanted...to be heard. After our conversation, we said goodbye. I turned to walk back to my classroom and Richard ran back and...