05/22/2026
Every year around this time, I find myself watching end-of-the-year teacher videos and feeling emotional in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived it.
For those of you who are newer here, I left the classroom in December 2024 after 16 years of teaching. And while I know I made the right decision for myself and my family and VERY much love what I do now, there are still moments that make me deeply nostalgic for that version of my life.
Classroom setup.
The last day of school.
The classroom countdowns.
The exhausted-but-proud feeling of making it to summer break.
I miss parts of it all the time.
But I also look at the life I’ve built over the past year and a half and feel so much gratitude for what can happen when you finally allow yourself to put your own needs, happiness, and growth on the list too.
Leaving didn’t mean I stopped caring about education. It just meant I finally admitted that I needed something different.
And if you’re in a season where you feel pulled toward change, this is your reminder that choosing yourself doesn’t erase the good things you’re leaving behind. Two things can exist at once: grief for what was and gratitude for what’s next.
If you’ve ever had to leave a version of yourself behind to grow into a new one, I’d love to hear your story in the comments. 🫶
