I left the classroom.
If you’ve been hanging out with me on January Adventures, you might not have known, but for seven years my day job was ruling the chaotic, beautiful world of high school special education. And let me tell you—I love my students. Seriously, hand-on-heart, deeply adore them. Every single day with my high schoolers was a wild ride of breakthrough moments, fierce advocacy, and laughs that made me feel like the luckiest teacher on earth.
Working with exceptional kids isn’t inherently stressful—in fact, teaching them was the absolute pleasure of the job. But let’s be real about what was breaking me: the endless red tape, the exhausting politics of education, the crushing amount of paperwork, and the unfortunate lack of real support from the higher-ups.
The System, Not the Students
The day-to-day work of supporting my students and collaborating with families? Pure gold. But trying to stay afloat in a broken system packed with toxic politics and institutional neglect? That’s where the burnout creeps in.
When the stress of the surrounding environment starts taking a serious toll on your physical health, you have to draw a line. Loving your students and your job doesn’t mean you should have to sacrifice your well-being at the altar of a system that won’t back you up. Walking away feels a little bit like jumping out of an airplane without checking if the parachute is packed, but my body sent up a flashing neon sign with some serious hospital visits, and I knew it was time to save me.
The Hardest Part: Saying Goodbye to Amazing People
Let’s get one thing straight: walking away from the classroom is heartbreaking in all the worst ways, mostly because of the people.
I am going to miss some of my incredible colleagues so much—some of whom turned into lifelong real friends, while others taught me invaluable knowledge that I’ll carry with me forever. And my students and their parents? Most of these families practically became a second family to me. The good news is, ditching the job title doesn’t mean ditching the connection. We are definitely staying in touch—we’re family now!
A special shout-out to the Boo Crew. You all were the best! Never stop being curious 👻
What’s on the Agenda?
Hanging with the Fam: I get more time with my family. It’s wonderful what happens when I’m actually present and awake instead of functioning on coffee fumes, severe masking, and institutional adrenaline. Did I mention that I have four adorable little grandsons?!!
Embracing My Inner Botanist & Bug Nerd: Gardening is my ultimate zen. Between my greenhouse and the 80+ diverse green roommates taking over every available surface, I am officially running a jungle. Plus, because of my deep love for insects, I’ve officially taken on studying entomology.
Picking Up the Camera (And Joining the Bird Nerd Club): I had to put photography on pause for years because teaching took every single drop of energy I had. I kept January Adventures alive all this time just hoping it might inspire someone else, but now? I am diving back in. Not only have I proudly evolved into a “boring” bird watcher who loves snapping pics of our feathered neighbors, but I’m also teaching myself macro photography so I can get up close and personal with all those adorable little bugs. Oh, and I’ll even be snapping senior photos for some of my favorite graduating grads!
Officially Becoming an Author! My very first book is published and available on Amazon! It completely captures my love for insects, helping little ones learn the alphabet while hopefully inspiring a whole new generation of future bug lovers.
Still a Teacher at Heart
Leaving was terrifying, but it’s also the most liberating plot twist of my life. I might not be standing at the front of a high school classroom anymore, but I’ve learned something important: once a teacher, always a teacher. And who knows? Maybe someday I’ll find myself stepping back into education—perhaps in an admin position—to help fix the system from the inside and make some real, positive change.
But for right now, I am going to take some much-needed time off, slow down, and just live.
Thanks for sticking around, keeping this space alive with me, and being part of the ride. Let’s see what happens next!
