What I Want to be When I Grow Up

I remember a family vacation that we took when I was about 13 when I got to hang out with my older cousins who were in their 20s. I remember thinking, "I can't wait until I'm in my 20s. That's when I'll have my life figured out." Hahaaaaa!

Well, here I am at 27 and I'm definitely still figuring things out. Lately I've been thinking a lot about my job (as an environmental planner with a consulting firm) and feeling that it's not the *right* fit for me. But I'm not sure exactly what is. What I do know is that it's important to me to have a job that I can fully engage in, something that challenges me and gives me the opportunity to learn new things.

Becoming a science teacher has been in the back of my mind for a long time as a job I might like to have in the future. Although, more recently I've been thinking about exploring it sooner. I know that being a teacher would be a very challenging job, and that it's not for everyone. But when I think about getting to share my passion for science and connecting with kids I get so excited. I feel like it's something I shouldn't ignore.

There would be a lot to consider if I wanted to pursue this new career direction. First I need to make sure it would be the right choice for me! Luckily I have a few friends who are teachers (who will hopefully let me talk their ears off) and one of them has even agreed to let me come observe in his classroom. I'd also have to find a way to get my teaching certification while still working full-time. Being a teacher would mean taking a pay cut and Chris and I would have to weigh the impact to our finances. So there are definitely some obstacles but I'm excited to learn about the possibility!