In 7th grade, I wanted to be either an aerospace engineer or a math teacher. My English teacher said, "Don't go into education, it'll be a waste of your talents." I thought, "If it wasn't going to be me, then who?" And I never regretted my choice.

I've taught 7th, 8th, and junior college math. Each of them are rewarding, and I keep many of the letters that I receive at the end of the year from students, giving me their reflections on the class. The ones that really tell me I'm making a difference is when I get a letter or an email YEARS later, saying how much I made a difference to them.

I live within my means. I know that if I was in other professions, I could earn more income. As it is, I can pay my bills and save a little for retirement; I'm content. I would make a donation to my school with a decent amount of it. We rely upon our annual fundraiser to help each year, and I can give back to them this time.