Ran outta time to try more careers. My early working life was as a medical illustrator, creating medical educational materials for the legal and healthcare industries. Then a late run at becoming a physician. Getting into a medical school willing to take a chance on a 41 year old proved difficult. Underemployed, with bills to pay, I took a sub position at a middle school in the city I love. On my first day, the principal offered me a full time position. I never questioned my career again.

Working as a long term sub, same work, one third the pay. Started incorporating medical illustrations into my lessons, coined “phenomenon of the day.” They were dry erase marker illustrations of common injuries, diseases and surgeries the students would likely face. Ideas came from the students, one inquired about her father’s rare blood disease. After I presented it in class, she told me “you’re the first person to ever really explain what is happening to my dad.” That day I made a difference.

First, I’d buy that titanium mountain bike I’ve always dreamed about, and replace the broken frame of my last one, which I DID NOT break this time! I stopped to help a kid who crashed, and then some guy crash landed on my bike. I’d use the rest on paying towards my extensive school loans.