An Impressive View

Teaching wasn’t an analytical choice for me – it was more of a revelation!  Only once did I ever contemplate doing something different and only because early in my teaching career, my father suggested that I meet with the general agent for Northwestern Mutual to talk about “opportunities.” 

So I did.  I drove to downtown Cleveland and met with the general agent to discuss the insurance business, opportunities, and compensation.  I took their personality exam and wondered what they would think of me.   I met and talked to several agents who were professional, well dressed, neatly groomed, and very encouraging.  I toured their offices at the top of one of Cleveland’s high rise office buildings and took in the views from the glass windows on all sides of the office.

           

The view from their floor was amazing too!  I could see the Browns’ stadium and the Lake Erie shoreline to the north; the distant eastern and western suburbs; and to the south, the steel mills along the Cuyahoga River.  It was very impressive. 

           
As cool as this was however, I knew I had a better view everyday - from the front of my classroom looking into the faces of my students at Olmsted Falls Middle School.  

I knew what my mission was – to teach and help children learn and grow.  I had known since 9^th grade.  My classroom was modest but the work I was doing was vital and the relationships with my students was priceless.  Fancy offices and the lure of more money was not appealing to me.  My linoleum floored classroom was just fine and my $10,400 contract were all the compensation I needed to remain where I could have that better view.