Last weekend, I celebrated my retirement with an party. Though I initially didn’t want a gathering to mark this milestone, my wonderful friends convinced me that my career certainly deserved such recognition. A great part of the gathering was listening to heartfelt stories from colleagues. I appreciated hearing thoughts and recollections I hadn’t known before, and it brought back a flood of memories. One special moment of the day was receiving a beautifully crafted memory book filled with touching stories, good wishes, and cherished memories from my 40-plus years of work. It served as a reminder of the journey I experienced. I’m glad that I was able to share my career transition and get the closure I needed as I embark on this new chapter of my life.
The day after the party, I wanted to reflect on my career to understand its meaning to me. A friend of mine, who is a therapist, shared some retirement questions she provided to her clients and suggested I use them as part of my reflection. I thought I would share the questions and my responses with you.
If you could relive your career knowing what you know now, what part would you change?
This is an important question for me because I have many regrets about my career choices. I question whether I would pick my career again. Early childhood education is rewarding but challenging, with high stress and low pay. I’m not sure I would choose it again. Although I enjoyed the work, I think I might have picked a different path. Also, there were a few times that I think I left a job too soon. I wish I had given the situation more time to evolve and see if the things could have improved.
What career accomplishments are you most proud of?
As a preschool director during COVID-19, I successfully kept our small private school from closing. Despite the stress and uncertainty, I led the children, families, and my staff effectively with a calmness and vision. Another accomplishment has been going outside of my comfort zone. I took huge risks by doing jobs I had limited experience with and at unusual locations. There were times when things were extremely challenging and uncomfortable, but if there was a task to complete, I was able to do so.
What do you hope your legacy will be?
I want to be remembered as a compassionate leader who brought out the best in my team and as a child advocate who worked to improve the lives of children and their families. I hope people who worked with me thought I was kind, genuine, and ethical.
What will you miss most about not working and why?
I will miss being with the children the most. I loved my daily interactions with them. Their energy, enthusiasm, wonder, humor, and affection are already greatly missed. Children kept me in the moment and were amazing at distracting me when I was experiencing difficulties. Working with children has been my life’s work and it’s what I loved most doing.
What was the favorite role in your career?
Being a mom and a full-time home parent was my favorite job. For 10 years, I cared for my family—three boys and my husband—and managed our home. I loved being with my kids. It wasn’t easy at times, but there were so many happy memories and I am grateful to have had that wonderful experience. Taking time to be with my family was an investment in them, as well as to for me. I was able to really enjoy the wonder of motherhood.
Would you ever consider working again or coming out of retirement?
Absolutely. If the right opportunity came up, I would consider working again. I retired earlier than I anticipated because the work I was doing became increasingly difficult and lacking fulfillment. It felt I was doing more and more with less and less recognition. The right opportunity would likely not be related to education, I don’t feel the need to continue on that path; however, new interests and experiences would be interesting to consider. I am not actively looking for any work, but I am open to trying new things.
As I finish this chapter of my career, I remember the skills and passion that motivated me. I see they haven’t disappeared; they just need a new purpose. This transition is my chance to redefine success and embrace the unknown. Today, I celebrate my journey so far and look forward to the new path ahead.
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