DALTON QUICK

Can I tell you a story? It's a quick one, I promise. Once upon a time, there was a boy from a really small town (population of 109) who grew up a gifted overachiever, and who had a lot of expectations riding on him when he went to college. And, as expected, he was really successful there. He finished degrees in psychology and strategic communication, was a part of numerous clubs and organizations, met some friends he's carries to this day, and even secured a nice, stable job after completing his degrees before going on to be accepted in to the 4th best school of psychology in the country where he completed a master's degree. He was still an overachiever, still had really high expectations placed on him by well-meaning people who loved him very much... until he tasted failure for the first time. 

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He applied for a series of doctoral programs in clinical psychology, hoping to become a therapist. He didn't get in; and to most people, this is simple, this is no reason for concern, this is - quite frankly - insignificant. But to the boy who'd spent the last six years working toward this singular goal, who was assured by every one of his professors and colleagues that he was a shoe in, it was a really dark time. He packed up his apartment and went back home to figure out his next move, when the guidance counselor at his old high school called him up and asked if he would be interested in teaching for them the next year. He'd never thought about teaching, he'd never wanted to be a teacher. But he also had no other plans. He'd wrapped all of his ambition up in a goal he hadn't achieved. So he signed the contract and walked into his first classroom... and he fell in love. 

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Spoiler: The boy is me. 

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I hope that story didn't sound too self-important... or pitieth. There was hardship and disappointment and aggravation, but like every good story there's also a happily ever after. It took losing a chance at the career I thought I wanted to find the career path I adore. I never planned to be a teacher, but that's just proof that sometimes it takes losing an idea to find the best reality. I love educating others, I love crafting educational material, I love doing it all by - first and foremost - telling stories.