My mother was a public health nurse, and I loved her and respected her. I imagine when deciding in high school that I wanted to be a social worker it was because of her. There was no way I could be a nurse, just not in me, so social work was a close relative.
My dad admired education, and looked up to teachers and administrators. When my social work program fell through (thank goodness), I decided to get my teaching degree. I guess all those years of listening to Dad helped to make that decision.
It was the best decision of my life. I loved working with students, loved teaching, and was thankful that students came to my room and not me to their houses as social work would have had me do. I tried hard to level the playing field for all students, seeing each and working with each, often telling my students, "I might not necessarily treat each student equally but I treat each fairly."
Reading this obit today in The Week, I thought of Dad and his admiration of education. I had 33 years of teaching and am now in my 12th year of substitute work. He wasn't wrong. It's been great.
Parents
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