LPT: Don't go into teaching. If you are good at a subject, you have many better options.

I started teaching at 18 because I liked teaching my classmates math. It was the only job I could get, so I figured I'd give it a shot. <br><br>20 years later, I am done, and so is my body. Teaching is hard. School board staff tried to get me fired 3 different times. I had suicidal students shoot a shotgun in my classroom. I had colleagues commit suicide. I had colleagues fired for no reason. I once had a new teacher get fired at the end of his first week for "not being a team player" - turns out the school secretary was pitting him against the other teachers so they'd write letters demanding he be fired. <br><br>Teaching is generally a lower paying job, and you are expected to pay for many of the supplies that you need in the classroom. You will work your ass off for very little reward.<br><br>I'm 38 and I am finally financially secure. But when I was younger, it was "just a job" and I couldn't see a way out. I knew I couldn't leave, so I figured I'd suck it up and move on. <br><br>At 20 and 25 and 30 and 35 I could have left with a large sum of money in the bank. At 38 I can finally leave, but at a huge personal cost. <br><br>If you're smart and good at something, find a job that doesn't involve dealing with children and school administrations. Trust me, you will regret it.