What can private and public schools teach us about opportunity, belonging, and human potential? After 22 years teaching in Chicago Public Schools, I reflect on my own education, a classroom moment I will never forget, and why schools must teach us to think critically, listen to different perspectives, and imagine a better future.

I had a plan: teach for 35 years, retire, and figure out what came next. But life had other ideas. After 22 years in education, I discovered that sometimes the most unexpected changes lead us toward new possibilities. A personal reflection on self-trust, growth, and finding the courage to embrace a different path.