Last week, as I was reflecting on the importance of quitting, I remembered that I quit something big this year: My teaching job at NYU. It was a tough decision, for many reasons. I have loved my students, and especially watching them grow. I have deeply enjoyed the buzz of the classroom, of figuring out how to teach complex concepts, of finding novel ways to connect ideas. I live in a small town, so I have also been invigorated by the energy of teaching in New York City.
I got so much joy out of teaching, and I know I will miss it. But I also know I made the right decision.
Because, of course, teaching involved sacrifices, and lots of them.