So, You’re Thinking About Leaving The Education System?
Every morning, as you step into your school building, you bring with you a passion for shaping young minds, fostering growth, and making a lasting impact. It's a calling that draws you in, fueling your dedication to students and adults and the noble pursuit of education. But beneath the surface, deep in your heart, lies an unspoken desire for more—a yearning for freedom, fulfillment, and a life that extends beyond the school walls.
Why Do Educators Want To Leave?
I don’t know any educator who starts their career journey not liking what they do. I bet you imagined you’d stay in education until retirement. Or at least until you moved into a leadership role. Or maybe you did get the new role you wanted, but then soon realized the workload doesn’t get lighter just because you move from the classroom to an office.
Most people don’t understand the frustrations that come with being an educator. It seems foreign to them that someone who’s been teaching for over a decade could stand in front of her students smiling but internally have absolutely no energy and is barely holding on each day.
Long hours, endless paperwork, and the mounting pressures of a rigid system can take their toll on anyone. So you shouldn’t feel bad about having thoughts of leaving the education system. And you are definitely not alone. When asked why she left her teaching role to start a business, Loretta Clarke confessed, "I was stressed out and extremely unhappy with my working life. I wasn't sleeping well and had become very tearful. My weekends were spent marking and assessing students' work. I felt I didn't have any time to dedicate to my son."
The Pull of Familiarity: Why Educators Stay
Despite the exhaustion, educators often find themselves torn between leaving a profession they love and staying in a role they find increasingly challenging. It's the pull of familiarity—the comfort of knowing their students' names, the satisfaction of seeing growth in their classrooms or with the adults they coach. Andrew Cook, a passionate teacher, reflects, "I miss the students and the staff, but I don't miss the changing curriculums and paperwork. It's quite nice to be able to take care of myself a bit more now."
The Fear of Change: Uncertainty and the Unknown
Leaving the education system isn't just about abandoning a career; it's about stepping into the unknown—a world of entrepreneurship, self-discovery, and uncertainty. The fear of financial instability can loom large, preventing even the most exhausted educators from making the leap. It's the same fear that led Susan Taylor, a teacher with decades of experience, to question, "What if it doesn't work? What if I'm not cut out for this?"
Balancing Dreams and Reality
Educators are dreamers at heart, but often the practicality of life takes precedence over those dreams. The desire for more time, for the freedom to create one's schedule, often takes a backseat to the responsibilities and the long adulting to do list that never seems to get shorter. For many, the leap to entrepreneurship seems like an impossible bridge to cross, but once you realize how all of the skills you currently possess make you the perfect entrepreneur, you will see that your dreams really can become a reality. As Katie Richardson, a teacher turned entrepreneur, shares, "I loved teaching, but I wanted to control my own destiny. Being an entrepreneur gives me that."
Taking The Leap
Leaving the education system is not without its challenges, but it's a journey that's very possible to navigate with the right support and mindset. Building a network of like-minded individuals, seeking mentorship, and finding the courage to take the leap are all crucial steps. The stories of educators who've successfully transitioned remind us that it's possible to embrace change and embark on a path of entrepreneurship that aligns with our passions.
Embrace the Journey
The choice to leave the education system is deeply personal, riddled with internal struggles, fears, and aspirations. You are not alone in this journey; there's a community of support for you. You can design a life of fulfillment, freedom, and control over your time. Change is possible and the journey to entrepreneurship is one worth embracing.
Are you looking for support to start building your online business? Click here to schedule your free discovery call to learn about my exclusive online program, Breaking Free: From Educator To Entrepreneur.
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