Networking found me another teaching position in a private elementary school in the same city. This was ideal since with a wife and child now, I was really not in a mindset to move.

I started from scratch once again: new colleagues, new students, new courses. I had forgotten how much work fresh starts could be. I loved most things about the new position. Teaching in this fledgling private school reinforced in me the importance of teamwork.

All of us on staff made sacrifices to be there and depended on one another to do more with less. School spirit was high and staff morale made it fun to come to work.

Three years later though, I was struggling once again to find a financial balance. My salary covered my mortgage and basic household needs, but not much beyond that. We resorted to credit cards to meet unexpected expenses and watched our accumulated debt grow.

Our family finances were an ongoing cause of discouragement. With another child on the way, I began exploring other career possibilities.