Today, I’m re-publishing this old post because the subject has been on my mind a lot lately–probably because I recently attended the wedding of one of my coworkers from the Bronx, and reconnected with so many old colleagues and friends. (It was a truly wonderful night.) My plan is to write a followup next week, talking about whether I plan to return to teaching, and I thought that resurfacing the original piece would add some much-needed context if you’re new around here. While the post is a bit painful for me to read now, it’s also a reminder of how significantly my years in the Bronx helped to positively shape the person I am today. I think we’re all made up of a patchwork of experiences, and this one certainly left its mark on me.

Also, I should note that I have a second blog post going live this morning, and it’s downright adorable. 😍 So be sure to circle back in a couple of hours!