It’s been 25 years now that I have served as a professional educator. I started as a paraprofessional at a summer migrant program downstate in Hart, Michigan while in college helping English language learners. After graduating, I became a teacher of a variety of subjects in English and history for 12 years before becoming a building principal for five years. I’m beginning my eighth year here at NICE Community Schools as our superintendent. Every second that I have spent as an educator has been worth it.

Without a doubt, over my career, I have seen amazing accomplishments, heartbreaking failures and events that leave me shaking my head in disbelief for reasons both good and bad. I have suffered through tragic events with my students and their parents and celebrated incredible triumphs of hard work and good luck. Every step of the way I have believed that the job I’m doing and the people I’m surrounded by are making our little part of the world a better place. To the core of my being I believe this is true.

None of us do our jobs for free, of course, but no educator I know, not a single one, started a career working with kids to make a bunch of money. Fiscal cycles ebb and flow. Some schools are better at balancing their finances than others. But at the end of the day, my trusted colleagues and I know that the job itself is the one thing that brings us back day after day and year after year.

Teaching isn’t for everyone. Teaching takes time, dedication, skill and talent; just like anything else that is worth doing. There’s an old line from an old movie that goes something like, if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. I know there are much harder jobs out there. For me as an individual though, I cannot imagine a field that’s more personally fulfilling. When teaching and learning go well, the outcome is like magic. Teaching and learning in their finest forms awe, inspire and motivate students and educators to be the very best versions of themselves in that moment in time.

The most gifted educators get to experience this magic over and over and over again throughout each year over their entire careers.

I know I am personally thankful for the outstanding people I’ve met and enjoyed the company of over the course of my career so far. From my colleagues to my students to parents, guardians and members of our large school family, I cannot envision life without the connections I’ve made.

The human interaction that takes place every day inside our schools the world over is truly a sight to behold. I, for one, feel grateful that I get to be a part of it and I am confident others will continue to follow the calling that draws talented individuals into the field of education.

Bryan DeAugustine is Superintendent of the NICE Community Schools.