Embracing Change: My Journey from Teacher to Full-Time Coach and the Emotions Behind It

I recently made it official.

I’ve resigned from my teaching position indefinitely.

Even writing that feels big.

If you know me, you know how much of my life has been tied to education. Teaching hasn’t just been a job. It’s been a huge part of who I am. And while I’ve felt myself slowly pulling away from the classroom over the past few years, making this decision real brings up more emotion than I expected.

There’s excitement, yes. A lot of it. But there’s also fear. And if I’m being honest, a real sense of loss.

This isn’t just about changing careers. It’s about letting go of an identity I’ve carried for years. “Who am I if I’m not a teacher?”

And I don’t have a perfectly clear answer yet.

What I do know is that I’m not stepping away from teaching.

I’m stepping into a version of it that feels more aligned with where I’m headed.

Coaching has been pulling at me for a while now. That quiet, steady feeling that there’s something more I’m meant to do. Something more personal. More focused. More connected to what kids are actually navigating day to day.

I get to work one-on-one with them. I get to help them understand themselves, build confidence, and feel good about who they are. My “curriculum” now is self-love, awareness, and real-life tools. And I feel incredibly lucky that families trust me with that work.

That part feels right.

The hard part is letting go of something that has meant so much for so long.

But I’m also no stranger to big change. Last year, we made one of the biggest decisions of our lives. We sold our beautiful acreage and moved to the city. We chose something different, something that felt aligned, even though it was uncomfortable.

This feels similar.

Captured by Gentil Photography

Sometimes the “safe” choice is obvious… but it doesn’t feel right. And the one that does feel right? It usually asks you to take a step before you feel ready.

That’s where I am right now.

I’ll be finishing out this school year, which feels really important to me. I want to close this chapter with intention, with gratitude, and with respect for everything teaching has given me.

And then, I step fully into what’s next.

It’s exciting. It’s uncomfortable. It’s a little scary.

But more than anything, it feels aligned.

And right now, that feels like enough.