Bullied over love of math, she still pursued dream job of teaching it
Editor’s note: In the first of an occasional series, Libertyville math teacher Debbie Morales, in her final year of teaching, looks back on a 23-year dream career that was delayed more than a decade while she worked as an actuary.
By Debbie Morales
Special to the Daily Herald
I have always been a math geek. When I was the age of the students I teach, I would pull out a math book and solve equations and other problems whenever I was bored.
My middle school years were not pleasant ones because of this. Being bullied was a big part of my daily life. People who know me now would be very surprised that I was acutely shy in high school and rarely talked to students other than my friends.
My love of math led to a dream of becoming a math teacher, but the thought of stepping into a classroom again was stressful, so I decided to major in math instead of education. Upon graduating, I took a position in the actuarial department of a small company in New York City and later on Long Island, which was closer to home. During this time, I was married and had two children.
Then fate - and my concern for my children - steered me to my childhood dream.
My husband was transferred to Illinois, a move that was supposed to last two years. I could have taken a position with the insurance company where he was employed, but as a full-timer I would need day care, and I was not comfortable placing my children with people I did not know.
So I stayed at home, and had a third child. Two years later, I thought about returning to work. My older children were in school full time, I had time to search for day care, and I now was ready. Teaching was the best of both worlds. I always wanted to be a teacher, I would have the same time off as my children and I would have a job that would challenge me.
There were other challenges. The pay was considerably less, and it also required returning to college for an education degree in mathematics. My husband supported my decision, even though the pay cut was probably killing him. I was now in my late 30s, so the fear of going back to school disappeared; it even seemed silly in the first place.
My first position was in the math department at Libertyville High School. I was there for two years until my position was cut.
But one of my students was the daughter of the vice principal of Highland Middle School. She gave a great recommendation. I was called for an interview and offered a position. I took it with the thought of returning to high school eventually. I did not believe I would enjoy teaching middle school. But here I am, 20 years later.
As an actuary, there was little stress and I rarely took work home. I completed assigned projects and went on to the next.
As a teacher, I teach three levels of math, have to wait for the bell to ring to use the restroom, and I bring work home often.
And yet, beside being a mother, I have never felt more satisfaction than when I am teaching.
You have moments, days or months where you second-guess yourself and wonder if your students are learning. Then, one will thank you while leaving class or at the end of the year. Sometimes during classes, you can read that "aha!" moment on their faces. The best is seeing a student from years ago who says he or she didn't care for math, but I made them like it again - or I was the best math teacher I ever had.
Now, here I am in my last year. Time has passed way too fast. I have lost friends and family over the years. It is time to enjoy life with the man who has seen me sit at the kitchen table, working many nights and weekends.