Short-changing myself??

For the past four years I have taught middle school Language Arts. After my horrific experience last fall, I re-evaluated my career goals and came to the conclusion that maybe there is more out there for me than just being in the classroom. I went on an interview yesterday at a Children's Home in West Denver. This is a residential campus where kids with traumatic backgrounds, unstable families, and those with mental illness come to live, go to school, and hopefully gain a sense of stability and direction. While discussing this job opportunity with a friend, he posed the question, "Would you be short-changing yourself by taking this job?" Hmmm.. I needed to think about that before I committed myself to something this important. Here's the conclusion I came to...

My career goals not only center around me, they center around kids (specifically adolescents) who need a stable, trustworthy, caring person in their lives who will teach them to be confident, hard-working, positive citizens in our society. They need someone who they can depend on, talk to, and share love with. Yeah, I love teaching, but as a teacher I felt that not only was I short-changing myself, but I was short-changing those kids (call them "at-risk" if you must) out there that desperately need someone like ME in their lives every day.

I'm not sure what the outcome of this job opportunity will be; I will hopefully have a deeper understanding of all that it entails when I go to the 2nd interview/ observation this afternoon. BUT-from what I do know about these kids, their needs, and their backgrounds, not only would I not be short-changing myself, I wouldn't be short-changing them either. I know that I can make a difference in their lives. I can and want to be that positive, trustworthy, confident role-model who shows them stability and love. If I was doing that each and every day, in no way would I feel short-changed in my career or in my life!!