I had always planned to go straight through and get a PhD and teach at a university, but after I got the MA I was so burned out and disenchanted with that life that I instead did my teacher certification. If I had stayed in academia, based on experiences of friends who did I would've had to move if I could've even found a position. I wouldn't be as close as I am to my parents and I wouldn't have met E. My whole life would be different.

I actually started the application process for the FBI (to be an analyst, not a cop) when I had a year or two of teaching under my belt, but I desisted pretty quickly, knowing that my political history and complete aversion to guns would disqualify me. I don't think they would've taken me, but in that case again I would've moved and had very different relationships.

The only positive for me in both cases would be (probably) getting the hell out of Texas. But I wouldn't have met E, I would've only seen my parents on holidays, I wouldn't have this house, I wouldn't have Ella, etc.