I began teaching in 1984 in Westchester, a suburb in New York State. Perhaps like many new teachers, I struggled to bring the joy of science learning to my classroom, only to be met with apathy or disinterest. I kept pushing myself to improve as an instructor, accumulating time in workshops, graduate classes, and NSTA conventions. After 17 years of effort and teaching in a variety of venues, I am getting my stride in this business. I’m just beginning to experience the sense that, perhaps, I may have chosen the right profession. When I have this feeling of achievement, right in front of me looms “retirement,” as a distant prospect.

I've met a few retired teachers through the years and they always seem to be intelligent people, financially secure, self-possessed, healthy, and independent. The best retirees appeared to be those teachers that involved themselves with fostering the curiosity of young minds with the scientific experience. Those teachers seem to maintain a playful, inquisitive mind as manifested by the subtle twinkle of light in their eyes. When I speak to these teachers, I am transformed into the curious child that is being guided down a wonderful world, which is yet unseen. I often must repress urges of talking them out of their lesson plans. I am, however, reminded that although it may appear that I am reinventing the wheel, no one dimensional lesson plan can capture the struggle that one teacher has to connect to the child on his or her level and elevate the child’s understanding to a broader view. Will I be one of those continually bright people?

The concerns over my soon approaching retirement continued to mount. My school environment is a tough one. As a result, I have had to spend much of my own salary on upgrading my certifications and degrees. It has taken more than 16 years of teaching to finally be able to put a few extra dollars in my retirement plan. With such a late start, will my retirement savings be enough to travel whenever I wish? Four years ago, I put together a small nest egg and bought a condo. My mortgage payments are spread over the next 30 years. Will I be able to keep and maintain my home as I come within reach of my later years? Once I hit 45, I started hearing "strange," but identifiable noises every time I walk up a flight of stairs, get up from a chair, or walk for a long period of time. If my bones are creaking now, will I be physically fit when I finally can have the time to explore the world?

I attended my first Retired Advisory Board meeting (also called NSTAR) last December. I looked around the room and was encouraged. One member exclaimed, "Keeping active as a member of a learning community is a good way to go." Another member commented that using retirement as a time to see the many things…"I've been teaching about all those years keeps retirement fresh." Another youthful retiree suggested that the key to good health in the later years is to "drink lots of water, keep those kidneys flushed, and get plenty of exercise."

Upon my return home, I realized that my fears were replaced with a quiet excitement at the possibility of creating a solid future for myself. I became more conscious of retired people and sought to hear what they had to say about their lives and how they choose to spend their time. I took advantage of the lower interest rates to cut my mortgage from 30 years to 15 years at the same mortgage payment per month. I consulted the school's finance director and decided to increase my contribution to my retirement fund, which actually lowers my taxable income and does not reduce my take home pay very much. Moreover, I resolved to become more involved in the school’s administrative affairs so that my cooperative skills are enhanced and I can have a stronger affect on the learning environment of the school. I realized that some of my anxiety about retirement was connected to my fears about how effective I have been as an entity within my learning community. I often feel that I am at the mercy of other people's decisions as a classroom teacher.

Being more involved, however, leaves me feeling more empowered. I hope that my input for a better learning environment results in leaving my position with the feeling that I have done my best to make a difference to the students, parents, my colleagues, and our superiors. Finally, I began drinking more water, and increasing my efforts to exercise my legs rather than my elbows as I bend them to put food in my mouth.

If I keep up with my plans, I believe that these years leading to retirement will be among my best financially, physically, and intellectually. I have the expectation that I can carry on this awareness, sensible lifestyle change, good habits and solid financial planning so that I can conclude my professional life with the knowledge that I have contributed to my own growth and that of the science learning community overall.

Iris T. Pagan, Ed.D., is a member of the NSTA Retired Members Advisory Board and a biology teacher at the French American School of New York.