A LATE GRADUATION

AT THE AGE OF 55,

I FINALLY GOT


MY BACHELOR’S DEGREE AND SET OUT

TO 
BECOME A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.

ONE DAY, A SEVENTH GRADER ASKED

IF I’D BEEN TEACHING LONG.

“ACTUALLY, I’M BRAND-NEW,”

I TOLD HIM. “I JUST GRADUATED.”

LOOKING ME UP AND DOWN,

HE ASKED,

“HOW LONG WERE YOU IN COLLEGE?”