Wishek, Nicholas

Why I'm retiring early

Nicholas Wishek, The Orange County Register My last day of teaching will be June 18. I will have worked as a full-time teacher for 37 years. Until very recently I fully expected to work at least several more years, to age 65, if not longer. I don't throw the word "love" around casually, but I have really, really "liked" my job. I have liked almost all of the kids I taught, as people, if not as students. I've respected most of my principals, and appreciated the professionalism of most of my co-workers. The saying – that if you enjoy your job you will never work a day in your life – is absolutely true. However, for the past few years, my job has been turning more and more into work…