At
38, I was losing interest in my job as a carpenter and my back hurt. At
40, I had my first child, a girl. At 42, my first son. At 45, I entered
university. At 50, I had two bachelors degrees: computer science and
applied mathematics. But something called the dot-com crash had happened
while I was studying and computer work was hard to find, even for the
young kids I was at university with. I spent another year at school,
training to be a math teacher, then had a semester as a
supply/substitute teacher, called in when someone was sick. I was called
in twice in four months. Meanwhile, I was working as a carpenter again,
actually enjoying it after a long break. Then I was offered a temporary
job teaching residential construction and math-based engineering
courses to young adults at a polytechnic. The students were great: good
people with varied backgrounds. The job became permanent until I retired
a few months ago at 66. I could have continued but have plans,
interests, which will only become more difficult to achieve.
Have
I achieved much in life? It depends on your value system, I suppose. I
am certainly not wealthy in financial terms but, with a small pension
and some investment income, I have all I need. (Certainly, if I'd
started earlier, I'd have more money but I have no regrets.) I have a
beautiful wife whom I love even more than the day I married her 30+
years ago. I have two wonderful adult children. I am fairly healthy. I
am happy. I have achieved all I could wish for. I am very lucky.
- Dave Morgan, Former Instructor at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (2005–2018)
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