I absolutely adore learning. I'm kind of obsessed. I can't stand seeing a word in any language and not knowing what it means. This got especially cumbersome whenever I used a dictionary, because when I was looking up a certain word, by flipping the pages I would see dozens of OTHER words that I didn't know, which meant that looking up one word meant a good 30 minutes of dictionary time. I finally resolved this by going through and writing the definitions next to the lead words at the top of each page.

I graduated college a semester early with a major in French and a minor in Spanish.  As I started the Job Hunt, I was ecstatic to garner an interview with an internet translation company.  I had teaching in the back of my mind as a second option, and had started the long process of obtaining an Alternative Certificate, but at the time it seemed superfluous.  I was clearly meant to be a jet-setting, cosmopolitan translator in this swanky corporate building.

Then I saw the salary:
Entry-level translating pays about $30k per year, 8 to 5, with 2 weeks vacation.
First year teachers earn $42k plus major stipends for Spanish teachers, and guaranteed raises every year.  Hours are 8:30 to 3:45.  Vacations:  Christmas 2 weeks, March 1 week, Summer 2 months.

This girl likes to travel and also likes to shop.  It was time to become a teacher.