Ten years ago, I visited San Diego for the first time for a neuroscience conference. I’d just quit in the middle of my first year teaching at Ranson Middle School, and I was working as a research technician in a neuroscience lab to recover and reflect. Maybe teaching wasn’t for me after all?

I was nervous to fly across the country for the first time, but my sister Sarah promised she’d join me for a couple of days after my conference to explore San Diego, and that bolstered my courage enough to get on the plane. (more…)