You're spot on. My wife is a middle school mathematics teacher (and a damn good one). Sooooo many former students (now high schoolers) have approached her and

You're spot on. My wife is a middle school mathematics teacher (and a damn good one). Sooooo many former students (now high schoolers) have approached her and said, "Because of you, I excelled in math in high school...and I love it!" She had a student last year who actually told her in a very long letter, "You taught me that math matters. You taught me that I MATTER." The earliest teachers / coaches / mentors set the foundation which is absolutely critical for all future learning. Want to experience the highest of highs? Become a teacher. Alas, being do close to kids who are changing so rapidly (and often struggling with things outside of school) it also comes with some pretty deep lows.