Once upon a time, I had aspired to become a great writer. So, I enrolled in a journalism program at Osmania University in Hyderabad, completed it successfully, came to the US, completed a master’s program in communication, successfully as well, and left it at that. Now, almost two decades and two kids later, when I have time to reflect on the path I have traveled, I do not feels pangs of guilt or regret about what I have not made an attempt to pursue or accomplish. How can I with two wonderful boys - now nearly 14 and seven - that I am fortunate to have been blessed with to nurture and help blossom? Still, there is a bitter-sweet yearning in me, which makes me nostalgic sometimes. I thought I should act on this - so this is me now. I am student teaching to become an elementary education teacher this fall. If I can make just one student passionate enough about writing to think of making it a career because of my efforts, I will consider myself as having achieved what I had set out to many, many years ago. My move into teaching supports the "writing across the curriculum" philosophy that schools are emphasizing so much these days. It reiterates my belief in "Every Child a Reader", and "No Child Left Behind." E-mail: saijazuddin0024@wideopenwest.com

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