Dear Sandra:

You wrote: “they say I would be crazy to give up this well-paid, close-to-home job with nice colleagues..”

The people who tell you that should not give up their well-paid, close to home jobs with nice colleagues, that’s for sure, it would be crazy for them.

The thing is you are your own person with your own values: “..but I just do not see any meaning to this job. I always feel the need to contribute to society, to make a difference, to mean something..”

So, yes, I too vote for you to follow your heart, that is what you value, what you cherish.

One comment about teaching, from my personal experience: I … tried to teach high school, middle school and high school and my liking of the subject matter (German in your case) had nothing to do, unfortunately, with my experience which was not good. The reason my experience was not good is that the behavior on the part of the students was abusive to me. When you consider teaching, please familiarize yourself with the practical aspect of being in the classroom as far as students’ willingness to learn and their behavior in this or that particular school/ school district.

anita