Michelle Youngannounced that she will not return to the classroom for the upcoming school year.
On Tuesday’s episode of theBachelor Happy Hourpodcast, the formerBachelorette, 28, opened up her decision to “step out of the classroom” and how her experience over the last two years made her realize she needed to reevaluate her career.
“I was sitting down with my coworker and we were just kinda talking about this school year and how long we’ve been in survival mode, and my coworker kinda just asked me, ‘Well Michelle how long have you been in survival mode?'” she shared. And as she asked that, it kinda caught me off guard to actually stop and think how long I have been this position, and my response was two years."
The reality star went to explain the struggles she has faced as a teacher during the pandemic — while she was also adjusting to life after her season ofThe Bachelorette. (Shegot engagedto fiancéNayte Olukoyaon the season finale, which aired in December 2021.)
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Young tearfully revealed her plans to leave teaching.
“I really feel that, you know, as I move into this next year, I have decided to step out of the classroom,” she explained. “Bear with me here. This going to be emotional so I have decided to step out of the classroom.”
However, Young has left the door opened to return to teaching in the future.
“This doesn’t mean I’m never going to step back in the classroom,” she shared. “This doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m not going to continue working towards a Masters in Administration and potentially get back into that direct line of education.”
She continued, “But it’s me stepping away for a year to truly capitalize and push forward and put all my energy and efforts into my passion in a different way and really truly try to push for that change because staying in the classroom and seeing and feeling that weight just shows me that something has to be done.”
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In 2021, Young previously opened up aboutleading a “double life"as a television personality and teacher theBachelor Happy Hourpodcast.
“Lesson planning in the hair and makeup chair on your way to the premiere brunch — it’s this total double life I feel like I’m living right now,” she said at the time. “It’s busy, it’s hectic, I’m definitely tired but I will say that being back in the classroom has made me feel so much like myself.”
“It’s nice because as you both know this world can get kind of overwhelming at times,” she added. “It can get a lot and sometimes you just need to be able to put it down and I feel like being in the classroom, being with my students, when I’m there I’m truly Ms. Young.”
source: people.com