#125, Quit
Quitting often gets a bad name. Quotes like, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win” or “You are only a failure when you quit trying” are commonly used to discourage quitting. Is quitting so evil though?
One reason it is so difficult to quit is because of the idea of a sunk cost. A sunk cost is the time, money, and/or effort we put into something (e.g., a relationship). The past costs make us believe that we are invested in something and therefore should not abandon it. One might think, 'I've been dating Jonathan for two years, and even though he annoys me to no end, shouldn't I just stick with him? If I break up with him, it's like I wasted two whole years of my life.' If you are in a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend you don’t really like, should you stay with them simply because of the past? Absolutely not. Quitting can free us of past mistakes. It opens to the door to new opportunities.
At the end of 2010, I quit my first teaching position in Korea. I had been at the academy for nearly four years, was compensated fairly, and developed a strong network of peers. I had sunk a significant portion of my life into the company. Still, I was unhappy and made up my mind to leave. It was one of the smartest decisions I’ve made in my professional life. Quitting opened the door for me at PEAI which has been a wonderful academy. It afforded me the opportunity to pursue my Master's as well as enjoy teaching once again.
I quit, proudly so, and the quality of my life has certainly improved. Quitting isn't so bad after all.
To complete this Journal response, address the following:
Describe an instance in your life in which you quit. How did your life change?
Comment on a peer's response.
-Brenden Lee Teacher