1.2 TWBAT Find Their Own Identities

In this episode of Twee Bat, I’m joined by writer and educator Annie Kiyonaga for a conversation about identity, selfhood, and the quiet ways our work can begin to stand in for who we are. Our discussion grows out of Annie’s recent article, “I Tied My Self-Worth to Teaching. That’s Why I Had to Leave,” which reflects on how professional roles, especially in teaching and other care-centered fields, can slowly become the primary lens through which we understand ourselves.

For Annie, teaching middle school English was everything: difficult, exhausting, rewarding,and ultimately identity-defining in ways she didn’t intend. What begins as pride and passion becomes pressure to be perfect, to perform, to squeeze meaning out of every sacrifice. Because teaching required so much energy and time, she realized she had unconsciously made it more than just a job; she had made it the measure of her worth.

I hope this episode reminds teachers (and all of us) that it is important for us to take a step back whenever possible and take care of ourselves!