Do you feel you improve people's life through your work?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I am the principal of an elementary school where 75% of the kids qualify for free/reduced lunch. The work is incredibly challenging, but incredibly rewarding.

And I make a difference at home by raising two awesome kids.

[Anonymous]

YES! I teach young children, and do a really good job if i do say so myself! +)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an oncology nurse. so, yes, I feel I make a difference every day. It's not for everyone, but it is a fulfilling career.

Thanks for your career choice. Not everyone has the strength, physical and emotional, to do what you do.

[Anonymous]

I used to feel very cynical about this ... even as a working journalist I didn't really feel like I was touching anyone's life in a meaningful way. Well, the recession, unemployment and a career change has left me grateful for work and also with a different perspective on what giving back means. Not only can we not all be oncology nurses, social workers, etc., but we are not all supposed to be in those professions where the difference you are making is so obvious.
We give back in different ways but mainly by participating in society and the economy and I think that's valuable.

[Anonymous]

I teach English language learners. When people complain about how "these immigrants" are dragging down our school system, I ask them how many languages they speak. Exactly. It is extremely difficult for my students to learn content on a foreign language all day long. I applaud their efforts b/c I know that I probably couldn't do what they are doing. Some days, I feel like I am doing a crappy job b/c what these kids have to learn is so overwhelming. But they are such good kids. They want to learn and they try their best. If only people could see that.

[Anonymous]

When I was a lawyer I didn't feel I improved people's lives through my work, but now I'm in a different field that, although lower paying, really allows me to feel that I make a difference.

I've noticed that not everyone has a strong need to live their personal values through their job. Many people take the view that providing a comfortable living for their family is enough, and then they find other ways of getting meaning into their lives through family, volunteering, hobbies. I sort of envy those people because I gave up a lot of financial security when I left law. I am a person who needs to live my ideals through my work, for better or for worse.

[Anonymous]

Improve others' lives ~ Feds do. Civil Servants