When Veda Hicks, a former CPS teacher, retired in June 2024, she expected retirement to be a joyful and exciting new chapter. Instead, she found the transition more difficult than anticipated. “I imagined that it would be all fun in the sun, skip to my loo nirvana. Little did I know it would be very challenging to transition to the emptiness that can sometimes come because of not being on the front line,” Veda explained.
Veda started preparing for this transition by looking for work 4 months before her retirement date. She was lucky enough to find a position as a Teacher in the Library (TIL), helping students with their homework. Working as a TIL helps Veda continue to make a difference in the lives of students. “During my first year as a TIL, I regularly worked after school with one of my students. When her parent shared her report card and I saw how much her grades had improved, I felt I had a part in that. For a teacher, there’s almost nothing more rewarding,” she said.
Retirement gives Veda time to focus on her other passions, such as gardening and Hip-Hop dance. She has a YouTube channel titled "Life with Veedes" based off the nickname that her longtime friends and colleagues gave her. What originally started as an avenue to showcase her growth with dance over time, as well as her love of gardening, now has 100 subscribers and over 100,000 views. “Hip Hop dancing makes me feel alive and forces my brain to stay alert with physical and mental challenges that come along with doing anything new. I feel like when you stop learning things, you’re sending a signal to your brain to shut down.”
When asked what advice she would give to educators who are preparing for retirement, Veda emphasized the importance of planning and preparation, as well as envisioning what their life will look like in retirement. “It may sound frightening, but there is another beautiful life on the other side of retirement,” she concluded.
