In this episode of Passion Quest, we talk to Connecticut's 2006 Teacher of the Year, Mary Kay Rendock. She talks about her experiences as a teacher in the town of Bloomfield, and she describes the exciting and life-changing experiences she had when she was named Teacher of the Year. 

You can view the video here, https://youtu.be/rtuMdDj79C4

Mary was happy spending time with her students and volunteering in the community. Here's a tip on how you can be happier at work. 

It may sound like exactly the opposite of what you should be doing at work, but take the time to socialize with others during your day. Take a few minutes to chat with a colleague when you refill your coffee cup. Ask a coworker how her day is going. You want to keep these interactions relatively brief so that you are still accomplishing work, but also long enough to make a meaningful connection. 

Many people also find they are happier at work if they take the time to socialize with coworkers outside of work hours, whether by meeting for dinner regularly or otherwise sharing non-work time together. Whether you choose to limit your socialization to work hours, or you choose to spend time with coworkers away from the workplace, it is key to have interactions that aren’t wholly centered on work. Getting to know your colleagues as people, and letting them get to know you as a person, helps you feel connected. This can make you a much happier person at work!