"I don't have a last name," the Oscar winner told Jimmy Kimmel

"I don't have a last name," the Oscar winner told Jimmy Kimmel

The actor shares his son and daughter Wyatt, 10, with wife Mila Kunis

• I chose to be a teacher to connect with and help children — the job wasn't what I expected.
• As a teacher I valued student relationships, but job evaluations focused on other metrics.
• After six years, I quit. Here's what I wish I had known before I chose this career.

I had a lot of good reasons behind deciding to become a teacher, which included job security and setting a good example for my son. But after six years of teaching junior high and high school English, I'm leaving the profession for good. It's not because I think I'm a bad teacher, but because it has taken me some time to accept that teaching just isn't right for me.

Here's what I wish I had known before choosing this career.

The part of teaching that mattered most to me was not valued

What I found most rewarding about teaching was building relationships with students, particularly the difficult ones that other people had given up on. I became a teacher to connect with those kids, because I had been one of them.

My personal barometer for success was when I realized that those difficult students were suddenly giving me a hug or coming by between classes just to see me. I knew I had gotten through to them and could help them build their confidence and see their own value in the world.

The problem with me viewing that as success was that it was not what mattered most to my supervisors. As a teacher, I was evaluated on skills like classroom management, curriculum pacing, and testing scores. While I always put the impact I knew I was making with my students' self-worth first, that was not what my job performance was evaluated on.

Teaching proved to have a poor return on investment

A few years in, I began to realize that a large part of what kept me hanging on to teaching was the sunk-cost fallacy. I had spent so much time becoming a teacher and learning how to be a good one, and I didn't want that effort to have been for nothing.

Even though teaching was taking from me more than what it was giving back, I didn't want to give up on it because of how much I had spent becoming one.

You shouldn't plan your life around your job

Not only had I spent so much of my past on teaching, but many of my future plans depended on being a teacher, too.

When my son finally makes it to middle school, I wanted to have the privilege of teaching at his school so that I could keep a watchful eye on him. Middle school is a pivotal time for a young person, and I wanted to be able to steer him in the right direction if I saw him veering down the wrong path.

When I left the profession, I was only one school year away from getting to teach at the same school that my son.

The breaks were nice on paper, but I was too burnt out to enjoy them

A major part of why I became a teacher was because I wanted to have the same schedule as my son. I also didn't want to have the added expense and stress of having to find childcare during school breaks.

I liked the idea of having secured time off throughout the year that I wouldn't even have to ask for. The problem became that I was so burnt out from a day of teaching, I felt like I could barely show up for my family at home most days. And when those breaks finally did arrive, all I wanted to do was rest, not travel.

The job made me sick — literally

Ever since my first day of teaching six years ago, I've dealt with health issues that I believe were caused by the stress that comes with teaching middle school.

The healthiest I've felt during the last six years was when we had to shut down for six months due to the pandemic. Initially, I thought I would adjust to teaching, thinking that the job would become easier in time and that I would find ways to better manage the stress. But after throwing out my back one too many times, I came to accept that the job was literally breaking my back. I felt that my body was begging me to take care of myself and make some changes.

I'm excited for my future

While my next career move is uncertain, my health is already improving.

I had always wanted a job where I could help others, and I knew I was doing that with my students. But the worse I felt teaching, the more I realized that I couldn't even help myself anymore.

Someone asked me what I would tell my son if he were in my situation, and the answer was obvious. I would have told him to quit. While it was extremely rewarding to help my students, I finally saw that I wasn't showing up for my family in the way I wanted to because the job was taking everything I had to give, including my own well-being.

It wasn't easy walking away from what I thought was going to be my life's career, but my body is already thanking me for it. No matter how scary it is that I have to start over again career-wise, I know I've made the right decision.

Cher recalls her interactions with the late music producer in her memoir 'Cher: The Memoir, Part One'

"He didn’t want to put on his persona when we went on dates, but he didn't want to appear to the public as his private self," Cher writes in 'Cher: The Memoir, Part One'

• Molly Rutter left her teaching job to pursue influencing in August.
• She's faced challenges online but says it's still easier than being overworked and underpaid.
• Now, she earns money through TikTok's creator program and customized videos for her followers.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Molly Rutter, a 32-year-old TikToker in Buffalo, NY. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

According to Glassdoor, the median pay for teachers at Rutter's former employer is $65,000. Rutter says she made significantly less than that.

If teaching paid me enough, I'd still be doing it. It's the best thing I've ever done as a career.

It's no secret that teachers make next to nothing, and no one goes into it for the money. But after five years and getting my master's in childhood education, I left teaching in August to pursue social media full time.

I started making TikTok videos as a side gig while working abroad in 2022 in the hopes of becoming a home decor influencer account. Over time, I found that people were really interested in me and my life.

I felt overworked as a teacher in the US

Once I realized the income potential, I applied to the creator program in 2023 and finally started making money from TikTok. That's when I started getting pulled in different ways for my career.

My content revolves around anything and everything about my life. I do vlogs, shopping hauls, sharing places I'm going out, sharing my travel experiences, and sharing my dating content.

I taught at a private school in Istanbul from 2020 until January 2024, when I returned to Buffalo. Although I've always struggled financially, I lived comfortably teaching abroad.

It was, by far, the highest quality of life I've ever lived. As a teacher in Buffalo, I was working myself to the bone.

If you love teaching, you'll still do it as long as you can afford rent. If you really want to do it, you can make it work.

I had a different story.

I had to choose

I taught third grade at a prestigious private school in Buffalo, and they were uncomfortable with my public platform on social media. Normally, teachers make everything private, but I had a few viral videos.

I completely stand by my content. I didn't swear online when I was a teacher; I never showed myself drinking. Yet my school still seemed to have a problem with it.

I was going through a roller coaster of feeling like I had a negative spotlight on something that was the only reason I was surviving in the States. I couldn't afford to pay my rent for the last three months I worked as a teacher.

I thought to myself: "No way do I have over $200,000 in student loan debt to work a job where I'm overworked, underpaid, and told I can't do something on the side that brings me financial security."

My job isn't stressful anymore

TikTok's creator rewards program pays out for every 1,000 qualified views. These views must come from the "For You" feed and only count if the viewer stays on your video for over five seconds.

That's what makes me the most money, but I also film custom Cameo videos for $10 to $20 and promote items from the TikTok Shop.

My job now is easy, and I've never made less than what I was making as a teacher. It fluctuates, but I've had months where I've made more than double what I was making as a teacher.

My most viral content so far has been my dating content, but I'm just sharing facets of my life online.

TikTok still has its challenges

People try to pressure me; they want me to fit in a certain box. I'm not dating for content. No way in hell am I going to go on a date every day.

The bigger I get online, the more people's perceptions of me become detached from who I actually am. It's almost like a caricature of Molly Rutter who exists online.

I don't subscribe to the identity that people are trying to force me into because that's not truly who I am.

The value that I've gained with my time and mental health is so significant — on top of the fact that I'm making more than I once was.

Teaching filled my soul, but I don't regret leaving.

Diamantopoulos played Brian the boom mic operator on 'The Office'—and still gets flak for flirting with Jenna Fischer's Pam, though he says there's been 'a bit of a shift' in public opinion

"I did what I thought was the right thing to do," the pop icon wrote in her memoir, 'Cher: The Memoir, Part One'

• After 10 years in elementary education, I decided I no longer wanted to be a teacher.
• I wanted a more flexible job that allowed me to stay at home with my kids.
• When time allows, I'm able to make more money than I did as a teacher and have a better work-life balance.

When I went into education, I did so with the best intentions. Being a male elementary school teacher was sort of like being a unicorn. It is extremely rare for a man to be teaching early elementary. There were plenty of single-mom families in the area where I lived, and I knew many students didn't have a male role model at home to inspire them, so I thought I could fill this void. I took the responsibility seriously.

But after ten years in the field, I had to tap out for a few reasons. None of the reasons really had to do with the students themselves. The pay wasn't great (after 10 years of teaching I was still taking home just around $3,000 a month) and I didn't enjoy the politics of teaching. But, the most important reason was probably that my wife and I were ready to start a family. She often works long hours and I didn't want someone else to raise my children. I thought I could find a way to contribute financially and still be home with the children.

Becoming a freelance writer

Before I went into education, I had been a journalist for a few years. It wasn't something I really enjoyed at the time and I didn't see myself wanting to cover mundane board meetings forever. If you ever suffer from insomnia, just drop in on these meetings occasionally. It's like an instant sleeping pill.

Still, I thought I was a decent writer. I've certainly read worse over the years from people who made their living as professional writers. So while I was still teaching, I joined Upwork, a website that connects freelancers with those looking to hire contract workers. Upwork allows people or companies to search for a specific type of writer they are looking for to complete their project at hand. You are competing against other writers who are also applying, but Upwork is a great tool to use when you are first attempting a freelance career.

To begin, I set my fees low to get my foot in the door. Then it wasn't long before I had clients who were asking me to write for them on either a weekly or monthly basis. As an unexpected bonus, most of the topics I covered genuinely interested me. Health and fitness, education, and even ghostwriting children's books were all things I enjoyed writing — and I was getting paid to do it.

Fast forward four months

As I was wrapping up my last weeks in the classroom before the school year ended, I realized I could go give my notice that I would not be coming back to teach the following August.

I had just made $6,000 in one month from freelancing — and that was while I was still teaching. I would definitely miss my students and all the friends I had made, but being able to set my own schedule, work from home, and raise my kids was something I could not pass up. My wife and I were having children later on in life, and the math showed me I would probably not get the chance to spend as much time with my kids as other fathers, so I switched careers.

My plan is mostly working well

I'll admit, I underestimated how much time I would have to write while taking care of two babies at home. I've really had to narrow down my client list over the last five years, picking the ones that are truly worthwhile. Now I only accept writing assignments I can get excited about.

Though I only have about 15 hours of free time at home a week where I can focus on writing, I have made the most of it. In fact, you can find my two children's books "Ellie and Jack: Third Grade Ghost Hunters," and "Ellie and Jack: Third Grade Vampire Hunters," on Amazon and other sites. I always wanted to write children's books, and after helping thousands of children become better readers over the years, I think I have a pretty good idea on the types of stories they love to read. Weaving my teaching past into my current career has been a joy.

With one child getting ready for kindergarten and the other just a couple of years away, it won't be long before I will have more time to write once again.

On the 'Office Ladies' podcast, Fischer revealed that the show's cast filmed a whole day with a different actress in Adams's role

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Baumgartner also shared holiday episode memories with 'Office Ladies' hosts Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer

Kaling also revealed her favorite Christmas-themed Michael Scott quote

"When we're together, you'll know she loves me," Love adds

Dick Van Dyke and Mira Sorvino also revealed they evacuated after the Franklin Fire began on Monday, Dec. 9

Dick Van Dyke and Mira Sorvino also revealed they evacuated after the Franklin Fire began on Monday, Dec. 9

• Prime Video's "Reacher" season three arrives in February.
• The series follows Alan Ritchson as the former military policeman Jack Reacher.
• Here's what we know about "Reacher" season three.

Based on Lee Child's "Jack Reacher" books, Prime Video's "Reacher" series shows no signs of slowing down. Season two wrapped up last January with an action-packed finale, and season three will be out in February.

The show follows Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, a former military investigator who has become a nomad since leaving the armed forces and frequently gets caught up in conspiracies, assassination attempts, and underworld shenanigans.

The first season introduces Reacher in a mystery involving corruption in a small town, season two focuses more on his past, and it seems like season three is setting up a bigger challenge for the titular hero.

Here's what we know about "Reacher" season three.

The 'Reacher' season 3 trailer confirms that it is based on the 2003 book, 'Persuader'

On Wednesday, Amazon released a full "Reacher" season three trailer. It confirms the basic plot alongside some wince-inducing action and an intimidating new opponent for Reacher: Paulie.

Paulie is a seven-foot-two henchman who is more than a match for Reacher, as seen when he knocks him down with a slap. He's played by Olivier Richters, a Dutch bodybuilder.

In the trailer, Reacher is recruited by the Drug Enforcement Administration to go undercover with a shady group who appear to be using a rug business as a front for selling illegal weaponry. This is the basis for Child's 2003 Reacher book, "Persuader."

Frances Neagley (Maria Sten), who used to work on Reacher's Special Investigators team back in their military days, also makes an appearance in the teaser.

The show's synopsis also teases what to expect.

It reads: "Reacher hurtles into the dark heart of a vast criminal enterprise when trying to rescue an undercover DEA informant whose time is running out. There he finds a world of secrecy and violence — and confronts some unfinished business from his own past."

'Reacher' season 3 starts on February 20, 2025

Following the "Reacher" season three teaser, Amazon confirmed that the first three episodes will drop on February 20, 2025.

New episodes will then be released weekly until the finale on March 27.

Alan Ritchson is joined by some newcomers in 'Reacher' season 3 cast

Alongside Ritchson, Sten, and Richters, Anthony Michael Hall, Sonya Cassidy, Brian Tee, Johnny Berchtold, Robert Montesinos, and Daniel David Stewart, have been cast in undisclosed roles.

In October 2024, Deadline reported that Amazon greenlit a "Neagley" spinoff series, with Ritchson set to make a guest appearance.

So it seems likely that "Reacher" season three will set up the spinoff.

Retired Green Beret David Harris rates portrayals of explosions in movies and TV shows.

He looks at how RPGs are employed in "Black Hawk Down," starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and Eric Bana; "Tropic Thunder," starring Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and Jack Black; and "White House Down," starring Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. He discusses the different ways to launch grenades in "Extraction II," starring Chris Hemsworth and Idris Elba; and "RRR," starring Ram Charan and N.T. Rama Rao Jr. He explains how landmines are activated in "Commando," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger; "Nobody," starring Bob Odenkirk, Christopher Lloyd, and RZA; and "Da 5 Bloods," starring Chadwick Boseman, Delroy Lindo, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. He answers whether you can stop a grenade by jumping on one in "Act of Valor." He talks about the effects of stun grenades in "The Town," starring Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, and Jon Hamm. Finally, he breaks down how airstrikes work in "We Were Soldiers," starring Mel Gibson, Sam Elliot, and Greg Kinnear.

David Harris served in the US Army for 20 years, including as a Special Forces weapons sergeant. He is the CEO of Harris Strategic Solutions, which provides tactical training to military and law enforcement members.

Find out more about David Harris and Harris Strategic Solutions here:

https://www.harrisstrategicsolutionsllc.com/about

The quarterback said it's "heartbreaking" realizing he's losing friends and family in the trailer for his upcoming Netflix docuseries