Wall Street Dreams or Mountain Streams

“If I weren’t teaching economics,” Mr. Craig paused in front of the whiteboard with dramatic sincerity, “I’d probably be in the NBA earning millions a year by now.” 

There was a beat of silence, then laughter, as his economics lessons often do. With a flowing tone that effortlessly blends humor with clarity, Mr. Craig weaves jokes into even the most serious discussions of AD/AS curves, with NBA references serving as a regular source of inspiration. For a long time, this tricked me into assuming he had a passion for playing basketball in his free time - until he admitted, with a playful grin, that he’s actually “terrible at basketball.” 

His real passion lies in venturing into the wilderness, where things are fresh, unconfined, and far from Wi-Fi.

“I’m going to Beijing after the semester ends. I’m planning to visit some friends and go on a hiking trip,” he told me.

Trekking over mountain streams and immersing himself in the lush greenery, Mr. Craig finds joy in the tranquility nature offers, along with its unpredictability. He shared one of his favorite memories of hiking, where he stayed in the remote mountains of Nepal for an entire month.

“There was one point when we reached above 5,000 meters,” he recalled. “That was incredibly challenging, but the reward of getting to the top was pretty satisfying.”

He remembers the altitude sickness and sleepless nights, where the sound of trickling mountain waters served as a source of consolation. He didn’t stay in hotels. Instead, he and his friends passed through small villages, staying in local homes or setting up tents, falling asleep to the sound of distant winds moving through the meandering valley.

Not knowing where the next mountain stream would appear or when the next storm would hit, Mr. Craig cherished the layered, humbling experience of the outdoors. The caprice of nature was both grounding and liberating.

Graduating from McGill University during the 2008 financial crisis, competition in the job market was fierce. Teaching English in Asia as a temporary escape plan, he then coincidentally met someone teaching economics in high school during his travels. The school was in desperate need of another economics teacher

“I was very, very lucky.”

When asked if teaching economics was something he had envisioned in his youth, Mr. Craig smiled and shared his original plan: to study economics and finance, and become “very, very rich.” (Which I quietly wondered if it would have exceeded NBA earnings) But eventually, he realized he wanted something different and pursued a master’s degree in academic economics.

“Everyone is drawn to the money and glamour of the finance industry, but I think the reality of working in banking and finance is a lot less glamorous than it appears.”

Instead of sitting at a desk all day, staring at numbers, Mr. Craig turned his educational career, which was once a backup plan, into something more enduring. One of the main reasons he chose to stay, he admits, was so that his three-year-old son could one day attend YK Pao School. “My wife and I wanted the best education for him.” His genuineness always brings a smile.

Mr. Craig and his son sitting in the snow

After all, Mr. Craig didn’t become an NBA superstar or a Wall Street millionaire. In the bustling world of illusive splendor, he lives a life that is authentic to his own callings. 

“I’d like to go to Kenya and Tanzania someday,” he added, as our conversation drew to a close. “I want to see African animals - and I don’t know much about East African culture either.”

And I knew, somewhere in the boundless terrain of East Africa, his callings would continue to echo, resonating, as always, with the rhythm of nature in an unhurried pace.