In college, I often felt overwhelmed and struggled to comprehend lectures. It was not until I encountered a few exceptional professors that I realized the problem lay in the way information was communicated. This realization inspired me to become a professor myself, with a goal of simplifying complex concepts and setting students up for success in their careers, specifically in the energy field.However, after becoming a professor, my enthusiasm for academia soon waned due to two major issues. Firstly, academic funding became a chaotic mess, with grant applications being approved for projects that lacked merit (I even turned down grant funding for projects I deemed unworthy). Secondly, the priorities of the institutions overshadowed the needs of the students. It is important to note that these issues are not the fault of the professors necessarily, but rather the systems surrounding them.Consequently, I made the bold decision to leave academia behind. Although I still cherish the opportunity to teach, conduct research, and help individuals comprehend the intricacies of energy systems, I now do so by directly engaging with engineers and researchers who are tackling the challenges in industry.My current approach involves utilizing my expertise through consulting, conducting industry-relevant research, and working with a company that assists other organizations in understanding their data. By taking this path, I firmly believe that I am making a more significant impact than ever before.