"Some are born great; some achieve greatness; and some have greatness thrust upon them." "Twelfth Night," Act 3 Scene 4. This article examines the differences and similarities between two faculty members as they discuss their entry into the academy after successfully teaching in secondary schools. Both brought with them the "maturity" gained from a work hiatus prior to continuing their education. Joe taught English and drama in Canada for 12 years and completed his masters part-time before embarking full-time on doctoral work. Rick taught high school English in San Francisco for seven years prior to enrolling in his doctoral program.