Golden Apple Teacher Education (GATE), which began as a partnership between the nonprofit Golden Apple Foundation and Northwestern University and later expanded to other Chicago-area university sites, provides an accelerated path for career-changing professionals to become teachers in Chicago schools. Such programs, which have multiplied nationwide during the past decade, are often referred to by critics as "fast tracks" and "boot camps." While prospective interns go through a rigorous application and interview process, participate in an intensive summer training phase, and are mentored throughout their first year, one unarguable fact remains: After eight weeks of preparation, they are standing in front of their own public school classrooms. This article tells the story of a participant in the GATE alternative-certification program, Charlie Bright, who moved from a career in finance to one in education, and discovered just how hard, and how rewarding, his new profession could be.