In the book "The End of All Things" by John Scalzi, a character reflects on their past life before space, revealing their profession as an eighth-grade math teacher in Tallahassee. This revelation surprises another character, who did not anticipate such a job from this individual. The teacher humorously responds to the surprise by expressing the challenges of teaching algebra to difficult students over many years.

The teacher shares their perspective on the frustrations faced throughout their career, implying that dealing with unruly students has left them with lasting feelings of annoyance, which they expect will diminish only after a decade. This exchange highlights the struggle and dedication involved in teaching, even amidst challenges.