So, one day I thought things were going pretty decent, I was adjusting to my new job as a middle school teacher, and the unending confusion that is "Common Core," and BAM! I'm told I no longer have a job. I thought I was doing everything that was asked of me, and yes my classes were rough, but was it so bad that I had to be demoted? Apparently. So, I decided "forget being a teacher, I can mold young minds some other way. What has it really done for me?" . . . Well. . . some stuff, but unrelated to the actual teaching part. Looking for jobs is the pits, and sometimes I feel like I'm only qualified for one thing--TEACHING--but then I remember "I have a Bachelor's degree!" Enough of the lemons, they really are making me sour right now.
On a side note, before all this happened I contemplated quitting, I didn't have a contract, I wasn't obligated to any school, I'm a free agent, or as my Employment Law class would say "Independent Contractor."
I bet you're wondering why I'm using such legal terms, well, I am now a paralegal student. Yep, that's right! I've been contemplating it for a few years now, and I decided this is my opportunity. Being let go was a good thing, a sign, if you will. I am now taking online classes, and I can still work part-time. It's not as great as a full-time job, but I think I've settled on a gig that will work with my schedule, and still pay well. Having a Bachelor's does have its perks.
I'm not as angry or cranky as I used to be. I'm not worrying about my students, making lesson plans or grading papers at home, or answering to the Common Core. I just decided to take a step into the dark, and the light grew. Opportunities for employment opened up; were they the best choices, maybe not, but they filled time and space until the right one came along. Believe me, I still doubt sometimes, but I hold firm to the choice that I made to go back to school because I've never felt like it was a bad choice (my doubts are how am I going to pay for this?).My Classes are cool! I'm learning a lot about employment law. I love watermelon!
**Note: I was let go on September 30, and started school October 14--yeah, that fast!
