101 Here I Come: When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Buy a Watermelon Instead

On the Title

Roi-Et a.k.a. "101" is a city in the northeast of Thailand. I spent more than "One Night in Bangkok," and was on my way to Roi-Et. It wasn't my final destination in Thailand, but the place where I grew the most. I gained a tolerance for spicy food, and learned a little dialect called Essan-- a mixture of Laos and Thai. I learned that it's not the destination but the journey that matters. Just as random as my adventures were in Thailand, so is my life--it's like living in L.A. (oh by the way L.A. is another nickname for Roi-Et).

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Buy a Watermelon Instead

Wow! So, 2013 will be known as the year that just didn't work out. Oh well, I'll just chalk it up and move on. Through some unpleasant experiences (lemons) I decided that teaching isn't for me, and I'll just transition into something else (watermelon). Here's the story . . .

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!