Wednesday, January 27, 2010

I mean, I have zero qualifications, but you have a dvd player right? So if you could just point me to my classroom...

I don't think it's a secret to anybody I know that I don't love my job. I don't understand much of anything about our state government, so I usually have no idea what anybody's talking about. I rarely get to interact with my coworkers (or anybody else, for that matter). The coworkers closest in age to me have all had babies since I started, so I'm usually the odd man out in group discussions. People with kids just love to talk about kids! And worst of all, I just don't feel like anything I do helps anyone or makes any difference. I really like my coworkers. When we DO go out to lunch together or talk about non-work things, it's always the highlight of my work week. But overall, it's a pretty lonely, unsatisfying, unfulfilling place. For now, quitting isn't a feasible option. But when I can quit, I want whatever I do next to be as far removed from this kind of work as it can possibly be. I have no idea what lease purchase means. I don't understand tax deductions, tax credits or sales tax exemptions. Weighted pupil units? CPI? School operating millage? Nope, nope, and nope. And even if I did know, I don't believe I would care. Maybe I'm asking a lot, but I want to feel like I'm knowledgable about, and interested in, my work.

One of the things I think I might enjoy is teaching. It's certain to be rewarding, and I doubt I'll ever have a minute to think "I am bored" or "man, I wish somebody would talk to me today." I always wanted to be a teacher when I was younger. But then I wonder if I'm mostly imagining the field trips and Magic School Bus episodes and field days and Charlotte's Web county fair and holiday parties and summers off, and ignoring the part about making lesson plans and being observed and dealing with all the problems students and their parents can have. Every job has its downsides, of course, and I suspect the good would outweigh the bad, but part of me thinks that maybe I'm just incredibly lazy and won't be happy in any job because I don't want to work at all. And unlike waitressing, teaching isn't exactly a job you can 'try out' for a while to see if you like it. Once they hire you, they're banking on you sticking it out for (at least) 9 months. Which might feel a lot longer if you realize kids are the worst and who needs language arts and why aren't there more Wishbones, thanks for nothing you lazy dog.

So! Who wants to hire me to teach some children?

3 comments:

Erin said...

ooooh, erin, out of my brain!!! ;)

I'm Erin. said...

Well I don't know about teaching, because I don't necessarily care for other people's children. But I do know that life here on earth is just too short to be doing something that you don't enjoy-
Something that you dread on Sunday nights.
So I would encourage you to try new things and figure out what makes you happy! You're young, go find it now :)
Have you considered subbing for a bit to get a feel for the classroom?

Anonymous said...

My dad always told us to do something that made us happy, even if it paid us in peanuts. If we were going to be miserable in our jobs, even if we made a fortune, he told us it wasn't worth it. I believe it.

Also, here is the pot pie recipe (sorry for being a slacker!):
2 9-inch refrigerated pie crusts
5-oz can boneless chicken in broth, undrained, chopped
16-oz can mixed vegetables, drained
10 3/4 oz can cream of chicken soup
1/4 t. pepper
1/4 t. jerk seasoning OR poultry seasoning

Place one refrigerated pie crust into a 9" pie plate according to package directions; do not bake. Combine remaining ingredients together and spoon into pie crust. Place second crust on top, fold edges under and flute. Cut slits in top. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut into 8 slices and serve.
(I have made this with and without the extra seasoning, and thought it was super tasty both ways.) Hope you like it! You better let me know!