Why teach?
Possibly the most common question I’ve been asked since
changing careers. Listen, I probably
technically worked in the field that I received my bachelor’s degree for only 2
years. Although in 8 years of adult
teaching I would say I’ve taught information technology. There is a need; that’s why teach. What I like about teaching is I can be
creative, and while I have boundaries in what I teach, I design my look/tone of
my classroom. Those of you that know me
know that the illusion that I have control is important. Now, to choose a profession is which I have
the least amount of control…but the illusion of control. Perfect! Sign me up! It’s like being a mom, a mom of 120. So, now
really…why teach?
I DON’T KNOW, STOP ASKING.
Any answer I give sounds cheesy anyway.
Listen it started when I was laid off from my first job out of college
and I started substitute teaching …it was a job. I didn’t think I was
particularly skilled at it, I just read someone else’s plans really well, and
stuck to the script. I am really good at
dialogue, pulling topics from the air and even my substitute teaching was
relevant. Not to mention…teachers kept
calling me back. They wanted me
there! Huh! So…that’s not what I went to
school for and another job opportunity came up so I better do that. But after 1 year in a job leaving at 6 AM and
returning at 6 PM I wasn’t satisfied, I had no time for my family and I wasn’t
making a difference. At least not in my
mind. I was good at my job, I play work
just as good as I play school. I thought I’d get a teaching license while I
worked but I was going to have to quit my job to student teach. I cannot afford that! If only I had known, two weeks after the
deadline to enroll, I got laid off AGAIN. Two weeks after that…I’m
pregnant?? How do I look for a job now?!
Humf.
That started the spiraling career of teaching; I might add
within this stretch I joined some ladies in a bible study…Spiritual Gifts. #1- Teacher, Are you serious? I’m just
teaching to stay at home with my kids, I am not meant to teach. Yet babysitting
turned to in-home certified daycare turned to: “I WANT THESE KIDS OUT OF MY
HOUSE.”
I still don’t have a teaching license so…I’ll teach adults.
Perfect! After 2 years of teaching
Office Technology courses another “company” closes on me and I’m without a
job. Are you serious? Thank goodness for the community
college. That kept me afloat for 5 more
years, but as courses changed, funding was depleted and I was working
quarter-to-quarter to keep a contract; I was uneasy.
So to prove that I had other skills I picked up a summer
job, not teaching this was 2010. 10
years after the original teaching experience.
Here I am working a sweet gig and…I hated it! So, I took 2 weeks off to teach kids how to
use computers and design documents for their 4H projects. I got paid well-enough to be off “work.” Then IT happened…I went home at the end of
the 2 weeks and sitting at the dinner table I told my husband, “it’s been so
nice not going to work the past couple of weeks.” Quizzically he looks at me and I smacked my
forehead. Dummy! You were working,
difference is…you like it!
The hard work, the work that doesn’t feel like work. That’s why I teach!
Now How?
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