Summer Reflections
Last year at this time, I was feeling a huge sense of dread about starting school back up in the fall. I had been working as a teacher in a different town for 12 years, at a good paying job with students I loved. My own children were high school aged though, and I wanted to be closer to them and get involved more at the school I worked at. I felt like time was running out for me and I needed a change of pace.
Living in a different town than I worked in for me was hard. I wanted to be involved in things at the school but also be able to be close to my family. Early in my teaching career, I was told by a mentor that I didn't want to live and work in the same town, that I wanted my anonymity. I realize now that that was actually not what I wanted, but I lacked the self-awareness to know that about myself. In actuality, I am glad that things worked out the way they did. If I would have not listened to my mentor, it's possible I never would have been able to get a teaching job in the first place. I am grateful for his advice.
A few weeks after dealing with the anxiety of another year of commuting, and missing out on things with my kids, I got an email from an acquaintance that there was a job opening, and I was prepared to apply. In my anxiety time, I had updated my resume, brushed up on my interview skills, and reflected on my personal philosophy now that I had been teaching for 12 years. I applied immediately for the position, and I was hired at the local high school, where my children attend. Now, I see my son and daughter on campus, my wife sometimes brings me a coffee during lunch, and I was able to assistant coach for a sport, and I was a club advisor. I have met many awesome kids and sometimes run into them and their families on the weekends downtown. I love my lifestyle now.
In order to make this switch, my wife had to work more because my salary decreased by about 20% with the district change. Through family support, and the willingness to make a huge change, I have a lifestyle that I truly enjoy. Weirdly, it's actually almost difficult to admit that I like my lifestyle now, like I have some guilt that things are ok. I think that guilt comes from my past, but that's a whole different story.
Living in a different town than I worked in for me was hard. I wanted to be involved in things at the school but also be able to be close to my family. Early in my teaching career, I was told by a mentor that I didn't want to live and work in the same town, that I wanted my anonymity. I realize now that that was actually not what I wanted, but I lacked the self-awareness to know that about myself. In actuality, I am glad that things worked out the way they did. If I would have not listened to my mentor, it's possible I never would have been able to get a teaching job in the first place. I am grateful for his advice.
A few weeks after dealing with the anxiety of another year of commuting, and missing out on things with my kids, I got an email from an acquaintance that there was a job opening, and I was prepared to apply. In my anxiety time, I had updated my resume, brushed up on my interview skills, and reflected on my personal philosophy now that I had been teaching for 12 years. I applied immediately for the position, and I was hired at the local high school, where my children attend. Now, I see my son and daughter on campus, my wife sometimes brings me a coffee during lunch, and I was able to assistant coach for a sport, and I was a club advisor. I have met many awesome kids and sometimes run into them and their families on the weekends downtown. I love my lifestyle now.
In order to make this switch, my wife had to work more because my salary decreased by about 20% with the district change. Through family support, and the willingness to make a huge change, I have a lifestyle that I truly enjoy. Weirdly, it's actually almost difficult to admit that I like my lifestyle now, like I have some guilt that things are ok. I think that guilt comes from my past, but that's a whole different story.
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