In a horrible economy where everyone is getting laid off, it is quite possible that one of the "worst" fields to go into is education. Teachers are getting pink-slipped and even tenured teachers worry about the stability of their job. Classroom sizes are increasing. In the primary grades, when the foundation of reading and writing is being taught, many students who need the most attention are bring overshadowed by those who have behavior problems. It is safe to say that someone going into a career in this field is adventurous, unusually optimistic, and perhaps even a little crazy.
By the way, I just became a credentialed teacher and am currently pursuing a Master's in Teaching. What was I thinking? I chose teaching because of its stability and how conducive it is to the family life I dream to have. Of course, first and foremost, I love working with children, and it was almost perfect when I decided to devote my life to education. Now, instead of preparing for my own classroom and having this stable job I had worked for, I am competing with laid off teachers and ex-substitutes from all over the country who are interviewing for the same positions as me.
If I ever had a glimmering notion that maybe I was special and my passion for educating our youth would stand out on my resume and cover letters, that thought has quickly been humbled by my "superior" competition. Perhaps if I had more experience I would get hired. Now that's quite a paradox. What came first? The teacher or the student?
This adventure has been full of ups and downs: the excitement of an interview, the crushing feeling of another rejection letter. It's almost like dating (something I have been lucky enough to avoid because of a wonderful boyfriend) or acting (something I used to pursue). As I take my daily vitamin, I raise my glass of filtered water and think "here's to... FINALLY, HOPEFULLY, SOON becoming a teacher!"
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