Yet Another Wrong Decision?
Hello all,
I’ve done a number of things in the relatively short time I have been in the work force, and I feel confident that teaching is the right place for me (at least for a while). So what’s the problem then? What if I didn’t choose the right area on which to focus? I am very close to finishing my teaching degree for Secondary Language Arts (aka English for grades 7-12), and recently I have come across two dilemmas…
One: My ultimate goal is to be able to teach theatre. Generally speaking, English teachers are the ones who do this in most high schools. However, in my state there is a separate drama teaching license for which only a few select college programs are accredited. I was unaware of this, and naturally, my school doesn’t even have a theatre program much less a teaching program for theatre. The good news is that my undergraduate degree is in theatre. The bad news is I likely won’t be done with school in December after all if I want to pursue this.
Two: I have been tutoring some younger students in math and English recently, and I have discovered that I love working with students in the range of 3rd-6th grades. As you may astutely observe, I will not be certified for those grades. It’s not that I dislike working with high schoolers, but there is something about the energy and curiosity of these students that is so great! They aren’t cynical yet, and they do have some depth of thought and understanding.
I can hear some select members of my family now- “Just when we thought you decided to do something with your life, you are screwing around again.” Maybe. Believe me I do feel that way sometimes. But maybe I just need to continue learning and growing and trying things out until I find my place in life. Maybe I’ll be perpetually searching. Isn’t that what life is all about anyhow?
Live to Learn,
Jill
Hello Jill and welcome to the teaching profession!
I understand and appreciate your dilemma. I began teaching in 1982 and was an elementary teacher for 17 years. For the first half of my career, I taught in rural, inner-city, and suburban public schools in Texas. I then used my teaching certificate to travel overseas. I spent 8 consecutive years teaching at private international (American) schools in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.
Unable to readjust to the public schools after coming back from overseas, I opted out of education and pursued a degree in culinary arts.
For the next few years I worked in the food service industry. At one time or another I was a waiter, host, cashier, shift leader, prep cook, line cook, and manager. In time I became a working chef.
Although I enjoyed being a chef, the hours are incredibly long. As much as teachers sometimes complain about the amount of time they put into their job, chefs routinely work 60-70 hours a week. Unlike teachers, chefs work on weekends and holidays. We don’t get summer vacation or spring break.
At some point in my 2nd career, I began thinking about all the time off I had while working as a teacher. I also thought about why I enjoyed being a chef.
Two years ago, I reentered the field of education as a high school chef instructor. I now run a culinary arts department and supervise a student operated restaurant.
I think I have the best of both worlds. I’m a teacher but I get to work with food.
Unlike core academic teachers, I don’t have to teach to a test. Unlike most restaurants, our student operated restaurant doesn’t have to make a profit. We only have to offset food costs.
I enjoyed being an elementary teacher … but I like the creativity of being a culinary arts instructor.
When I was an elementary teacher, I kept a six pack of sodas in the bottom of my desk drawer. I also had a couple of granola bars.
As a chef instructor, my goodness … I have a 6 beverage soda machine and 3 beverage punch dispenser. I have crushed ice, ice cream, and all sorts of food in our walk-in refrigerator and freezer.
Since my class is an elective, most of the kids I have are also kids who actually want to be there.
Regards,
Chef David Chin
Comment by Chef Dave — December 12, 2008 @ 5:10 pm