Exciting. Apprehensive. Overwhelming. Invigorating. Structured. Challenging. Exhausting. Fulfilling. Enjoyable. These are just a few words that describe my back-to-work experience this week.
A few people may wonder how a simple position as a library assistant could possibly be invigorating or fulfilling. I can hear it now, "Don't you just shelve and check-out books?" Um...no. There's actually much more to the job than that, but most people think that's all a bonafide librarian does anyway. However, because I am working on my master's degree in the field, I am privy to much more than a typical library assistant would be. I'm so excited to be working under a wonderful librarian who is basically treating the opportunity as a mentorship. We look at budgets and Accelerated Reader testing. We discuss policy and brainstorm on how the library could be rearranged. We are much more of a "team" than a typical librarian/assistant would be.
I have been pretty well exhausted this week, though. First of all, I'm not used to being on my feet all day. This is one aspect of the job that I didn't expect: I rarely get to sit because we are constantly busy and on-the-go all day. That adds to the tired I'm already feeling from trying to get back into a school sleep schedule rather than a "wake up when you want to" summertime schedule. I admit that I'm not doing very well on getting to bed early enough, but I have forced myself out early enough to get a tiny bit of exercise in (this week I need to work on doubling my exercise time).
My freezer meals have been a tremendous help so far. I'm already worried about running out of "goodies" because I either don't have time and/or energy to get to the grocery store after school.
I am a bit anxious about my grad school classes beginning this week. I'm taking nine hours this semester (glad I dropped one class earlier this summer; I could have never handled 12 hours and a new job!). I'm not exactly excited about coming home and getting started on homework when I have plenty of chores to take care of, dinner to cook and when I need to be supervising my children's homework/chores. I'm wondering where I will find the energy? Where will I find the time? The evenings are so short as it is...and we haven't even begun extracurriculars like soccer and piano lessons for the girls, yet. Still, I keep reminding myself that others are in the same boat. They lived and survived; so will I.
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Preparing for a New School Year: Meal Planning
Recently, I mentioned that I was trying to make meal-planning a bit simpler. Well, apparently there's nothing like getting a full-time job to put your organizational efforts into hyper-drive! Here's what I've been doing to get prepared for the new school year:
Purse-Sized Meal Planning Grocery/Recipe Cards
Inspired after reading Nannygoat's 30 day meal plan, I downloaded some trendy & stylish recipe cards (here) and filled them out the most commonly eaten meals in our home. On the cards, I also included suggestions for vegetables and side dishes which are often a difficult decision in themselves. Since I made the JPG recipe cards and filled them out using Adobe Photoshop, I decided to send them to my local photolab for printing. I am slipping them into a small 4x6 photo album and will carry them in my purse. Now, when I'm out shopping, I can make sure I don't forget to buy that one pesky ingredient that I always seem to forget!
Once a Month Cooking (or OMAC)
I've heard a lot about Once a Month Cooking over the years. I've always meant to give it a try, but lacked the motivation and/or a free day to devote to cooking. However, the combination of the husband being out of town on Friday-Saturday and my desire to get things together before my first day on the job Monday gave me an opportunity to try it this weekend. The basic premise is that you buy groceries in bulk, spend a day cooking said groceries, package for freezing and enjoy your bounty of prepared meals out of the freezer for days to come. Many people actually try to make enough meals for an entire month, but I decided just to cook as much as I could and call it "good."
The most important part of this OMAC thing is the menu planning/grocery list stage. I spent many hours on the internet looking up recipes and tips for freezing. I found most of my recipes at recipezaar.com where you can search "OMAC" or "make ahead" and find loads of recipes. Some people plan their meals based on which meats are on sale, but I simply chose things my family would actually eat. Then, I made out a huge grocery list and divided it by the sections in our grocery store (fresh, cold, frozen, canned) to help find things quickly and easily. I was dreading the trip to the store. In my mind, I imagined that it would take hours on end to find everything. However, since I went at the end of a long day of back-to-school shopping and I was ready to get home, I simply stuck to my list and got out rather quickly. I was also dreading the final tally on the check-out receipt, but it was actually just bit over what a typical excursion to the grocery costs. (Another reason why people like OMAC: it prevents waste and saves money in the end.)
Saturday was cooking day, and--I'll be honest--it was a long one. I started cooking at 8 a.m. and finished at 4 p.m. I'm sure I could have been a bit better with my cooking organization and saved time, but my "method" was to look around and ask, "What needs to be cooked next?" I also had two little kitchen elves who were a great help (and it felt good to be teaching them some cooking skills). I had to overcome my desire to constantly clean up and, instead, waited until the end of the day to clean up just once (though I did wash some dishes along the way). I used all my resources including my trusty crock pot and my bread maker. Here's what I ended up with at the end of the day (links provided to the recipes I used):
*Meat for tacos/spaghetti
*1 Chicken & Rice Casserole
*10 Breakfast Burritos (will do more after we see how they taste post-freezer)
*Shredded chicken (to use in casseroles or soups)
*6 Calzones (using this bread maker dough recipe)
*Pulled Pork for sandwiches (frozen in individual servings for lunches)
*Chicken Relleno (a new recipe, but quite tasty)
*6 Hamburger Steaks
*2 packages of homemade chicken broth (left from cooking chicken)
*10 slices of breakfast sausage (ready to be microwaved for a quick meal)
*Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread (thanks to my parent's overflowing garden--we made muffins instead of loaves)
*Fried Rice with Chicken (actually, I have the rice ready but I need to finish this meal today)
*2 packages of brown rice to be used as a side
I also froze pork chops and a roast beef that can be thawed and thrown into the crock pot. And, while I was at it, I decided to try my hand at Sticky Roast Chicken which I prepared and will be cooking for lunch today.
Yes, it was a long day, but I feel a little more under control and relieved knowing that, if all else fails, there is something in the freezer to eat!
Purse-Sized Meal Planning Grocery/Recipe Cards
Inspired after reading Nannygoat's 30 day meal plan, I downloaded some trendy & stylish recipe cards (here) and filled them out the most commonly eaten meals in our home. On the cards, I also included suggestions for vegetables and side dishes which are often a difficult decision in themselves. Since I made the JPG recipe cards and filled them out using Adobe Photoshop, I decided to send them to my local photolab for printing. I am slipping them into a small 4x6 photo album and will carry them in my purse. Now, when I'm out shopping, I can make sure I don't forget to buy that one pesky ingredient that I always seem to forget!
Once a Month Cooking (or OMAC)
I've heard a lot about Once a Month Cooking over the years. I've always meant to give it a try, but lacked the motivation and/or a free day to devote to cooking. However, the combination of the husband being out of town on Friday-Saturday and my desire to get things together before my first day on the job Monday gave me an opportunity to try it this weekend. The basic premise is that you buy groceries in bulk, spend a day cooking said groceries, package for freezing and enjoy your bounty of prepared meals out of the freezer for days to come. Many people actually try to make enough meals for an entire month, but I decided just to cook as much as I could and call it "good."
The most important part of this OMAC thing is the menu planning/grocery list stage. I spent many hours on the internet looking up recipes and tips for freezing. I found most of my recipes at recipezaar.com where you can search "OMAC" or "make ahead" and find loads of recipes. Some people plan their meals based on which meats are on sale, but I simply chose things my family would actually eat. Then, I made out a huge grocery list and divided it by the sections in our grocery store (fresh, cold, frozen, canned) to help find things quickly and easily. I was dreading the trip to the store. In my mind, I imagined that it would take hours on end to find everything. However, since I went at the end of a long day of back-to-school shopping and I was ready to get home, I simply stuck to my list and got out rather quickly. I was also dreading the final tally on the check-out receipt, but it was actually just bit over what a typical excursion to the grocery costs. (Another reason why people like OMAC: it prevents waste and saves money in the end.)
Saturday was cooking day, and--I'll be honest--it was a long one. I started cooking at 8 a.m. and finished at 4 p.m. I'm sure I could have been a bit better with my cooking organization and saved time, but my "method" was to look around and ask, "What needs to be cooked next?" I also had two little kitchen elves who were a great help (and it felt good to be teaching them some cooking skills). I had to overcome my desire to constantly clean up and, instead, waited until the end of the day to clean up just once (though I did wash some dishes along the way). I used all my resources including my trusty crock pot and my bread maker. Here's what I ended up with at the end of the day (links provided to the recipes I used):
*Meat for tacos/spaghetti
*1 Chicken & Rice Casserole
*10 Breakfast Burritos (will do more after we see how they taste post-freezer)
*Shredded chicken (to use in casseroles or soups)
*6 Calzones (using this bread maker dough recipe)
*Pulled Pork for sandwiches (frozen in individual servings for lunches)
*Chicken Relleno (a new recipe, but quite tasty)
*6 Hamburger Steaks
*2 packages of homemade chicken broth (left from cooking chicken)
*10 slices of breakfast sausage (ready to be microwaved for a quick meal)
*Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread (thanks to my parent's overflowing garden--we made muffins instead of loaves)
*Fried Rice with Chicken (actually, I have the rice ready but I need to finish this meal today)
*2 packages of brown rice to be used as a side
I also froze pork chops and a roast beef that can be thawed and thrown into the crock pot. And, while I was at it, I decided to try my hand at Sticky Roast Chicken which I prepared and will be cooking for lunch today.
Yes, it was a long day, but I feel a little more under control and relieved knowing that, if all else fails, there is something in the freezer to eat!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Big Changes Ahead
First, I had to make the transition from "Mama" to "University Mama." Then, I had to get used to commuting three times a week rather than twice a week. Then, I had to figure out how handle summertime and summer school. After that, I had to get into "life-after-college" mode when I finished my undergraduate studies, and quickly transitioned into accepting "life-in-graduate-school." Then, there were the three weeks where I had to remember how to live in a dorm and eat in a college cafeteria. Yep, I'd say I've had to make plenty of changes and adjustments over the past three years....but none as big as this one.
After 11 years of being primarily a SAHM (stay at home mom), I'm going back to work full-time!
I was excited to learn that I'd been hired as a library aid at our school. This is excellent on-the-job training for me (not to mention that I'm now getting paid for practicum hours I needed to fulfill anyway). A great resume booster and I'll be working with a top-notch librarian. For someone in my position who is studying to be a librarian, you really couldn't ask for more.
While my photography business has kept me busy, I've never had a steady work routine. I've always had the freedom to schedule doctor's appointments or hair cuts during the day. I've never had to fight the crowds at the grocery store when the hungry masses are just getting off work. I've always been able to leave town for anything from funerals to visits to old friends without major scheduling issues, even while a student at the university. I realize that those days are over to some extent, and that I will have to make significant changes in the way I do things.
I guess a part of me is a little sad to see the SAHM part of my life pass by. It was good while it lasted, but my girls aren't so little anymore. Our plan was for me to stay home until our youngest went to kindergarten. I did, and now it's time for the next step in life. To be honest, I do perform better when I'm adhering to a fixed, regular schedule.
Then, there's the part of me who is nervous about juggling graduate studies with a full-time job. I've always felt sorry for my classmates, most of whom are full-time teachers trying to get homework done while finishing their lesson plans, too. Still, I should be grateful that as an aid, I will not have such a significant work-load. I don't even have to be at school on teacher in-service days or anything.
There are so many questions and ideas and plans rolling around in my head these days, I can hardly sleep. Monday--my first day on the job--will be here soon. I feel like there's so much to do to get ready!
After 11 years of being primarily a SAHM (stay at home mom), I'm going back to work full-time!
I was excited to learn that I'd been hired as a library aid at our school. This is excellent on-the-job training for me (not to mention that I'm now getting paid for practicum hours I needed to fulfill anyway). A great resume booster and I'll be working with a top-notch librarian. For someone in my position who is studying to be a librarian, you really couldn't ask for more.
While my photography business has kept me busy, I've never had a steady work routine. I've always had the freedom to schedule doctor's appointments or hair cuts during the day. I've never had to fight the crowds at the grocery store when the hungry masses are just getting off work. I've always been able to leave town for anything from funerals to visits to old friends without major scheduling issues, even while a student at the university. I realize that those days are over to some extent, and that I will have to make significant changes in the way I do things.
I guess a part of me is a little sad to see the SAHM part of my life pass by. It was good while it lasted, but my girls aren't so little anymore. Our plan was for me to stay home until our youngest went to kindergarten. I did, and now it's time for the next step in life. To be honest, I do perform better when I'm adhering to a fixed, regular schedule.
Then, there's the part of me who is nervous about juggling graduate studies with a full-time job. I've always felt sorry for my classmates, most of whom are full-time teachers trying to get homework done while finishing their lesson plans, too. Still, I should be grateful that as an aid, I will not have such a significant work-load. I don't even have to be at school on teacher in-service days or anything.
There are so many questions and ideas and plans rolling around in my head these days, I can hardly sleep. Monday--my first day on the job--will be here soon. I feel like there's so much to do to get ready!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
I passed!
Today I was able to access my "unofficial" teacher certification test scores online...and I passed! I'm breathing a big sigh of relief because I would have been totally embarrassed had I not passed!
I'm a little uncertain of what I have to do next and I can't find out until I call the state's department of education on Monday. If I understand it correctly, it will happen like this:
I'm a little uncertain of what I have to do next and I can't find out until I call the state's department of education on Monday. If I understand it correctly, it will happen like this:
- I must be reviewed by a panel for licensure (Teacher Competency Review Panel or TCRP). I understand that it's not in-depth, but an approximately 15-minute interview.
- TCRP forwards recommendation to state department of education, I pay any required fees and I am given an initial teaching license. I think that means I might be able to teach this fall, but I'm not certain.
- I must complete a certain amount of professional education. In my case, I must complete six hours. The amount of hours varies from person-to-person based on their working/professional experience within the field they will be teaching. (In other words, I couldn't be a florist and just walk in and get a teaching certificate.) I can complete this after licensure. I think I will be completed with this portion of the requirements by December having taken one class in my master's studies this summer that should meet half of the requirements and the other class to be taken in the fall.
- I must take the OPTE (Oklahoma Professional Teaching Exam) which assesses a person's knowledge about skills needed by educators in order to teach successfully. I can not take this test until after I receive my initial license, but I must complete it in order to receive a five-year teaching certificate. I plan to complete this test this fall.
- Like all first-year teachers in the state of Oklahoma, I must be assigned a "mentor" during my first year who will regulate my progress and (I assume) be available for guidance.
- When I complete my graduate studies, I will also have to take the certification test for Library Media Specialists. Additionally, I plan to take the English certification test since I was an English Ed major as a "traditional" student.
I'm pretty excited and much relieved. I will be calling the TCRP as soon as possible so I can get my interview set up (hopefully this summer) and send my resume to our local school administrators. I feel like I'm finally making progress!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Going to Grad School: Why?
Obviously, if you've been reading my posts for the past year, I wasn't seriously considering enrolling in grad school. I didn't plan to start grad school a only few weeks after graduation, either. Honestly, I had been tossing the idea around for a while, but something held me back.
I am now enrolled in a Library-Media Specialist program. Why?
*I love to read.
*I love technology.
*I love researching.
*I place a high value on education.
*I'm a life-long learner.
*I'm curious (reading/researching helps satisfy my curiosity).
*I have a strong desire to be in a steady job.
*Bonus: I want to be on the same school schedule as my children.
Thirteen years ago when I started my college career as a "true freshman," I was an English Education major. When I started back as an adult student, I still intended to get my teacher certification, but I had planned to go through an alternative certification process. Somewhere along the way, I began to reconsider; the alternative certification process would have been a little more difficult since I had a Mass Comm degree rather than English. I was also a little concerned about the way teacher's are required to teach these days (a.k.a. "teaching for the test"--standardized tests). Still, I always pictured myself working in the school system in some manner.
Throughout my Mass Comm studies, I was encouraged to try my hand at freelance writing as a career choice. While it appealed to me in many ways, I did express my qualms about constantly having to track down work and (once again) I also desired to have steady employment...something that would (for the most part) allow me to go home at the end of the day and not carry my work home. I also wrestled with the decision to send my resume in for a newspaper position that I was definitely qualified for and probably could have taken. I debated with myself constantly, and it never felt like the right thing to do for myself or my family.
I have come to realize that what you CAN do and what's BEST to do are not always the same things. People think that I am a skilled photographer. I could continue in this profession and continue to grow my skills, but it is an unpredictable job--income is unsteady, it requires countless hours of time working in front of a computer and the best hours for photography are often the times that I most want to be with my family (nights/weekends). I could write for a living. It would be interesting work--I would get to research a variety of topics and meet interesting people--but I would also have to basically "beg" for work each day (it's called "marketing" in the freelance world--lol!) and I'm not sure my fragile ego can handle the constant rejection that is part of daily life of a writer.
I'm not going to lie: I'm a job snob. I hate this about myself because I was always taught that no job should ever be beneath me. Not everyone is meant for white collar work; we should all just do whatever job we're given to the best of our abilities. But still...I find myself asking, "What would people think if I did this?" or "Is this a respectable profession?"
What do you think of when you hear the word, "librarian?" Chances are, you are remembering a librarian from your hometown or school. It's probably a woman, she's probably older, and she may or may not be a little grouchy, right? I think the one thing that was holding me back from looking into this (seriously) earlier was that negative perception. That's so childish, I know, especially since most librarians that I know these days don't fit that mold at all!
Honestly, librarian is a very good fit for me in many aspects. I'm actually excited about this new journey, even after surviving my first night of classes. I've got a giant list of young adult literature to read, and I can't wait!
A professor once told me something (twelve years ago) that I've never forgotten: "It's not what you know, it's knowing where to find the answer." I live by that statement. You don't have to be super-smart or remember everything that you've ever read, but if you have the tools to find the answers that you need, you will never lack for anything. Librarians give people the tools to find the answers that they need. This is why grad school--and becoming a librarian--is perfect for me.
P.S. Did I mention that librarian was listed as one of the top 30 best careers for 2009 by U.S. News and World Report?
I am now enrolled in a Library-Media Specialist program. Why?
*I love to read.
*I love technology.
*I love researching.
*I place a high value on education.
*I'm a life-long learner.
*I'm curious (reading/researching helps satisfy my curiosity).
*I have a strong desire to be in a steady job.
*Bonus: I want to be on the same school schedule as my children.
Thirteen years ago when I started my college career as a "true freshman," I was an English Education major. When I started back as an adult student, I still intended to get my teacher certification, but I had planned to go through an alternative certification process. Somewhere along the way, I began to reconsider; the alternative certification process would have been a little more difficult since I had a Mass Comm degree rather than English. I was also a little concerned about the way teacher's are required to teach these days (a.k.a. "teaching for the test"--standardized tests). Still, I always pictured myself working in the school system in some manner.
Throughout my Mass Comm studies, I was encouraged to try my hand at freelance writing as a career choice. While it appealed to me in many ways, I did express my qualms about constantly having to track down work and (once again) I also desired to have steady employment...something that would (for the most part) allow me to go home at the end of the day and not carry my work home. I also wrestled with the decision to send my resume in for a newspaper position that I was definitely qualified for and probably could have taken. I debated with myself constantly, and it never felt like the right thing to do for myself or my family.
I have come to realize that what you CAN do and what's BEST to do are not always the same things. People think that I am a skilled photographer. I could continue in this profession and continue to grow my skills, but it is an unpredictable job--income is unsteady, it requires countless hours of time working in front of a computer and the best hours for photography are often the times that I most want to be with my family (nights/weekends). I could write for a living. It would be interesting work--I would get to research a variety of topics and meet interesting people--but I would also have to basically "beg" for work each day (it's called "marketing" in the freelance world--lol!) and I'm not sure my fragile ego can handle the constant rejection that is part of daily life of a writer.
I'm not going to lie: I'm a job snob. I hate this about myself because I was always taught that no job should ever be beneath me. Not everyone is meant for white collar work; we should all just do whatever job we're given to the best of our abilities. But still...I find myself asking, "What would people think if I did this?" or "Is this a respectable profession?"
What do you think of when you hear the word, "librarian?" Chances are, you are remembering a librarian from your hometown or school. It's probably a woman, she's probably older, and she may or may not be a little grouchy, right? I think the one thing that was holding me back from looking into this (seriously) earlier was that negative perception. That's so childish, I know, especially since most librarians that I know these days don't fit that mold at all!
Honestly, librarian is a very good fit for me in many aspects. I'm actually excited about this new journey, even after surviving my first night of classes. I've got a giant list of young adult literature to read, and I can't wait!
A professor once told me something (twelve years ago) that I've never forgotten: "It's not what you know, it's knowing where to find the answer." I live by that statement. You don't have to be super-smart or remember everything that you've ever read, but if you have the tools to find the answers that you need, you will never lack for anything. Librarians give people the tools to find the answers that they need. This is why grad school--and becoming a librarian--is perfect for me.
P.S. Did I mention that librarian was listed as one of the top 30 best careers for 2009 by U.S. News and World Report?
Friday, October 24, 2008
Advisement
I get by with a little help from my friends....and my advisor.
Today, after getting out of class early, a classmate and I were discussing an upcoming career fair with my advisor. One conversation lead to another and soon he and I were talking about freelance writing. Long before I went back to school, I had been doing a bit a freelancing here and there. I have read several books about the subject and I still follow blogs on freelancing regularly. Still, I have a multitude of questions that nag me and he was kind enough to let me vocally weigh the pros and cons with him. We also discussed other career options given my circumstances. I appreciated his honesty and practicality. He didn't try to sell me the overused American favorite of, "You can do anything that you want to do!" or, "You can be anything you want to be!" But he did say one thing that stuck with me: "(Freelancing) is what I envisioned for you."
My husband has encouraged my writing over the years and friends or family members have often sent kudos my way. Yet, it is easy to shrug off their compliments. It's hard to trust the words of loved ones. They might be a little biased, after all.
So, to hear that my professor--a person who knows my writing style well and who knows the writing world well--"envisions" a future for me in freelancing....well, that makes all the difference. When we were discussing the nagging questions about the field, I mentioned to him that I wasn't sure that "my fragile ego could handle all the rejections." He laughed and agreed that rejections are a big part of the experience. But, somehow knowing that he understands what the job takes and believes that I am up for the task makes me more willing to open up to the possibility of rejection in the first place.
Today, I left with a peaceful feeling; a feeling that I'm finally headed in the right direction. The past year has been a difficult refinement of myself, and I almost feel as if I am coming back full circle. I've explored a variety of career options, learned new skills and learned a whole lot more about myself in the process. But I've got to give credit where credit is due: my advisor has been an invaluable resource throughout this experience and I'm grateful for his help.
Today, after getting out of class early, a classmate and I were discussing an upcoming career fair with my advisor. One conversation lead to another and soon he and I were talking about freelance writing. Long before I went back to school, I had been doing a bit a freelancing here and there. I have read several books about the subject and I still follow blogs on freelancing regularly. Still, I have a multitude of questions that nag me and he was kind enough to let me vocally weigh the pros and cons with him. We also discussed other career options given my circumstances. I appreciated his honesty and practicality. He didn't try to sell me the overused American favorite of, "You can do anything that you want to do!" or, "You can be anything you want to be!" But he did say one thing that stuck with me: "(Freelancing) is what I envisioned for you."
My husband has encouraged my writing over the years and friends or family members have often sent kudos my way. Yet, it is easy to shrug off their compliments. It's hard to trust the words of loved ones. They might be a little biased, after all.
So, to hear that my professor--a person who knows my writing style well and who knows the writing world well--"envisions" a future for me in freelancing....well, that makes all the difference. When we were discussing the nagging questions about the field, I mentioned to him that I wasn't sure that "my fragile ego could handle all the rejections." He laughed and agreed that rejections are a big part of the experience. But, somehow knowing that he understands what the job takes and believes that I am up for the task makes me more willing to open up to the possibility of rejection in the first place.
Today, I left with a peaceful feeling; a feeling that I'm finally headed in the right direction. The past year has been a difficult refinement of myself, and I almost feel as if I am coming back full circle. I've explored a variety of career options, learned new skills and learned a whole lot more about myself in the process. But I've got to give credit where credit is due: my advisor has been an invaluable resource throughout this experience and I'm grateful for his help.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Out of My Element (Or In It?)
Today I was a substitute teacher at our local school. I was actually kind of looking forward to the experience because I did a quick count and calculated that I had not subbed in close to 13 years. Yikes! It really only seems like yesterday!! I was interested in being in the school as a non-parent to see what things were like (perception is often different than reality). Also, I was considering part of a "trial run" on my part. I am so conflicted right now about whether to get my teacher certification after I graduate or actually work in the field of my degree.
Guess what? I left today feeling no more decisive.
I really like the community atmosphere of the school, but I also know that no school is without controversy at times and there's always difficult parents or students to throw into the mix.
I really like the feeling of helping a kid understand a concept. I had to help explain pronouns and antecedents to 7th graders today (despite the fact that I totally couldn't remember what an antecedent was and had to look it up!). I really liked how it felt when I could break it down so the kid could "get it."
However, I didn't like dealing with the kids who were constantly distracting others and not getting work done. I know part of this has to do with the fact that I am not really the authority as a sub, but it is frustrating nonetheless. I'm sure that there have to be some helpful classroom management skills out there that I could learn if I did decide to teach.
I really, really liked how quickly the day passed. There aren't too many jobs that are considered 8-3 (of course, few teachers actually leave at 3 and many end up working evenings and weekends), but no one would argue that it isn't a great job (time-wise) for a mom.
There are so many conflicting factors that both draw me to teaching and at the same time, make me want to run in the opposite direction. Plus, I've got to remember that I can't base the teaching profession on our small school--most schools aren't like ours.
I'm even more confused than ever before. Maybe I should move to a communist country where they can just assign me a job so I can get on with my life.
{just kiddin'}
Guess what? I left today feeling no more decisive.
I really like the community atmosphere of the school, but I also know that no school is without controversy at times and there's always difficult parents or students to throw into the mix.
I really like the feeling of helping a kid understand a concept. I had to help explain pronouns and antecedents to 7th graders today (despite the fact that I totally couldn't remember what an antecedent was and had to look it up!). I really liked how it felt when I could break it down so the kid could "get it."
However, I didn't like dealing with the kids who were constantly distracting others and not getting work done. I know part of this has to do with the fact that I am not really the authority as a sub, but it is frustrating nonetheless. I'm sure that there have to be some helpful classroom management skills out there that I could learn if I did decide to teach.
I really, really liked how quickly the day passed. There aren't too many jobs that are considered 8-3 (of course, few teachers actually leave at 3 and many end up working evenings and weekends), but no one would argue that it isn't a great job (time-wise) for a mom.
There are so many conflicting factors that both draw me to teaching and at the same time, make me want to run in the opposite direction. Plus, I've got to remember that I can't base the teaching profession on our small school--most schools aren't like ours.
I'm even more confused than ever before. Maybe I should move to a communist country where they can just assign me a job so I can get on with my life.
{just kiddin'}
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Campus Organizations
The one thing that I feel like I missed out on by side-stepping college in my younger days was campus organizations. Actually, I was involved in at least one back in the day (it was a pretty cool one--we booked concerts on campus and dealt with the behind-the-scenes stuff) but there were so many other great opportunities that I missed out on. Many students probably don't understand the potential that organizations have for networking and contacts as well as once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that could impact their careers down the road.
Yesterday, I decided to hang around for the first meeting of our department's campus club. I'll admit, I felt out of my element as a "grown up" joining a campus club, but I tried my best to get over those feelings because I really want to be a part of some of the activities that this club usually plans. Last year, I missed out on a chance to visit a radio station, a television studio and a major (really major) advertising agency.
Many people promote being a part of campus organizations for the resume boosting potential. Personally, I don't think this applies quite as much to the adult student because employers are more interested in your work history and job skills set than whether you were a Delta Delta Gamma or sold plants for the Biology Club. But it definitely can't hurt.
Yesterday, I decided to hang around for the first meeting of our department's campus club. I'll admit, I felt out of my element as a "grown up" joining a campus club, but I tried my best to get over those feelings because I really want to be a part of some of the activities that this club usually plans. Last year, I missed out on a chance to visit a radio station, a television studio and a major (really major) advertising agency.
Many people promote being a part of campus organizations for the resume boosting potential. Personally, I don't think this applies quite as much to the adult student because employers are more interested in your work history and job skills set than whether you were a Delta Delta Gamma or sold plants for the Biology Club. But it definitely can't hurt.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Good News For My Degree
Yahoo just featured this article about lucrative work-from-home jobs. The good news is that two of the five are areas covered by my degree and one is closely related. Public Relations was listed as #1 which is a big part of Mass Communication. In fact, I will be taking a PR class this fall and I'm looking forward to it. The other is freelance writing. Both of these jobs can be done from home thanks to the internet and cell phone techonology.
A similar field is graphic design--some of which I already do as a photographer and in desktop publishing at school. I actually planned on minoring in graphic design, but took the easy way out instead, relying on credits I had previously earned in English studies to graduate more quickly.
This is a very encouraging article for me because I have been desperately racking my brain, wondering how I can incorporate my soon-to-be-earned degree and my interests with a job when I live in the middle of nowhere.
It's good to know that there are viable options out there. However, I know for a fact that it takes a lot of work to be a freelancer. Jobs don't come to you--you have to bust your behind to find them and then win them (just b/c you have a great article idea doesn't mean the magazine wants it). This is one of the reasons that I'm not sure freelancing is for me. When I was younger, I loved jobs that were different everyday, but the older I get, I like stability and knowing what to expect so I can plan the rest of my life accordingly. I will continue to look into these areas and see if they are right for me.
A similar field is graphic design--some of which I already do as a photographer and in desktop publishing at school. I actually planned on minoring in graphic design, but took the easy way out instead, relying on credits I had previously earned in English studies to graduate more quickly.
This is a very encouraging article for me because I have been desperately racking my brain, wondering how I can incorporate my soon-to-be-earned degree and my interests with a job when I live in the middle of nowhere.
It's good to know that there are viable options out there. However, I know for a fact that it takes a lot of work to be a freelancer. Jobs don't come to you--you have to bust your behind to find them and then win them (just b/c you have a great article idea doesn't mean the magazine wants it). This is one of the reasons that I'm not sure freelancing is for me. When I was younger, I loved jobs that were different everyday, but the older I get, I like stability and knowing what to expect so I can plan the rest of my life accordingly. I will continue to look into these areas and see if they are right for me.
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