I'm Gonna Be a Teacher

Holy God What Have I Done...?

Published on January 11, 2005 By philomedy In Misc

I did something yesterday.

After one and a half years of wandering aimlessly through the human wasteland that is a midwestern university's campus, I finally did something yesterday.

Yesterday, I walked into a large, unstable looking building called University Hall. I stepped into the elevator looking to go to the 19th floor. I failed to notice that the elevator was on its way down. I went to the basement and remained in the elevator. The elevator returned to the first floor. The people who then got in, who had declined to get in with me the first time, could hardly contain themselves. Bastards.

I finally made it to the 19th floor. I made my way to the end of the hallway. I entered a room. I talked for 15 minutes. I declared a major. English, Secondary Education. I am going to be a high school English teacher.

Most of me feels incredibly relieved. After thinking for 2 years that my formal training was to be in writing, which is edu-speak for unemployed after graduation, I actually have a career which I can look forward to throwing myself into. However, there is the part of me that says I just threw myself into the fire. I am going back to high school. I will end up back in that perennial soap opera, The Disaffected and the Insecure. What was I thinking?

The most worrying thing, perhaps, is that I'm not all that scared. I'm incredibly excited. I'm on a high that I doubt any sort of petty schoolchild drama can bring down.

Is something wrong with me?

Comments

Ravenblack

on Jan 11, 2005

Don't know. But it sounds like a good thing that you are excited and look forward to it. Writing can still be done at the side while you have a paying job. Good luck!

InBloom

on Jan 11, 2005

Of course nothing's wrong with you...I know lots of people don't think so, but teaching is a very challenging profession..not everyone can do it...takes a special person....I know "going back to high school " seems strange to you, but you will be on the other side now....you will be able to influence kids in a good way, share your wealth of knowledge, get them as passionate about writing and reading as you are...sure the pay sucks and we deserve more...but it is SO rewarding in many other ways....I guess you have to experience it in order to understand what a teacher means by that...best of luck to you

Myrrander

on Jan 11, 2005

English Teacher, eh? Then I salute you, comrade. Teaching adverbs and gerunds and Faulkner and Chaucer. Trying to make people raised on TV be patient with a slow build climax. We're colleagues, now, eh? Good fortune to you -- teaching English has been so fulfilling to me.

philomedy

on Jan 12, 2005

Writing can still be done at the side while you have a paying job.

Yeah, thats what I was planning on. I can't wait for the day I stumble excitedly into a classroom because I got something published. Hopefully the students will be as excited as I.

sure the pay sucks and we deserve more...but it is SO rewarding in many other ways....I guess you have to experience it in order to understand what a teacher means by that...best of luck to you

Thanx for the kind words, and I'm happy to know that I join the likes of you in the profession. I know what you mean about fulfilling. I see it every day when I look at the teachers that I have had. Going back to high school is going to be quite the trip, although I know its going to be worth it. Not to sound presumptious, but teaching needs someone like me. In my opinion.

It appears that I join good company, then. I can't wait to get back into some Canterbury Tales and Beowulf, and this time with the authority to comment on them without being dismissed as a stupid teenager, which is something I will never do to any of my students, so help me God. Although I might throw some Burroughs in the curriculum just to screw with their minds. hehehe.

Lurkerer

on Jan 12, 2005

Good luck, honey. You're gonna need it.
In the same time, congrats! As long as it makes you happy.
You'll probably end up aspiring to teach college level classes after the first year, but ... it's all good as it comes.

kingbee

on Jan 12, 2005

while i dont know you personally and can only offer an opinion based on what ive read of what youve posted, it seems like a win-win situation to me. the kids will benefit by having someone who thinks, cares and possesses a good mind; society will benefit for the same reason and youll have a profession (albeit one way too undervalued) and perhaps youll help a buncha kids see how important the language is. only two of my many teachers had a major effect on my life--both of em taught english (i guess that counterbalances those several others who claimed i was a major factor in their decisions to switch careers)

philomedy

on Jan 12, 2005

You'll probably end up aspiring to teach college level classes after the first year, but ... it's all good as it comes.

Yeah, I hear this is what ends up happening, but hopefully I'll manage to stay happy in high school. As of right now, its really where I'd rather be.

only two of my many teachers had a major effect on my life--both of em taught english (i guess that counterbalances those several others who claimed i was a major factor in their decisions to switch careers)

Thanks for the kind words, they are much appreciated. I suppose I'm weird in the sense that none of my English teachers have really affected me. My good educational experiences have been almost exclusively with history teachers. Either way, it was a history teacher who taught me to write, and an elementary school teacher (who taught everything) who let me realize that I had a feel for writing things. Maybe I went to English because I think that writing should be taught in English classes, and for some reason it didn't happen that way for me.

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