Changing Gears

Well. Friday was my last day at work and now I am officially unemployed. I have entered an alternative certification program to become a social studies teacher for middle or high schoolers. I have started my evening classes and will start day classes at the end of May. I will be in classes full-time through the summer during which time I must also find a teaching job for the fall. Then I teach all year while taking Saturday classes and studying for my tests, I take my tests in December and February and, if I do well, am fully certified by the end of the school year. It is a scary change to be making. I have not been unemployed since getting my first professional job out of college. I look at a picture my daughter made in first grade that says "When I am older, I hope to follow in the footsteps of my Mom because she helps children. She is a social worker." and I want to burst into tears. I remind myself that, as a teacher, I will still be helping children. I will also eventually be helping my own children more as, after this year, we will all have summers and winter breaks off together as a family - more time than we have ever had together in our lives and a much better way to live than the crazy rat race life that my career has given us thus far. It is best for us, and I will be a good teacher, one who understands the hardships my students face and can respect them where they are at . . . but it is still hard to do this. This year will be at least as crazy-busy as life has been thus far. The program is demanding and the social studies composite test is hard so I will have to study like crazy...plus being a first year teacher will be no walk in the park, either! The thought of this year keeps my stress levels up, but afterwards . . . next summer . . . it will be good. Please wish me luck in my new adventure!