Feeling Stuck

[Kheldarson]

I don't have anybody around I can directly talk to right now and I just need to get this out right now.

I've just been let go from my substituting job for not being able to work enough days last month. I've been trying to balance two subbing positions, and the one I've been released from is the one I've been working for the most. So now I'm reliant on the job I get called for maybe once a month.

I've been trying all year to get a full-time teaching job...it's either I don't get called back or I don't have enough experience or they found somebody with just a few more qualifications than I have. I've been trying to find a part-time or full-time or any-time position...I can't seem to get anything in the retail world either.

So now I don't know what to do. I've got a few more teaching applications to fill out and I'm going to hope maybe I can teach summer school in one of the local districts but I'm unsure of what to do anymore. It keeps feeling like my timing's just a bit off but I don't know how to fix it. I don't know if I should keep pursuing the teaching or just give that dream up for bust.

I'm just feeling a little bit depressed at this point and completely clueless. And really in need of some help.

[bloodrose]

First of all: you're a NaNo, too! Woo nice to see ya. I met the love of my life doing NaNoWriMo!
Is it possible for you to do tutoring while you wait for your breakthrough opportunity? It might even fulfill your dreams more than a whole classroom - helping the ones who need/want extra help. Good luck with your open apps, too!

[flybye023]

I'm kinda in the same boat. I just got let go of my first steady job in 2 years after being hired 29 days ago. I will be able to work until August/September then that's it. I just spent 2 years and about $10,000 for a degree in a field that I don't think I like anymore.

My family is really pushing for me to go back to school and get a Bachelor's but in what? Nothing has ever really stood out to me as a job that I go, "Oh! I'd really like to do that!" I know I don't want to deal with the public anymore so anything customer service related is out which is exactly the type of job my degree leans toward. Also, if I did go back to school none of my credits would really be worth anything (the classes were pretty specialized) and I'd basically be starting over and looking at 3 or 4 full years of school so I'd be graduating when I'm 37 or 38.

[BookstoreEscapee]

My roommate is also a teacher. She teaches 1st grade; next year she'll be teaching fifth. She also works part time for Huntingdon Learning Center. You might look into something like that. The hours are pretty flexible (obviously she works outside of school hours).

so I'd be graduating when I'm 37 or 38.

So?

I know what you mean, though. I majored in English Lit, but that was kind of a "I don't know what I want to do" thing. I never really had a "I really want to do that!" kind of career in mind.

[TTAZ]

What about home-schooling associations, there has to be someone that works on curriculum, why not you? Another route perhaps in online charter schools, they're real teaching gigs, but you wouldn't see any children, as they'd be taking your classes online, on their own time.

Maybe a job at a textbook publishing company, I understand they like to have teachers do proofreading on new editions prior to publishing.

I'm just throwing out ideas here, I could be way off the mark, but who knows?

I know that stuck feeling, though, and it bites the big one. Let me know if you need ameretto cake.

[Kheldarson]

Cake would be awesome.

And those are all good suggestions--just have to find a place that's actually hiring, you know? But will definitely go look at some of those things.

Been talking to my mom too...so right now the plan is to call my supervisor for my other subbing position and see if she can't start calling me more. Then going to go to the local university and find somebody to talk to about grad programs. Then back to filling out applications for everywhere I can find.

[TTAZ]

PM me a place to send it, and I can get on it

[Shpepper]

~~SNIP~~ I'd basically be starting over and looking at 3 or 4 full years of school so I'd be graduating when I'm 37 or 38.

I want to ask you a question. Where will you be in 3 or 4 years at 37 or 38 if you don't go back to school? You will still be 37 or 38. The difference will be the learning you can do.

I will be going back to school in January and completing a degree that I started 13 years ago. I will be turning 42 my first week of classes. I figure that I am going to get older no matter what. I may as well finish that degree and go for what I really want instead of bemoaning the fact of what age I will be when I finish.


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Ending threadjack

Kheldarson Good luck, you have some good ideas here. You might also check with the university and see if they have a tutoring program that you could work through while you look for full time work.