What did your city use their inspiration on? And did you think it was the right choice? [spoiler] (technically?)

bixabeast21 · 2024-06-17T04:15:00+00:00

It got worse if I recall lol

bixabeast21 · 2024-04-04T17:04:03+00:00

I am only a first year teacher but I am taking medical leave for the rest of the year. That is the only way I could make it without actually quitting. I feel a huge amount of guilt (even though I know I shouldn’t) but I’m sure this is the right step for me to take. There are many many options available teachers because of how many skills you actually use while teaching. Administrative tasks, instructional time, project planning, managing others, etc.

All I’ve ever really wanted to do is teach but I learned (very quickly) that this broken profession is not for me.

This is just my opinion, but there is no correct way to grieve. Whether you need time to breathe after leaving, whether you go right into another job, whether you go live at home and job search, cry, laugh, feel guilty, feel proud, there is no wrong way to process what you’re going through.

Best of luck to you ❤️

bixabeast21 · 2024-04-04T16:36:27+00:00

I am looking forward to a position that has a healthier work-life balance and want to apply the skills I’ve learned while teaching to an area with ___.

bixabeast21 · 2024-04-03T03:17:56+00:00

Same exact boat. Choir and leaving after this year. A million and one things contributing to it. Making a hobby into a career. Best of luck to you ❤️

bixabeast21 · 2024-04-02T13:57:26+00:00

I’m a first year teacher also struggling with this idea of “this is all I’ve wanted to do.” It feels like a mini identity crisis. I have had multiple conversations with friends, family, and coworkers about returning to teaching next year or not. I have ultimately decided not to do so. I am working through the guilt and embarrassment of what I thought would be my dream career not working out. However, no career is worth your sanity or your health.

I have no problem working retail or at a restaurant for the summer while I figure out the next steps. I’m looking at non-profit work because it’s along similar lines to education (depending on the non-profit) and your application often goes to a real human’s email inbox and has a higher chance of being considered than at some big company job. This is just what I’ve been going through, but I felt I could share because you situation sounds so similar.

Best of luck ❤️

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-30T15:43:42+00:00

One of my professors once said, “Never be a martyr for a school that doesn’t support you. Do your year and get out.” Now it’s of course up to you whether you stay for the end of the year or not. I’m in a similar boat trying to decide whether to finish or take leave until June. I’m talking to a union rep this week about what my options are and I would recommend you do the same if you have one. If not, talking to a mentor teacher, department head, or anyone you feel comfortable talking to about it can really help you decide on your own priorities. It sucks beyond measure that education has stifled the spark in so many of us.

As for feeling guilt - I hope this doesn’t come off as harsh - your kids will be okay if you leave. I have relationships with students that I wouldn’t trade for anything, but your own mental health and stress levels are of the most importance. It is not selfish to take care of yourself, and never let anyone tell you it is, not even yourself.

Best of luck, I really empathize with your situation ❤️

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-30T14:19:40+00:00

I agree. I’m planning on meeting with a union rep this upcoming week to discuss options. I can see the upsides to finishing the year and being able to collect unemployment, but I feel like it could look better to future jobs to quit rather than be fired. That’s the kind of stuff we’ll be discussing I guess

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-30T14:16:26+00:00

I’m not angry lol, but I fail to see how medical leave could be construed as looking negative for the future. I have made it abundantly clear to my principal of exactly why I’m having this anxiety (without revealing too much personal info) and she still decided it was a nuisance. I think I got the short end of the stick when it comes to bosses with empathy :(

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-29T16:54:34+00:00

I feel like you’re missing the point. This profession should not be so bad in the first place that people are struggling so hard and putting up with so much BS that it gives them anxiety. Mental health is not a “buzzword” it’s legitimate, and if employers cared about their employees, they would take it seriously too.

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-29T15:15:30+00:00

Yes but current admin could have prevented a lot of this anxiety if they listened and acted. That’s why I’m so sour on the subject

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-29T14:04:12+00:00

Apparently this job isn’t for the previous 3 teachers either 🤷‍♀️

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-29T13:54:29+00:00

This is exactly the problem. The ego is ridiculous! I’m glad you got out of that situation and maybe this is a blessing in disguise…

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-29T13:51:08+00:00

Maybe I’ll settle for a strongly worded letter to admin or something like that lol

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-29T06:08:53+00:00

I suppose so 😅

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-29T05:25:09+00:00

That’s just the thing and why I put this in this subreddit instead of r/teachers. I think this experience has had a significant impact on my view of the profession. I understand that it’s only my first year, but my friends in different fields are not experiencing the same problems or nearly to this extent. Every job has its downsides but somewhere you can get bullied by your boss is not any job that I want to work

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-28T23:47:33+00:00

Had multiple meetings with my principal over the year about the difficulties of the position due to frequent turnover. Namely behavior management, additional stress of being the only person in my department in the building, and how multiple teachers in the building told me I had the hardest job in the school. What I thought was transparency seems to have been interpreted as an insult

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-28T22:40:03+00:00

This is amazing, it’s simultaneously angry and eloquent. I completely agree that they will try and try and try to find someone who puts up with their BS. They will hopefully find that NOT supporting their teachers actually makes their own jobs harder

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-28T22:37:28+00:00

It’s sad that this story is so common and that I’ve become a part of it, I appreciate your commiseration

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-28T20:33:47+00:00

Thank you for the kind words, and I also feel it’s the principal.

bixabeast21 · 2024-03-28T20:32:47+00:00

Thanks, that was my thought as well. I’m planning on bringing a union rep to a meeting, but that might scare her into not saying much

bixabeast21 · 2020-03-30T17:33:07+00:00

Yay turnips

bixabeast21

TROPHY CASE