Back to Work

I’m excited to announce that my days of unemployment are numbered! You may recall that I recently had an interview for an office job. The interview went well, though of course I left the building thinking about all the things I should have mentioned but forgot to in the heat of anxiety. The next thing I knew, people were emailing me asking for documents and records. You know, passport copies, even a copy of my college diploma. Then I heard nothing for over a week, so I emailed one of the supervisors and found out that yes, I was being hired, and my start date would be October 20^th. Yay!

At the same time, though, another job opportunity had come my way (when it rains, it pours, I guess). The local high school was looking for a teacher/aide to support a special needs student so he could return to school following a brain injury. Professionally, this is way outside my comfort zone—I have zero experience with special needs kids. However, I was also intrigued and excited to take on a new educational challenge. Plus, it would get me into the school, where I could network up a storm and prove to all the stuck-up administrators that I do have what it takes to teach there someday.

I was offered this position literally the day after my other interview, which sent me into a tailspin of confusion for about thirty minutes, until I realized that the ideal solution would be to do both part-time. I asked my supervisor for the other job if I could work afternoons only (since the special ed gig was mornings only) and, amazingly, she agreed.

So I’m now set to begin TWO jobs instead of one, and suddenly go from having a wide open schedule to working 7:30-5 every day. While I am super excited about both opportunities, I’m also nervous, because I have absolutely always hated starting new jobs. It totally sucks being the newbie who doesn’t know how to use the copier or gets lost trying to navigate the school. On top of that, both of these positions will be very new to me, and I honestly have no idea what to expect. What if the boy has major behavioral issues in class? What if he doesn’t make any noticeable progress? What if my new boss asks me to do something I have no idea how to do? What if there isn’t enough work for me to do, and I end up sitting around feeling awkward? Starting a new job entails so many new experiences and new people, and I’m the kind of person who gets downright nervous about stuff like that.

So, I’m excited. I’m scared. But overall, I’m grateful, because I have been hoping and praying for a job for months now. I know both of these opportunities could lead to great things in the future, so I realize I’m incredibly lucky to be able to do both. Sigh. If I had my way, I’d still be teaching 11^th grade English, but maybe it doesn’t hurt to diversify my resume a bit and try a new challenge (or two!).