I want to be a teacher, but ... *m
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| Wed, 06-22-2005 - 10:44am |
I have something heavy weighing on my mind, ladies. I would appreciate some insight.
I returned to college after a 25 year absense this past January. It was hard getting back into the swing of things, but, thank the Lord I did!
Nothing has been easy about it. I had to learn a new schedule, I had to push to get to time on class, (Even though it's about ten minutes away.) I had to soothe DH almost every week. (He works 3rd shift, I work second shift, so my days are free. He felt left out a lot, no matter how much I tried! We had our weekends together.)
What's the problem? My choice of a major. I want to teach elementary school. DH feels the eventual loss of income would be too drastic. (On my job at a tobacco factory, I make a little over $38,000 a year .. teachers in NC make a tad less than that, but the pay should raise by the time I graduate in about four years.) Our "standard of living" would suffer. Hmph! Life is more than money! Like service, an inner voice that pointed me to return to school to pursue this in the first place. I'm not going to deny the cig. industry pays well, but (1), I don't smoke. (2), I'm very health concious. I don't agree with it .. I never had. (3), This simply isn't my desire to contribute to something that harmful to people.
His voice was louder than my personal convictions. I started considering nursing, but even though it's a service oriented job, I'm uncertain about how emotionally involved I would be .. even though the same would definitely happen with kids.
I am so confused. What if I miss the call the Lord placed in my heart? Am I listening to what I "think" I am? Is he sending me another message, and I'm too stubborn to hear it? It hurts me, because a thought so small is settling in me, and I don't know what to do!
Edited 6/22/2005 11:03 am ET ET by cl-theladycee



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Hi, Carol ..
I've allowed all voices to overshadow my own.
Maybe you can put your love of help and teaching together and be a school nurse or health teacher?
My kids ADORE their nurse...she goes around to the classes teaching about hygiene, safety, etc...and she is so sweet to the children if they get hurt or sick;even the ones she knows are just faking, HEHE...my daughter had an OBSESSION with the nurse in kindergarten because she would be so sweet to her! I had to talk to her about crying wolf because it seemed like at least once a week I'd get a call from Miss Peggy telling me she had a headache, upset stomach, her leg hurt or some other ailment!
The school nurse is one of the most loved people on staff at their school. You sound like you have the love and compassion to do great in a job like that!
R-
like talk to a career counselor, tour a hospital, ask
to meet with someone there to see all departments,
tell them your delema, I work in psyc/addiction and
eating disorders. No blood and guts there. I don't know
about teching salaries, nursing close to a big city pays
very well. Leila
Cee.....whatever you decide, just follow your heart.
Shyla
Lady-C--Use that wonderful defiance and go get your degree!
In retrospect, I think the people nearest me weren't jumping for joy because they would have to become accustomed to my not being there for them...for my dh, it meant I would be away more, less able to cater to his need, more stressed because of assignment deadlines.
For my friend, there was a jealousy issue, but also, she and I both knew our relationship would change (it did). The tables turned--she now has to accept me as a stronger, more confident person...this took some getting used to.
As for the rest of my family and friends, some had NO clue the amount of work required to get an advance degree and they still called me whenever they felt the need to unload...needless to say, some of these friends have fallen by the wayside, so to speak.
I learned how put distance between myself and my sibling, for academic survival's sake. None of this was easy. You will learn too how to balance your responsibility to dh and your academic success.
Hey, Cara ..
I was thinking about elementary or even high school teaching.
Cee - a school nurse sounds perfect!
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