Jobs.
Most of us have had a lifetime of various jobs.
As I think about the end of my 34-year career as a teacher in a public school system, I find myself thinking of the pos and cons of the many jobs I had over time.
Babysitter
I truly loved working with and caring for children. I didn't like the late nights waiting for the moms and dads to come home, and mostly I was always nervous when the dads drove me home. I was quite shy.
Order Processor
From 15 until 22, I worked part-time as an order processor in an air freight shipping company. I learned a lot of skills and enjoyed tracing lost shipments. The down side was that the office was small and crowded at a time when smoking was popular. Fortunately I was quite naive since there was some unsavory language too that mostly went right over my head.
Resident Assistant (RA)
In college, I was an RA. I really liked the other RA's and enjoyed the work I did with those people. I also liked building camaraderie on my hall. Sometimes I faced the dilemma of being both a student and an overseer, which wasn't easy, but fortunately infrequent.
Order Processor
After college, I had no idea how to get a job. I spent a day at my uncle's house typing and retyping my resume trying to get a perfect copy. Then I drove up and down the highway stopping at companies and dropping off my resume. Finally, a cousin connected me to a man who went to my college. He had an order processing position. I took it--it was an arduous job, but like my other order processing job, I did acquire some great lifelong skills.
Secretary/Marketing Assistant
Living at home as a young single woman in a city where most woman my age were married and working at an arduous, repetitive job prompted me to visit the local bank one lunch break to request a $700 loan to move to Boston. The loan was approved, and I got a basement apartment with a college friend. I brought my resume and art portfolio into a Boston employment agency. The woman who interviewed me knew about the college I attended and turned out to know a friend of a friend. She liked my art portfolio, and sent me on a interview at an architectural firm. When I walked into the large, open studio-like building, I was excited. I knew that it was a place where I would feel at home. I got the job as marketing secretary and then moved up to marketing assistant. I loved working amidst all that wonderful creativity and learned a lot. After three years, however, I knew that I wanted a career that I felt as passionate about as the architects felt about their career choice. That's when I decided to quit that job and go to graduate school to become a teacher. I studied for a year to get my master's degree in education.
Teacher
In 1986 when I began teaching, there were few openings. I sent out 60 resumes, had two interviews, and got two job offers. I chose the job offer closest to Boston since I didn't want to leave my future husband behind. That was 34 years ago and I've been a teacher ever since. During my tenure as a teacher, I've had a number of side jobs working at a camp, teaching pre-service teachers at a couple of universities, presenting at conferences, and doing some summer research and curriculum work.
What's next?
Before I move to the next job, I'll take some time off to stay safe from COVID-19 and shore up my health and home. Then I'll likely embark on a new endeavor of some kind.
Regrets
Honestly, I have no big regrets.At every job, I did my best and learned a lot. Perhaps it would have been nice to have a bit more confidence and explore different roles, but in general, I'm satisfied with the work life I've had to date.
Now I'm watching my own children, nieces, and nephews embark on their own job journeys. It is amazing to see how these journeys unfold in people's lives, and it is a good idea to step back now and then to reflect upon the many jobs you've had.