So a few weeks ago I checked for my final grade for my summer school classes. Before the page loaded, I mentioned to Kathy that if I couldn't get an A in that Gender and Development class I worked so hard in, I would have to seriously re-consider my life plan. The page loaded, and I had another A-. Three A-s! Not bad, but not good enough to get me one of those 15 spots. I mean, I suppose there's an itsy bitsy chance, but unlikely.
So I started re-considering. And do you know what I concluded? I think maybe I want to be a teacher. Like, a teacher in Canada kind of teacher. This may not seem like such a strech, considering my current occupation, but it came as quite a shock to me. It was never even remotely considering during my "what should I do with my life" decision making process in my senior year of college. I was always happy in my status as English major, never to be a teacher. But now, things are starting to look different.
I talked to my best friend from college and she thinks its a good idea. She wasn't as surprised at the option as I was, I guess its one of those things other people can see and you can't.
The more I let myself explore the option, the better it looked for a number of reasons. First, it fits the lifestyle I eventually want. I don't want to live in New York city and work at the UN. I do want to have a little country house near Halifax. There are no relief& development jobs in Nova Scotia, but an English teacher fits. Also, I'm a super-structured person. I love the idea of teaching year after year, perfecting my lesson plans and working within a structured schedule. The job is relatively secure, with good benefits, early retirement, etc. It not exactly lucrative, but I have no desire to be rich.
Finally, I just love teaching, I love going to work everyday. I love my students and I love sharing my love of Shakespeare and writing with them. I do realize that I have quite the wonderful set-up here, and teaching the advanced eager-beaver taiwanese teens is quite a different situation from trying to motivate low-level or badly behaved Canadian teens. However, its just so rewarding to make even a little difference, to be an influence. And I just love English, the literature, the language, the writing. I love learning. I would go be a student for the rest of my life if I could, maybe being a teacher is the second best thing!
So, right now I'm looking at teacher education programs. Unlike trying to get one of the 15 spots at Dalhouise, my prospects are pretty much guaranteed to get in. I'm thinking of going to school in Nova Scotia, because it would make it easier to get certified. My four choices are: Acadia, St. Francis Xavier, Mount St. Vincent, or Cape Breton. Anyone have any suggestions? Changing my life plan in two weeks makes me nervous, so I'd love any "go for it" or "are you sure?" I'd hate to get to the end of my life and feel like I didn't take a risk and reach my potential. But I'd also hate to feel like I tried to make a career that seemed important and monumental, when all I really wanted was a simple little life. PLease feel free to respond here or on the family site.
4 comments:
I can definitely picture you as a happy English Teacher in Canada, Carole.
It amazes me that NS appeals to you ... I guess I can see how it looks through the eyes of someone else ... I think I have grey colored glasses on when I look at NS (or whatever the opposite of rose colored glasses are).
I think either Acadia or St FX would be great for you.
Your plan sounds great. And quite down to earth,I think. Of course I'm partial to Acadia, being an alumnus, so I can't give you an unbiased opinion. Acadia or Mount St Vincent would keep you close to the Halifax area. Easier to check out real estate for that little house in the country. Dorie
I'm partial to Mount St. Vincent, of course. It keeps you close to the city you already love, the sister University of Dalhousie, plus the others, as you know it's a real Univerity City. There's nothing to do in Wolfville :) However, I quess there's a lot of 'family tradition' in the halls of Acadia and it's a beautiful campus, right. Go for either. I would think the winters are 'hell' in Cape Breton :)love Aunt Carole.
Hi, I thought you may want to hear from a certified Ontario teacher, despite the chance that you may have already made your decision.
I say this from experience...first research the employment situation for teachers in NS. I suspect that it is not good. I suspect that because I have read on CBC.ca that Faculty of Ed grads from NS have had to leave Canada in order to find teaching positions. So, if the employment situation in NS is not good, maybe you should think about studying at another province's Faculty of Ed and teaching in that province? I mean, of course, a province where new teachers are still being hired at a rate that you find acceptable.
If you do decide to attend a Faculty of Ed in Nova Scotia, make sure their degree is recognized in as many provinces as possible, especially Ontario. I write that because professional degrees are often not recognized in other provinces and because Ontario seemed to have the best prospects for new teachers. Still, new teachers in ON often have to take a LTO (long term supply job, to replace someone on maternity leave) or part-time positions in their first 2 years of teaching.So even in the best province for new teachers, finding a decent position requires patience.
Be open to accepting a teaching position in a very remote place if you're teaching specialty is common in teaching.
Try to earn certification in a second, technical area, such as Physics, or Mathematics, or Computer Science, or Multimedia Software. Despite the difficulty most new teachers have in landing a full-time position, graduates with these specialties have better chances of landing full-time, permanent teaching positions after graduation.
I am not trying to dissuade you from teaching. There are other things I'd like to say, but I don't want to come across as a sourpuss. Of course, if you'd like to know more, please do not hesitate to email me.
Best of luck to you!
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