I'm back - E
Guess I'll keep posting after all.
I was driving to work this morning in silence, alone with my thoughts. I usually drive w/o any music on cuz it's a little more peaceful and less clutter for my simpleton brain. Anyway, I was thinking about my job, and why it's a scary thing for me to give it up even though I hate it and can't see myself being an engineer for the rest of my life. I can think of at least two reasons -- security and fear of change.
The security thing comes out if I think about quitting right now w/o having anything lined up yet. I know some people would say that it's not wise to quit before I know my next step or have my next job in hand, but it's more than that. It's this irrational fear that if I quit, I won't be able to find a job, or at least one that pays enough so that we won't go to the poorhouse. Basically, a lot of my security is in our income and how quickly we can accumulate it.
But then I drive by a gardener who mows the lawn at our apartment complex and think, "What's wrong with making just enough?" I wonder if he is happy, if he finds his contentment in other things, like his family and friends -- or does he go home at the end of the day, exhausted and w/o any energy for his family? I dunno. I wonder if the life of an auto mechanic is horrible, if they all would be doing something else if they could. Or what about working at In-N-Out? I've always wanted to try a minimum wage job to see what it's like.
So barring the auto mechanic route, the only thing I 've thought of these past couple of years is a career as a high school teacher. Pay is still an issue, but I think we could make do. But it scares me -- the thought of being in front of 35 kids. I know I'd get over it pretty quickly, like I did when I was a TA at U of I, but again, irrational fear. Also, just the prospect of adjusting to a new social environment is somewhat daunting. I think I've regressed in my social skills since leaving grad school -- back to my hyper self-consciousness.
That said, the benefits of being a teacher are very, very appealing to me. First, the huge number of days of vacation -- just being honest. :) You have the option to travel, go on missions trips, or even to work, if you need the dough. Job prospects practically anywhere, so relocation isn't a problem. Also, interacting with kids and trying to make a positive impact on them. I really enjoyed this when I TA'ed. It sure beats sitting in front of a computer all day and sitting around in meetings that bore me to death. I think I might like to work in a high school that's in a not so great neighborhood, but maybe I don't know what I'd be getting into.
So what's stopping me? Lack of faith, I guess. That and my propensity for inaction. Get off your butt, E!
I was driving to work this morning in silence, alone with my thoughts. I usually drive w/o any music on cuz it's a little more peaceful and less clutter for my simpleton brain. Anyway, I was thinking about my job, and why it's a scary thing for me to give it up even though I hate it and can't see myself being an engineer for the rest of my life. I can think of at least two reasons -- security and fear of change.
The security thing comes out if I think about quitting right now w/o having anything lined up yet. I know some people would say that it's not wise to quit before I know my next step or have my next job in hand, but it's more than that. It's this irrational fear that if I quit, I won't be able to find a job, or at least one that pays enough so that we won't go to the poorhouse. Basically, a lot of my security is in our income and how quickly we can accumulate it.
But then I drive by a gardener who mows the lawn at our apartment complex and think, "What's wrong with making just enough?" I wonder if he is happy, if he finds his contentment in other things, like his family and friends -- or does he go home at the end of the day, exhausted and w/o any energy for his family? I dunno. I wonder if the life of an auto mechanic is horrible, if they all would be doing something else if they could. Or what about working at In-N-Out? I've always wanted to try a minimum wage job to see what it's like.
So barring the auto mechanic route, the only thing I 've thought of these past couple of years is a career as a high school teacher. Pay is still an issue, but I think we could make do. But it scares me -- the thought of being in front of 35 kids. I know I'd get over it pretty quickly, like I did when I was a TA at U of I, but again, irrational fear. Also, just the prospect of adjusting to a new social environment is somewhat daunting. I think I've regressed in my social skills since leaving grad school -- back to my hyper self-consciousness.
That said, the benefits of being a teacher are very, very appealing to me. First, the huge number of days of vacation -- just being honest. :) You have the option to travel, go on missions trips, or even to work, if you need the dough. Job prospects practically anywhere, so relocation isn't a problem. Also, interacting with kids and trying to make a positive impact on them. I really enjoyed this when I TA'ed. It sure beats sitting in front of a computer all day and sitting around in meetings that bore me to death. I think I might like to work in a high school that's in a not so great neighborhood, but maybe I don't know what I'd be getting into.
So what's stopping me? Lack of faith, I guess. That and my propensity for inaction. Get off your butt, E!
posted by haed at 8:55 AM
6 Comments:
In-N-Out pays above minimum wage.
Do it! Do it! Do it! I guess sometimes it's harder for guys who are married. At least if you're single, you can just think about your own self, but now that you have someone else to think about too, it's harder. But I say, DO IT! You wouldn't get so jealous of Hanah during summer vacation, because you would be there, too! Why not just start getting your toes wet by taking the CBEST? I could see it already: Mr. Ahn, teacher of AP computer science, Auto Mechanics elective, and JV/Varsity Basketball coach.
Yeah, I know In-N-Out pays above minimum wage -- I remember seeing a flyer for ~$9.50/hr and thinking, "Dang, that's a lot for a fast food joint." Literary laziness, I guess. Maybe Mickey D's would have been a better choice. :P
I don't tolerate "literary laziness".
I think In N' Out offers health insurance and retirement plans also. All pretty nice.
I have no idea what jobs actually pay minimum wage. The summer I worked at Great America, they paid the lowest on the totem pole (me) $4.75/hr, which at the time was $0.50 above minimum wage.
DC
Yay! I'm so glad E is posting again!!
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