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August 5, 2010
To Leave, or Not to Leave?
Hope all is well with everyone, since we don't get to see each other anymore. Anyhow, I made the realization late last night (actually, early this morning) that my life hasn't really gone anywhere since I finished the Credential Program three years ago, and everyone else I know has moved on, started careers and families, and everything I basically have yet to do. Shit, I still live with my parents.
It was a mistake to think about this too deeply while I was trying to sleep, but that sudden realization kept me up for the next couple hours. I think I fell asleep as the sun was rising this morning. As I was trying to sleep, I decided the first thing I would do when I awoke was to look for jobs. I would first start with districts in California, then move on to neighboring states. I had a little luck, there's a school in Saratoga that needs a Fifth grade teacher and a school in Santa Clara that needs a Second and Third grade teacher. I took some time to check out each school's website and Google the area to see what the neighborhood looked like. I wasn't impressed by either school, and this school in Santa Clara has some weird-ass rules. There were some other reasons that put me off this school, which may raise some eyebrows.
I almost applied for both jobs, but then I got to thinking about other things. The first of these was the fact that I would have to move. Ever since I started my teaching career (I suppose I can call it that, though there's no real career to speak of for now) I always visioned that I would be teaching here in Sacramento, whether it's for Sac City or Elk Grove or wherever. It's always what I saw when I thought of myself teaching in a classroom with my own room and my own kids. Everything I know is here; my family (most of them) is here, my friends (most of them) are here, I don't know anywhere else.
The second of these was that all my connections are here too, I know a lot of people in Sac City and Elk Grove that can help get me jobs, and if things go sour out there, then I could be up a shit creek. I see a high possibility of each of the jobs I mentioned being cut at the end of next year. But what if this job is a stepping stone for something else, something that could get me back to Sacramento? Another drawback to working for another district is that I would have to build up my seniority again, which would suck.
If I stay here, I could continue to build my connections and create a giant network of colleagues that could get me a job anywhere here in Sacramento, which is very appealing. I have also put great consideration into going back to school to get my Masters Degree in Education, which is also very appealing. These were a couple ideas I thought of, things I could do in the mean time until the economy and things start turning around.
I know that I have said Sacramento is a giant shithole, which I still believe. I've always had this love/hate relationship with Sacramento. I hate it here because there isn't shit to do, but my whole life is here. Perhaps it's time I take my life somewhere else...
Anyway, hope things are well with your jobs and things. I bet it's nice getting an actual paycheck and benefits, as well as having your own place and all that other good stuff.
Also, where's Geoff?
EDIT: Oh man, I just Googled (and used the street view this time) the schools that have openings. No wonder they need teachers; one of them is in the ghetto (or at least what looks like a ghetto) and the other is in an underdeveloped area with a lot of empty house lots. I got some serious thinking to do...
Posted by Ninja McFear at August 5, 2010 3:18 PM
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Comments
In simplest terms, I think you should do what you believe will make you happiest. I agree, it can be hard going somewhere you have no peers or a safety net, but you make new friends and expand your peer group just by living your life in a new place.
I totally believe it would be worthwhile to you to try your luck in another town for a time. Sac will always be there for you, and truthfully Sac isn't the worst place to end up. But I am an advocate for going elsewhere at least for a time.
That's my take, hope it helps.
Yeah, where the hell IS Geoff?
Posted by: Vilhelm 
at August 7, 2010 12:21 PM
I checked out the schools and stuff, I'm not sure if I'm going to be entirely happy based on their location. As I stated above, one is straight in the ghetto and the other resembles Galt, which I constantly poke fun at. The demographic doesn't look too appealing either. However, I do see what you're saying about just being in a new place, and that does intrigue me.
My "peer group" here in Sacramento pretty much consists mainly of teachers, all of whom could help me get a job here, which is one of my reasons for staying. My thing is if I move out of Sacramento, I don't even plan on coming back. It's enough of a shithole that I wouldn't want to come back, it's a strange irony of sorts. We'll see what happens.
Also, I'm planning on building another computer soon. Parts on my computer are slowly starting to fail, so I figured it was time for a new one. I'd really like to try my hands at building one on my own, which is why I need Geoff to guide me. I would try looking it up on the net, but everyone has different ways of doing it and they're all right (at least according to them). Hopefully we hear from him soon.
Posted by: Ninja McFear at August 7, 2010 2:36 PM
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