New Possibilities...

Over the last few weeks, I've been feeling stuck. It's not the usual "I want a new job" feeling. I feel like I just need to do something different, in addition to my current position. I've been thinking about going back to school to be school counselor - mostly because it's easy. I've taken most of the classes already. It would fit into my current work schedule and eventually, I'd be able to take my summers off and be the jet-setting adventurer that I really am while still getting paid. Sounds perfect, right? Maybe, it's just a little too perfect and settled for this free-spirit.

I want to be independent, not relying on an unreliable school system or dealing with school politics and a ridiculous case load. I need to imagine something different and new - something that may or may not require another degree and meshes my passion for education, violence prevention, and the overall health and well being of women and children. I want to travel and have a global impact.

I want something new. I just wish I knew what that something was...

Man never knows what he wants; he aspires to penetrate mysteries and as soon as he has, he wants to reestablish them. Ignorance irritates him and knowledge cloys. ~Amiel

The Academic Calendar has F-ed My Professional Life

The other day I was looking through my closet for a dress to wear to work. I came to the conclusion that I need more "work-appropriate" dresses (yes, even with the 24 unworn dresses) or I need to take summers off. That's when I realized that I've only made it through one summer working. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind working in the summer but I feel like something should change in the summer - new job, new location, travel, etc. Let's take a look at my summers since I began working.

Summer of '99 - working in retail
Summer of '00 - working in retail, getting ready for college
Summer of '01 - summer organizing internship in Chicago, working in retail
Summer of '02 - study abroad in Kenya, retail
Summer of '03 - interning with TFA in Houston
Summer of '04 - training for TFA in L.A.
Summer of '05 - off, traveling, looking for work and living off my intermittent CPS income,
Summer of '06 - off, began grad school, traveling, looking for work and living off my temporary CPS income
Summer of '07 - worked the full-time job I found in the August of '06, grad school, decided it was time to go and found a new job
Summer of '08 - quit my job, spent the summer working out, hanging out with my bff, traveling, and living off my savings, no summer classes
Summer of '09 - looking for work post-graduation, hanging out, traveling, living off my savings

That leads me to this summer. This is when I typically start looking at other options, wanting my freedom, and refusing to stay any place that I'm not happy. What will this summer hold? I love my job and what I do but one person is making it an unpleasant place for me. Can we resolve this issue? How long will I last? Can I stick it out two years until I get my clinical license or will I go running for a chance at change or a summer break? Only time will tell...

In the meantime, education is looking like the only way I can keep a job for more than a year. I can hear the school counseling certification calling.

Money vs. Passion

I'm facing a dilemma. I love my job. I love the work that I do. If you had asked me what I wanted to do, ideally, I would have described my job. The problem is that I probably would have added about 50% to my salary also. As a school counselor, I could add that 50% easily but I doubt I'd love my job nearly as much. I've been an educator before and school politics are not my thing, even when I was only responsible for my 32-36 students. Money isn't everything, I know, but the additional income would allow me to do things like own a home. The schedule would also be more suitable for my need to travel and see the world.

I'm scheduling a meeting with an admissions counselor next week so that I can do my internship and be certified as a school counselor but I really don't know if it's me. Sometimes I think the money just isn't worth it. I remember quitting a part-time paid tutoring job because I felt like it was helping to expand the achievement gap that I was working full-time to close. I usually follow my heart and my values. Then, a school social worker calls me because they can't handle a situation or don't know how to help a particular student and I think, why shouldn't I get that extra 50%.

Do I follow my passion or the money? Maybe I'll just play the lottery and keep my job.

What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do. When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us, doors open for us, we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play to us. ~ Julia Cameron

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you. ~ Maya Angelou

Money is like a sixth sense - and you can't make use of the other five without it.
~ William Somerset Maugham

Updates

It's been a while. I've been a little crazy with starting work, studying for my exam, and then trying to return to life as usual.

• I started my job. - I love it. I love what I do. I love the schedule. I love the flexibility and all the holidays we get. I love that going on the cruise within my probationary period won't be a problem.
• I passed the National Counselor Exam! - All of that studying (and money) paid off. I'm just waiting on the state to issue my license.
• My birthday is approaching. - Yes. I'm making another list. I'm asking for your help on this one too so get your ideas ready. I get health and dental coverage on my birthday! You know I'm getting old when I get excited about being able to go to the doctor.
  
• The cruise is approaching. - It's a little more than 30 days away. I'm excited but I need to get back in the gym. The blog isn't the only thing that's been neglected over the last few weeks. Plus, my trainer bounced and now I have to find a new one that fits my schedule and will make me go hard. I tried this new guy on Saturday and he was trying to go easy on me. I'm giving him another shot on Saturday though. I'm gonna try to keep up with spiderlgs and make it to the gym 4-5 times per week.

Now that my life is back to normal, I'll try to get back to my daily randomness.

It's a Celebration!

I received a job offer tonight. I'm really excited about it. In fact, I believe it is the perfect job for me. I'll be working with the population in which I'm most interested. The people and organization that I'll be working with are great. I'm so ready to begin my professional career! I can't even imagine what it's like to go to work and not have to worry about a class or a paper. I'm already looking for volunteer opportunities and social activities to take up all of my "free" time. I'm sure I'll head back to school again at some point but I'm going to enjoy "only" working.

This job came right on time. Well, it could have come a lot sooner but I was focused on DC. I think it may have been a distraction while this job came along. I love my DC girls but I definitely have a lot of reasons to be here. The job came when I was almost at the end of my financial rope. I have two weeks until my exam and this will help me to focus my studying. I'm enjoyed my time off, as stressful as it was, but I'm glad that it's over. I start Wednesday.

What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team. ~ Benjamin F. Fairless