I remember a quote my high school choir teacher said, "The perfect job is where you don't work a day in your life". While I'm sure he got that off some bumper sticker or souvenier gift, it quickly became my motto. Then began the search for the perfect job.
In June of 2000, right after graduating from Stockdale High, my parents allowed me to get a job at the Boys & Girls Club. At the time, my three best friends and I had been volunteering there and fell in love with the staff and kids. The three of them received jobs, and I was last to sign on. At the time, it was a one-building after school/summer program for kids. I started off as an activity leader and then became the official Performing Arts Instructor (unofficial Director of Fun Stuff). I had the time of my life. I met new friends and was exposed to a whole different world: the eastside. I think that was God's comical way of foreshadowing where I was going to reside in the future. :) While I grew a lot during this time, deep down I knew that it wasn't going to be the career for me.
Then, in the summer of 2003, I received a job at a summer camp in the hills of Santa Barbara: Camp Whittier. Ironically, it is a Boys & Girls Club owned camp, yet had no connection to the club I had previously worked at. It was only a summer job, and I started as the Drama Instructor. Everyday, I got to teach and play games with all the campers. I lived there for weeks at a time and was exposed to another different world: summer camp (it's a rare bread, believe me). I met some great people and two of my current best friends there, and decided to go back for three more summers. My jobs included: Unit Leader, CIT Director (Counselors in Training teen program), and Summer Camp Director in my last year. I learned so much about myself as an individual and loved it. That camp still holds a special place in my heart. However, I knew I couldn't make a living out of this either.
2004-2008 I paid my dues as a substitute teacher in the public school system. I enjoyed making my own schedule and being able to just carry out instructions that teachers would give me. There was no rocket science to it at all- I just had to show up and carry out instructions while managing a class of students. I saw so many different teaching styles and learned many different activities and classroom management tips. This job was so much like babysitting in that at the end of the day I could hand them back over to their teacher. I was a temporary replacement for a permanent teacher- which was GREAT for those bad classes I had. However, I started to get discouraged- especially when I got to be in classes that I had a great time with. I knew I couldn’t build on anything I had taught, because I would be gone the next day. It was so frustrating at times. I definitely knew that this wasn’t the job for me, either.
Which brings me to my current job: teaching. I swore I would never be a permanent teacher. To be honest, the only reason I did Child, Adolescent and Family studies as my major was because they didn’t believe in standardized testing (which I thought was wonderful). God definitely had different plans in mind. When Joseph and I got married, I moved to his church: Valley Bible Fellowship. One Sunday, I saw an advertisement in the bulletin for needed teachers at their private school on campus. I called and received an interview, actually- 3 months worth of interviews and observations. In August 2008, I was hired! I have been teaching middle school history and K-8 music, ever since! After subbing for close to 4 years, I thought for sure I did NOT want to teach. Who knew I would find so much fulfillment and love for my job as a teacher. After all these years of being a believer, it’s amazing to me how God continually chooses to bless me even when my faith waivers.
I look back at the jobs I’ve had and see how God prepared me to become a teacher. If it weren’t for my job at the Boys & Girls club, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to pilot my talent in creating kids productions. If it weren’t for my job at Camp Whittier, I wouldn’t have learned how to play and be present in a child’s life, as well as be flexible with kids outside of a normal environment and inside the magic of camp. If it weren’t for my job as a substitute teacher, I wouldn’t have learned the organizational aspect of classroom management and how pertinent it is in the life of a child. All these skills have helped mold me into the teacher I am today. I am continuously growing and learning how to be a better teacher…but I feel like this job is- AGAIN- preparing me for the next one…being a mom.
I can’t wait to have the ultimate job of being a mommy. It’s the only job I’ve truly ever desired deep down. Someday, I will use all these skills to help me be the best one I can be- with God’s help. I can’t wait! Being a mommy will definitely be the perfect job where I don’t work a day in my life.
CMO
