Related Careers To Teaching
How draining or stressful is teaching?
I am returning to school to switch careers to teaching. I wonder how teachers would compare the stress and exhaustion of teaching to what I currently deal with?
I commute 2 hrs to get to work. After 3 yrs, I am at the midway point of my career, and I’ve been bored the whole time. I hate that I give so much of myself for a job that isn’t interesting or challenging, and what I do doesn’t make a difference to anyone except the shareholders. At the end of my 8-hr day, I commute another 2 hrs to get home, and I often bring work home with me. I’m so exhausted and drained by the time I get home, that I have no energy to enjoy my family or hobbies. All jobs even remotely related to my career seem the same.
Teachers…would you say that your stresses are significantly greater than what I currently deal with? Would you trade your stresses for mine?
No way would I trade! Teaching does have it’s own “stresses” – depending on the grade you may have a high volume of students and many of them will have very diverse needs. Then there’s papers to grade, plans to make and paperwork that must be completed for the school. But even so, I think it’s a great job!
I have been teaching for 13 years and have found that when people ask me what I make that my answer is “a difference”. That is what you have to keep in mind because in the beginning, it’s stressful because you are finding your way. But after you get into the “groove” you will sail along. And students will come back and tell you that they are glad you were their teacher. And you will see young minds develop and blossom. Plus teachers get summers off – so there’s plenty of time for hobbies and family. Of course you have to plan for these off months financially but it’s worth it.
Now it’s not an easy job and I do get tired but it all seems worth it. I think this may be because sometimes I think about teaching as not something I do but rather something I am. So sometimes I bring things home but I am pretty strict with myself and leave work at school. This is because I have a life too and the grades can wait a day or 2 (unless report cards are due. ) I do spend some time planning at home – finding resources and creating plans – but this is not every day. There are many times I find myself thinking about my class or our curriculum even when I’m “off” and so technically I guess I’m working but it doesn’t really feel like it. It feels more like a sense of discovery – the light bulb goes off and I get excited! Sure there are students who are less than excited but then there’s a new challenge – how to get them turned on.
So yes, there’s lots of pieces and parts and you have to decide if this is the life for you. (It really is a way of life) Maybe you could go job shadow one day in your child’s classroom. Then you can kill 2 birds with one stone and see what you think for yourself firsthand.
Good luck with your dreams – I hope this helps.
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