The snow is coming and I am crossing my fingers for an early release day tomorrow! I can't think of anything better- an afternoon to chill out at home and we don't have to make it up in the summer. The town NEXT to mine has one, so let's go Mr. Superintendent you can do it...
Speaking of work, I want to chat work with you guys today. After all, we do spend a lot of waking hours at work/doing work etc, so it's all part of a healthy life, no?
Deciding what you want to be "when you grow up" is really the most random thing ever when you think about it. Basically when you are 17, 18...maybe 19 or 20 years old, you are expected to pick from a random selection of careers, none of which you have actually ever tried and then work for multiple years in school towards chosen career.
When I first decided I wanted to be a teacher, around the age of sixteen (unless you count that I wrote in my 5th grade yearbook that I want to be a teacher), I had lots of ideas about why I wanted to be a teacher: have purpose in my work, play with kids all day, and lots of other "change the world ideals." Eric used to joke that I didn't just want to be a teacher, I wanted to be "Teacher of the Year."
Now, four years into my career, I still want to be a teacher (most days) but reasons are so different: doing something different every day, always having new challenges, seeing the progress kids make, working "early" hours- as in I get to work at 6:30, but I'm never home later than 5 or 6 at night even with tutoring, vacations and summer (though this is the first summer I'll have off, but I like that I get to switch jobs for a bit in the summer), my pay check is steady and reliable, and I gotta admit, funny things happen to me at work. Today, one of my kids yelled out, "I have the hickeys!!!" meaning she has the hiccups. Lol.
So overall, I have a good job. But some days I'd rather do just about any other job. I have to admit that I have seriously looked on job search websites during snack time on particularly bad days. A teacher at my school is retiring this year. He has worked at my school for 28 years, aka longer than I have been alive. And before that he worked at another school for 13 years. When I heard that my first thought was "wow, I do NOT think I could EVER teach for 41 years." So I guess what I'm saying is, some days I get the "grass could be greener" syndrome.
What about you? What do you do for work? If you are in school, what are you planning to do for work? What is the best thing about your job? What is your absolute DREAM job?
You know what's funny- I don't even know what my dream job would be...I think it would be amazing to be a writer, but I don't know if I have what it takes to deal with the unpredictably of that life. I think it would be fun to travel for a living, but then I remember how ready I am to come home after a couple of weeks away and I know I could never handle that life. I think in the end, though we all may think the grass is greener, there are just going to be positives and negatives to every job and that's life. Most people I know would give a leg to have Samantha Brown's job (travel the world and have cool experiences). I bet she wakes up some days and thinks, "man I wish I was home and does anyone know where I can find a Dunkin Donuts?" Maybe it sounds negative, but I think it's freeing...
Thoughts?
Posts
Dream jobs is definitely a blogging theme today. ;) Samantha Brown ABSOLUTELY has my dream career -- traveling and telling people about it -- but I also understand that you'd get tired of constantly being on the road. For as much as I travel and love it, I also totally have those days where I want nothing more than to be home, no mater what cool place I'm in.
ReplyDeleteHi there :) Just came across your blog - I love triathlons too (albeit small ones).
ReplyDeleteHmm if money was not an option I think I would love to open a bakery or patisserie :)
We (teachers) all have days like that. Our job is so demanding and we always put the needs of others ahead of our own. Add to it the crazy paperwork and meetings and it would make anyone question this career. My dream job would be in education but I would rather be curriculum coach or something like that. I love planning and teaching but would like to have my schedule to be more flexible. Some days the classroom feels like a cave or cell because I can never leave the room.
ReplyDeleteThe grass is greener but for right now it is all I got.
I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. And I really cannot fathom teaching for 30 plus years. I just can't.
ReplyDeleteI work in Finance for a large retailer. Right now I am kind of not loving it so much. The hours are so long and I feel like I Have no work/life balance. I am hoping it gets better as I get more familiar/comfortable with my job but right now, I just don't know if this pace is sustainable... :(
ReplyDeleteBut I don't know what else I would do. I have a ton of debt from getting my MBA so I have kind of committed to this kind of career!
Its funny how things change over the years. I picked to major in Photography because it was something i liked. 2 years into school i switched to Graphic Design which I love. Still my absolute dream job would be to work on a big cat reservation saving an raising big cats. So random
ReplyDeleteI do graphics for a media buying agency. I'm bored with it. I don't know what I want to do though. I've only had jobs in graphic design.
ReplyDeleteI love my job right now, I actually NEVER dread going into work!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that would be more ideal to me (and I plan on finding eventually) is a very similar job but MUCH closer to home!
I definitely think we all get the "grass is greener" syndrome with things though. I often wonder what it would be like to be more easygoing and carefree like some of my girlfriends who are constantly going to the bar and taking off on spontaneous road trips and not stressing about saving money and starting a career.
I work as a medical secretary. My dream job would be to be a professional horseback rider/trainer/coach, managing a stable ... something along those lines. I agree with you though, every job has posistives and negatives. I'd probably think the grass was greener some days even if I was doing my dream job!
ReplyDeleteI think almost every job has those type of days. I know I've had a few of them. I work in insurance and sometimes it's pure hell but other days I couldn't see myself doing anything else!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the hickeys comments! So cute!
In Germany, kids are even younger when they select a job...at age 10 they are divided into three different types of schools, which are tiered, that prepare them for different careers. On of the schools means they are college bound, the others prepare them for certain trades. After their progress in elementary school, their teachers recommend which school they should go into, so it's not always even a choice for them! Ugh!
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is hard to make that defining decision for yourself. When I was little, I wanted to be a doctor, then when I was a little bit older I wanted to be a chef in NYC (and a Radio City Rockette). When I applied to college I actually applied to the business school and switched over the summer before I started to Arts & Sciences so I could do the teaching program. I have no doubt I am in the right job, but I think that roles and responsibilities change and I don't want to be in the same classroom at the same level for 28 years (and I do know some teachers who do that). But with my life, I think I will always be able to keep it fresh.
I also want to be a writer! I am seriously thinking about writing a book this summer....
I can't imagine doing the same thing for 30 years. I don't know what my dream job is. At one point a variation of what I do now was my dream job, but now I need a new dream. =)
ReplyDeleteI guess that's how I feel, I don't really like what I'm doing now but I have no idea what I would LIKE to be doing. Still trying to figure that one out!
ReplyDeletei love being a therapist/social worker with kids and families :)
ReplyDeleteI gotta tell you, I love my carreer, and have never looked back. Now that being said, I HAVE wanted to do something else in dietetics, other than what I currently do, so it's not like I necessarily Love my JOB, but I've only just begun on my path as an RD so I expect bigger and better things to come in the future, and I know they will.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid I wanted to be an actress. haha. I don't know why. I took acting lessons and was VERY outgoing as a child, but I guess I sort of gave up as time went on (thank goodness, it's a rough world as an actress!).
Having a job you love (most of the time!) is a beautiful thing. I always wanted to be a teacher and to be honest, I'm not sure why I didn't pursue it.
ReplyDeleteI'm an executive assistant. I work with great people, but the job is certainly not a "dream job." Some days I hate it, some days I love it. I'm more or less a go-to girl around here. I thrive under pressure, so it's a good fit. But I still day-dream about other jobs...
I would still consider teaching if I were to switch careers. I think I would also love to try my hand at race directing, but then again I love my weekends off. :)
I hate my job, but I like a steady paycheck. I'm going to school now to switch careers so there's hope!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone has thoughs days when they spend a little time on monster.com though :)
hmm over the years I have wanted to do be a professional scrapbooker, a teacher, an architect, a physical therapist, a coach, an interior designist.. and now a... something that has to do with brand/product management ideally for an athletic company aka new balance, please! Not that I know what this job entails at all..
ReplyDeleteI know one thing though if my job doesn't have work/life balance, I'm going to dread going no matter how much I love what I do.
Kel-
ReplyDeleteI am glad that I am not the only teacher who has these thoughts. I have been a teacher for over 9 years and often think did I choose my career to early and not explore all of my options. I have wanted to be a teacher since I first entered Kindergarten. I never changed my mind and glad that I am doing what I am doing. Now I think maybe I want to be a social worker (I love working with kids) or maybe a chef. For now I am concentrate on teaching and maybe someday pursue another career. Great Post!
I do not like my job...and I don't have a dream job (besides being the next Samantha Brown, of course).
ReplyDeleteAnd you looking up jobs at work...I often do the same thing when I get really irritated by my boss. I actually even did it today! I *WILL* get a new job in 2010! I have to, or I might go crazy.
I think technically, my totally dream job would be to be a writer. I'm really good at having my own schedule and working from home (or anywhere). I don't know how much I will like the legal field though... we'll see!
ReplyDeletemy dream job has actually always been to be a teacher. Ever since I was a young girl I craved being in front of a classroom. Crazy dream, I know. Hopefully when I actually get there I won't change my mind!
ReplyDeletei LOVE the fied I am in and never want to stray from fitness/health. I love being a personal trainer and motivating others and know that I had a solid background in exercis science. What I want to be when I grow up though!?? NO IDEAAAAA I may want to dabble in nutrition...we shall see! I voted for your new blog name!!
ReplyDeleteI was JUST thinking this the other day. The fact that we pick our careers so young in our life is crazy to me! I have been thinking a lot about what I would do if I weren't a teacher and I don't know what to do but I really think I am ready for something different... yes, after 4 years I am feeling pretty done.
ReplyDeleteomg. i just lost a really long comment so i'll try to keep this one short.
ReplyDeleteeveryone thinks about this at some point in their lives...totally normal. i think the big question is would you ever actually take the plunge - pursue that dream job and/or leave what's comfortable and familiar to you. i started thinking about this a few months ago when i really couldn't picture myself doing what i'm doing right now (essentially, i write and produce proposals)...but it's comfortable. i know what i'm doing and i'm good at it. that's what keeps me there. sometimes comfort isn't a good thing.
pursuing the dream job is scary, especially if it's an atypical career path. i'm now about 97% sure i'm going to jump into the scary (though, it's a little less scary with some researching). i don't know if it'll be better or if i'll love it, but i've decided it's worth a shot. i know you're not into the sketchy descriptions, but i'm really paranoid about jinxing myself. promise more as it unfolds!
yes. i am always trying to think of what i really want to do. at least you semi-enjoy your job/enjoy it for the most part it seems! i... well, not so much. it's a paycheck right? :-/ i always said i would never work a job i didn't enjoy, i also said i would never date a smoker (did that, blech). i'm a chicken at taking risk and stepping away from a well-paying job is a little scary, especially now with my responsibilities (well, a mortgage, but that's not chump change!) i also try to keep in mind the "grass is greener" syndrome. i want to figure out what i want to do before i "jump", but how can you figure it out when you don't know what you like/don't like? oh the dilemma.
ReplyDeletei'm all over the place thinking about what i want to do. i'd love to travel and get paid for it but it couldn't be "work". i just want to get paid and travel around for fun :) yeah i know, dream on.