I am standing in front of one of those giant signposts... you know, the ones with hundreds of arrows pointing in every direction. One arrow points to exactly where I am, which is actually pretty great. But I have to admit that the other arrows are really appealing.
There's a sign covered in neon lights that points toward London. About 4 years ago, I went on a grand adventure with my lovely Maren-friend to England. We crashed in the tiny (and I mean TINY) flat of her friend Anne who is an American that happened to be teaching art at an American school there. We visited the school a few times to check our e-mail and it was amazing. Lately the idea has been pulling on my shirt sleeve like one of my second-graders. I checked out their website and the mission of the school really matches my educational philosophy. It would be a perfect fit career-wise and a wild ride in every other way. The only thing holding me back is the distance from everyone I know. Anne has since moved back to CA, which means I'd be completely on my own. Anyone want to go with me?????
PROS:
1. Totally new place
2. Good fit w/my philosophy
3. Cornish pasties
4. Inexpensive theater
5. Crazy soccer fans
6. Get paid in pounds (If I can save... might work out well in conversion!)
7. English accents
8. Men with English accents
CONS:
1. 13-hour plane ride to see my people
2. No-one to get me chicken soup when I'm sick. (right away, anyhow)
3. Where would I keep my awesome furniture?
4. Have to sell the house
5. Those men with accents have scary teeth
Another expensive-looking sign is pointing toward the remaining 15 credits left in my first master's degree and at a really great Reading Specialist master's program at Utah State. Two years from now I could have two master's degrees and work as a mentor teacher focused on reading.
PROS:
1. The classes sound really interesting and would automatically improve my teaching practice.
2. Can stay in my cute house
3. Reading specialists are better paid than regular old teachers. (Who isn't though?)
4. I'm still close to my Utah and CA people
CONS:
1. Hitting the books
2. Student loan $$$
3. Being too educated scares the boys away :(
The other signs are pointing everywhere: one says finish writing the charter for the school I want to open, one says train for a triathlon, one says be a wacky hippy-chick river guide, another says write a children's book... or even a series of them. I'm standing the shadow of all of these possibilities and my heart is racing a little. Where do I go next?
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How wonderful and exciting to have all these option open to you! You should hop over the hill one of these days and tell us more about it!
ReplyDeleteWow - life is grand! You are definitely at a crossroads. I know whatever you do, you will be absolutely wonderful. You are so talented!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I like the charter school idea, but you need to open it down here in Cali so we can go!!! Scott and I toy with the idea of having our own private school all the time. Sound like a good deal?
I was born many years too late. My whole goal when I was your age was to get my kids to school on time and fill their empty tummies after soccer practice. You have many more ideas about life than I ever did! Love you.....I vote stay in Utah or like Tera says....open a charter in California.
ReplyDeleteYou know, mama... I would happily exchange my goals for yours.
ReplyDeleteI'll be seeing you next week, Adrienne. I'm excited to see y'all!
And as for the school Tera, that sounds great! I have all of these ideas for how schools should be, but I haven't found one that lines up quite right yet. I'd love to hear your ideas!!! I"m keeping my CA credential current just in case :)