Thursday, June 12, 2008

Next steps

Ever since I graduated college, I've been searching for something meaningful and important to do with my life. I've done a lot of very interesting and challenging things, but none of them have really led anywhere. Long story short, I'm working on getting myself out of a rut.

I had been thinking for a little while that I might go back to school for a Master's degree in linguistics, or perhaps go to Rabbinical school, or something else. At some point, the idea of becoming a school counselor came up, and it piqued my interest. That, I thought to myself, was something I could do.

Eventually, the conversation about being a school counselor evolved, and I found myself intrigued about a different angle: becoming a public school teacher. I'd never really considered that possibility before. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.

And so, a few weeks ago, I began the process of applying for the Alternative Certification to become a public school teacher. My degree in International Studies and my post-graduate work experience will qualify me to teach High School Social Studies. It's a complicated process to get certified, but I'm going to pursue it, and hopefully I'll be able to start teaching in the 2009-2010 school year.

Teaching is the perfect outlet for my intellectual energies and for my desire to really make a difference in the world. Yes, I know, teenagers can be difficult, but I was a teenager not too long ago (ok 10 years ago), so I think I have an idea of how to handle them.

It's been a while since I've been idealistic about something like this, so I'm going to enjoy the idealism while I can. I know that once I get down into the nitty gritty world of teaching, it'll be difficult, perhaps overwhelming, but I have confidence that I'll be able to succeed.