Quasi: I don’t know anything about you, so maybe the answer is obvious, but it seems that you really enjoy teaching and that is your first love. What I don’t understand is why the city is a deal breaker.
I can understand preferring a more urban or at least urban-adjacent type of environment over one that is solidly rural. Just from the cultural point of view there are so many more advantages - museums, theater, etc. And the list goes on from there. But having such a strong preference for a particular city is harder for me to understand. Thanks.
I have to admit that you are correct about the hiring process. Many companies are using math skills as a measure of the intelligence that relates to wide areas of computer development. I don’t blame the larger companies, they don’t have a practical alternative measurement.
Hi Delta, thanks for your concern. Well all my friends and family live here. Earlier in my career I applied out of city and never received any response from any jobs worthwhile. Also I’m lucky to be able to participate in the local music scene (performing with the symphony, the jazz club, numerous private functions, weddings). I’ve traveled around Canada and I really like it here. Music / band jobs are hard to come by. And these days I haven’t really found the initiative to up and move. Maybe a year from now if I don’t find success I will just pack my bags and look elsewhere. I know quite a few friends who gave up their jobs to make a go of it in the city, and it worked out for them. Maybe I can be one of those people too.
Also I have had an itch since I was 20 to try something else. I never knew what that “else” was. I took multiple personality tests and examined other careers. I learned more about my personality type, my strengths, my economic goals, and my interests. I generally matured. Two things happened. I found out I really do like teaching and I do like music. I also found out I wanted to learn more about math, computers, and the sciences. I felt that due to being a lazy teenager I never really reached my potential.
I really got burned about a year 1/2 ago when our local union went on strike. A local parent made it her mission to destroy me and my image. It was a traumatic experience and it has somewhat kept me at arms length from my job. I used to have more enthusiasm for work and now I have a hard time motivating myself. Kids are great. It’s more me I’m concerned about.
Also in my current job I work at six schools and driving the highway is a factor where-ever I choose to live in my current job. The previous teacher almost had a head-on collision with a jack-knifed semi. I was in a vehicle rollover this year. The highway has become a deal-breaker for me. The other issue with my current job is that it is un-sustainable. The little rural schools I teach at will eventually close due to low-enrollment. I’ve never felt like a REAL member of a staff or school…just an auxiliary teacher who drops in. Honestly to think of the last seven years of my career that way makes me sad…almost a little teary. I want to be part of a team and a community. Not just some forgotten extra who comes in and makes life inconvenient for everyone else.
I have been and will continue to apply for city and local rural jobs (something within a half an hours driving distance). Do you think this computer-science plan is crazy? Believe me I often I do too. But I may really like it. And I maybe I could teach it one day? Or maybe I could teach math! That excites me as well…teaching a high priority subject. I recognize that perhaps being a computer programmer isn’t my ideal career (although it might be) but perhaps having a teaching load that involves math, computers, or even the sciences might really rekindle my excitement for teaching. Music will always be in there as well. Maybe a year away from the job will rekindle my interest. I know lots of comp-sci people who really like what they are doing and make a good living. I know I look like a wishy-washy flake of a person. I wish all of this was much easier. I’m trying my best.
I think it will definitely be an adventure and open up a lot of new creative avenues for you. It’s hard to quantify what that means but I think you already understand what I’m getting at.
I can relate. It took me a long time to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. I studied religion, then went to law school then business school. Worked as a lawyer in various capacities and hated it. Worked in finance but spent most of my time composing algorithms for the HP12C financial calculator. Finally realized I was a code monkey. I loved that until I started getting into positions where my job was less about elegant code and more about “interfacing”. It was all down hill from there.
So all I can really say, is keep your eyes open and try as best you can to know what you’re getting into. Best of luck!!!
