Monday, August 13, 2007

dreaming of something new

kicking around a few ideas for what i could do with the rest of my life. I think I'd like something where I make a difference on a Human Level, and not necessarily just a Financial one for some Corporation.

Teacher
I think I could be a teacher. I like the schedule and am familiar with the role. I know many teachers and feel comfortable with them. I think I could be an effective Junior High Science Teacher.
Pros:
1. Summers Off,
2. Being a man, I could probably have an edge to getting hired as most teachers are still women.
3. Summers Off
4. Home before 5pm!
5. Could probably get an Emergency Cert if I agreed to teach in one of the Horrible City Schools.
Cons:
1. Wouldnt make enough money to cover my current expenses.
Updated:
2. (From Birdy)Thankless work to reach the one or two kids that care and deal with the bullshit of the 15 or 20 that think you're stupid and don't know what you're talking about.


Nurse
I would probably be a very good nurse. I thrive under pressure, and can be empathetic.
Pros:
1. Some science involved
2. LOTS of hospitals in Philly in need of Nurses
3. Comfy work clothes
4. Everyone will assume I'm a Doctor
5. BUSY enough to keep the voices out of my head.
6. Decent money these days
7. Get to poke people with stuff
Updated:
8. (From Birdy) job security
Cons:
1. A few years of schooling to make the transition.
2. Wacky schedule
Updated:
3.(From Birdy)sickness and death and depression

Fireman
I've always thought this would be a great job
Pros:
1. Get to kick down doors
2. Get to do something very physical and expend energy
3. Hold onto a speeding truck
4. Fire
Cons:
1. Dont know if they make enough money for my current level of expenses.
2. Dont know about schedule

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Teaching sucks. I did it for a while and it's a totally thankless job. Add that to the Cons. Thankless work to reach the one or two kids that care and deal with the bullshit of the 15 or 20 that think you're stupid and don't know what you're talking about.

Nurse - add to the pros job security. You're right, nurses are in BIG demand. But add to the cons - sickness and death and depression.

Fireman - I was almost a fireman myself! I say go fireman.

Liz said...

There are some cushy teaching positions if you go for private schools instead of public ones. But all my teacher friends are always tired all the time. Except for the three months they are traveling and sleeping in and not having to do anything all day long.

d.K. said...

I'm a fan of Birdy, no doubt, but reaching that 1-2 persons who would otherwise be lost is the point of doing it. 2 or 3 lives per year, changed by the impact of a good mentor, inspirational teacher is plenty of reward. Teachers (I have a couple in my family) are so disgracefully underpaid that Con #1 is what makes bright, interested people like you (or, I'd like to think me) away from the field. It sucks. My sister teaches school, has an MA and years of experience, is devoted to it, and when she tells me her salary, and I compare that to what federal employees whom I know personally make -- and the skills required for both, it makes me sick.
Can't Mrs. Steakbellie help you out so that you could try the teaching thing for a bit? And the boys could sell Amway products or something, right? She's likely very bright and could be the primary doe winner, and you'd have a win/win. Also, yes, the summers off is a plus, but required to recharge. I taught (at the University level -- much easier than teaching K-12 kids), for three years and it exhausted me, and I need the summer to prepare to be "on" everyday for the next 9 months.
Hope you'll continue to assess and consider teaching - The very notion that it comes to mind when you think of satisfying work speaks volumes to how good you would be. (I learned I was terrible -- the old adage that there's no such thing as a stupid question wasn't in my mindset. I would practically respond to some questions by saying "that's a stupid question". I didn't go that far, but you get the point. I wasn't good at it. We need people who are, and who want to do it. Good for you.

Chris the Hippie said...

It may sound kinda stoopid, but I'm thinking of taking my fancy college edumacation and all these artistic desires of mine and get me a CDL and start driving truck. Hell, I saw a commercial on TV the other day advertising that a company would pay you while you trained to be a welder. I wrote the number down. I'm just about done with this stupid dream of mine to use my brain -- time to start working for a living, I guess.

I can't stand staring at a computer all day, every day, knowing I can't afford to buy my wife the medicine she needs half the time while my boss tootles around in his BMW convertible... Welders, truckers, and about half the jobs at the packing plant have STARTING wages higher than I'm making now as a graphics guy with my 15 years experience. Nurses make a ton of dough around here. Teachers don't, sadly, but many of them hire on as farm labor in the summer to tide them over.

I was looking at the Highway Patrol's website yesterday -- have you thought about something like that? It looks like a fairly well-paying job, and you get a badge and everything. (I'm color-blind, so they won't let me into law enforcement unless I want to drive another desk.)

Lori Stewart Weidert said...

I'm dating a firefighter right now; I don't know how much he makes, but I know his shifts: every 3rd day, a 24-hour shift. He often does construction on his days offs, "for pocket change." When he's not working, he's kicked back in a lazy boy, snoozing in front of the TV, surfing the net cooking and laughing with friends who think they have the greatest job in the whole world. PRO

Then again, last night he had 2 fires and a false alarm, and trudged home this morning with 3 hours of sleep under his belt. CON

Wendy said...

There's not enough Advil in the world for me to be a teacher. But that's me. I have total respect for my kids' teachers and have been very lucky to have quite a few male teachers. Really nice for the boys.

Nursing. There are so many ways to do this. I have a good friend who is a shock trauma nurse. Terrible hours. Lots of blood and guts. But very rewarding. Another nurse friend is an administrator and has great hours and makes big bucks. There are more choices that I'd realized in this field.

Firefighter. Sigh. Everyone loves firefighters. Kids, women, you name it.

All sound like great choices. Good luck!

Aggie said...

I was very nearly a teacher and I agree with Birdy's comments. But, then, I chose an even lower paying career than teaching so, what can I say? :)

I have also considered nursing or a career with the fire department. A friend just got through the Fire Academy and he's making good money and, though tired, seems more satisfied than I've seen him in a while. Seems like a lot of family men are firefighters.

Just my two cents.

Dave S. said...

The firefighter gig is a pretty kick ass job. Especially if you're single. Probably get you laid a lot.

But you're married with kids, which leads me to one of the cons of firefighting...the whole "could die at any moment" thing. That's a bummer.

katrocket said...

Okay, so why didn't "ninja assassin" make this list? And what about "skydiving Elvis impersonator"? I really think you're limiting yourself. You would ROCK those jobs.

Leonesse said...

How about Professional Eater who makes six figures with his blogging and personal appearances?

That sounds nice.