So i'm heading into week 3 of the semester. Is it too early to wish it was late April? Cuz I do. Really. I'm soooo burned out on, well, everything...school, work, life, etc.I received at least 10 emails in the past two days from crazy/needy classmate that I was (un)fortunate enough to be paired with for a presentation this Wednesday night. She is stressing me out and I really have a pretty high tolerance when it comes to stress...it's wearing thin now, like very thin. She is coming into my office on campus on Tuesday around lunchtime so we can go over what we've put together...I'm dreading that. sorry. but I am.
My work @ the high school is going good so far. I had my first two counseling sessions on Friday. Man kids these days sure have issues...well, maybe kids had them when I was their age and I just wasn't aware of it...wow. sad. very sad.
In just these two short weeks at the high school I have already discovered/determined/decided that I want to work at the high school level...pretty funny since I NEVER thought I would want that and had always said I would prefer the Elementary school level.
A few reasons for this decision:
(1) in this county, if you are assigned an elementary school, you are typically the ONLY counselor there AND you will likely have 2 schools to report to. I don't want to be alone, at least in my first years as a school counselor and I really don't want to be driving to different schools. It makes it hard to feel a sense of belonging too.
(2) at the high school level, there are typically 3-4 counselors, while you do less "counseling", you still have kids you will see on a regular basis.
(3) the high school work contract is 10 days longer than the elementary level which means you get a little bit more money...less time off, but I can handle that.
(4) the type of work is so different between both levels, but I'm pretty certain I know where I want to be now....of course, in the Fall I will be doing my Internship in an elementary school (requirement to experience different age level than Practicum)...so we'll see if that sways my decision, but I'm thinking that it won't.
My only exciting news from the weekend: I booked a breakfast reservation for a Character Dining at the Magic Kingdom when we are in FL in March. I don't know who will be more excited to dine with Disney characters...me or Ethan....
5 comments:
You can make it through this semester!
I have faith in you!
I'm glad you've found your calling. Good luck with your new career. My boyfriend is a second grade teacher, and granted he works at a poor, inner-city school, but he finds the work to be just as frustrating as it is rewarding. Between shit-head parents who don't care about their children, violence and a broken education system, he is on the verge of depression at least a couple times a week.
Stick with your gut instinct, it's not usually wrong. Unless it's telling you a mullet is an acceptable hairstyle for 2010... :)
So cute! I can't wait to see the pictures from your dinner at Disney! :)
And I love the high school kids. As an English teacher, I was privy to a lot of those issues that the kids were going through and it always amazed me that they could deal with everything in their home lives and still come to school. Of course, sometimes school is the only safe place and only place to get a hot meal for those kids. So sad. I hope you keep enjoying your experience with the high schoolers. You have a lot of great things you can offer those kids.
I know the burnt out feeling very well. It stinks.
However, congrats on figuring out where you want to go/what you want to do with regards to counseling. That's got to be a huge weight off your shoulders. It takes a strong person to be a counselor and I'm sure they will be thankful =)
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