While I didn't pursue a career in education, I was going to. I
still could of course; that's the marvel of the profession.
About 12 years ago, I took a very long paid test to determine
the perfect careers for me.
The stuff I expected came up: Coach, Minister/priest/rabbi,
Psychologist, Pharmacist... these things usually come up in
career tests.
But my number one?
Middle School Teacher (Special Ed).
It went on to describe how Special Education means both slow (I
never liked the term slow) and talented and gifted.*
I was floored that the test was that accurate, as that's
definitely a profession an "alternative Universe me" would've
done / could do without any problem at all. I always wanted to
teach middle school; I always found the transition points in
life to be fascinating.*
Yet, I never felt as if I "should've done something different".
Seeing that snapped into place something I always knew; That all
people are in a constant state of transition in some part of
their lives. The confusions aren't at their worst in middle
school; they're just at their most OBVIOUS. After that point, we
learn to hide it well. In short, we learn to lie well.
Before that point, there's somewhat more stability, but I think
trouble begins around 7-8 yrs old; the age social awareness
comes in like acid rain and you have to cope as best you can.
It's amazing we survive at all.
Part of me knows I was born at the "wrong time". In the future
or in the past, it's likely I would've gone straight into
teaching formally. But, it wasn't safe to be a man in the
teaching profession in the early 1990s. Too many eyes, too much
skepticism, and I was discouraged from entering it as a field
for that reason alone. It would've been an uphill battle, like
being a woman in the military or firefighter: not impossible but
constant scrutiny.
No regrets though. Just an alternative Universe me*smile
emoticon*I love my path so far, and appreciate just being here
to experience it. Life's a marvel and any opportunity I get to
encourage people to progress in their own way, at their own pace
while allowing themselves to be challenged to grow, I do so.
