People who know me since 2009 know that I don't want to be a teacher.
I graduated from PUP where, during freshman enrollment, you had to battle for a program slot with other enrollees. I was supposed to take Accountancy because my young mind back then thought that's what I wanted. To make the long story short, I didn't make it because I didn't meet the minimum grade requirement for Math, so I enrolled in BSEd-English, hoping that I could shift to Accountancy by second year but the shift didn't happen.
Fast forward to college graduation, I felt like I had to give back to education by teaching. I started working in a private high school, the same school where I had my internship, then I took the LET and thankfully passed. After two years of teaching, I quit and looked for a job that could refresh my views about teaching and about my life. Why? Because I started to burn out; I felt like teaching is eating the life out of me.
Last year, when I left the academe, many people thought I'd be working in BPO. But I was able to land a job as an ESL Writer for an online English education company. Today, I can say that I am grateful that I took a step into the unknown because I found what I really want to do in my life.
Then, this morning, I woke up and found that an elderly relative has visited my grandma. When I paid my respects, this relative asked me if I have already passed the LET. I confidently said, "Yes, I passed it two years ago." Then I got a reply. "Why don't you apply to a public school? Your aunt is getting Php 30,000 a month while on leave."
The moment I heard "public school," I was already thinking, "Oh, no! Here we go again!" I just politely said, "I don't want to teach." Then I slowly went out of sight.
So what's the point in telling this story?
First, could everyone please stop pushing me to be in a public school? It's not that I abhor it or anything, but I plan to enjoy my life while experiencing things I may not experience if I'm in a public school. I still have plans to teach but I don't want to share contrived experiences to my future students because they're so unreal. I don't want to live vicariously because I am not meant for that.
Second, could everyone please stop telling me that I took an education program so I need to be in a school to practice what I learned? This isn't only for me but for all the underemployed people I know. What I learned in the university can be used and utilized not only in the field of education but also in other fields. I admit I used to tell everyone then that I don't want to learn something I wouldn't be able to use at work, but those thoughts came from a mind which was exposed to idealism and not to the real world out there. People who learned something they don't want to learn need not be boxed by a world they don't want to be in.
Lastly, could everyone please stop telling me that I don't have to think about the now but that I have to think about "my" future? Oh, yes, retirement! Everyone should be ready for their retirement, but shouldn't everyone also be concerned about happiness and fulfillment?
What I want to say is if I keep on preparing for my future, I may not be able to enjoy my life right now. I don't want to be solely focused on my destination without admiring the journey I am at.
I've been hearing all these things for the past three years and I think they're getting old. Please understand that this is my life and my ultimate goal is to be happy. Just like how children have different learning styles and study habits, people also have different means to be happy. Some people may be happy to follow the trail of everybody, but some may be happy to make a new trail and enjoy another scenery. I am one of the latter and I can say that I am pretty much enjoying the new trail I created.
Someday, I may find myself going back to everybody's trail, but I will never regret that I departed from the ideal because I know I will be able to share something worthwhile. Right now, I'll enjoy my life; the scenery here is great.
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