true friend?
So after contemplating on what's weighing on me, I decided to write an entry on something that happened to me recently... So someone, who will remain un named, who I had considered one of our closer friends, and is also in the same profession as I am, imed me the other week. You see, there is this job, that isn't officially open yet, but I have some connections with this school and interviewed there this Fall and was second choice (Because i still had to complete my schooling). So everyone who knows me knows that I am really hoping for this job at this particular school. Well, this person, who I thought was my friend, imed me and asked me if it was okay if he interviewed for this position too, if/when it opens up. What was I supposed to say? No? So I thought it through, thinking, well, if he does interview there, I think that I would still come out on top because they are already familiar with me and I am confident of my teaching skills. So I told him, um, sure. What kind of friend would ask if he could interview for the job that he KNOWS you REALLY want? So, after discussing this with some other friends, I wonder if it is because he feels threatened by me...a confident and promising female director. (If I may say so myself...lol). So this frustrated me, and I wanted to share. I'm much better now. :-)
Female directors are always in the minority in the high school setting anyway. It's been statistically proven that most females will enter into college as a music ed major wanting to teach HS choir or band, but by the time they graduate, and get a job, they settle for middle school or elementary choir/band because this is what they think they are "supposed" to do. Somewhere along the line female directors feel like they not able to teach HS band/choir because of the demanding schedule? or because they want to have families? Most male directors I know have families too. But I would venture to say that they never felt pressure to NOT be HS directors because of family. Isn't this interesting to ponder? So I am out to prove this theory wrong. I am going to prove that you can be an extremely successful female HS band director and still have a family and still have a successful music program. So, I found the above situation interesting because it is the first time I have encountered this female director prejudice. I was a bit put off that it was from one of my supposedly good friends, however. But, to put a positive spin on this, my mentor and the man that I look to as my guide and I hope one day that I'll be as good as he is, has always encouraged me, especially because of the preconceived idea of the female director. He has always pushed me to examine why I love this and to do better than my best. And his faith in me will never waiver, I'm sure of this. So it is very encouraging to have many successful and well known male directors who are encouraging me and behind me as I venture into this music world.
How's that for deep? LOL :-)
Female directors are always in the minority in the high school setting anyway. It's been statistically proven that most females will enter into college as a music ed major wanting to teach HS choir or band, but by the time they graduate, and get a job, they settle for middle school or elementary choir/band because this is what they think they are "supposed" to do. Somewhere along the line female directors feel like they not able to teach HS band/choir because of the demanding schedule? or because they want to have families? Most male directors I know have families too. But I would venture to say that they never felt pressure to NOT be HS directors because of family. Isn't this interesting to ponder? So I am out to prove this theory wrong. I am going to prove that you can be an extremely successful female HS band director and still have a family and still have a successful music program. So, I found the above situation interesting because it is the first time I have encountered this female director prejudice. I was a bit put off that it was from one of my supposedly good friends, however. But, to put a positive spin on this, my mentor and the man that I look to as my guide and I hope one day that I'll be as good as he is, has always encouraged me, especially because of the preconceived idea of the female director. He has always pushed me to examine why I love this and to do better than my best. And his faith in me will never waiver, I'm sure of this. So it is very encouraging to have many successful and well known male directors who are encouraging me and behind me as I venture into this music world.
How's that for deep? LOL :-)