Being a teacher?
I just had this weird idea of becoming a college teacher someday. I'm rather liking this Social Psychology class I'm taking and I really do think I make a mistake in not switching to a Psych major when I changed majors two years ago. Still, I remember Elsa said that Grad schools don't really care what you majored in as an undergrad so it wouldn't really matter that I wasn't a psych major if I wanted to go into teaching it because I'd still have to go to grad school. I'm not entirely sure, but I'm getting the impression that you need a Master's to teach at a community college, and a doctorate to teach at a four year college. I'd probably go for the latter since that gives you more flexibility - you can go either way with that degree, rather than just for a community college.
I just see a lot to like about the idea of possibly becoming a college psych teacher some day. It's a subject that I really like and public speaking doesn't really faze me like it does a lot of people, so that wouldn't really bother me. And I've noticed all these things about academic life that teachers have that I'd like. There's pretty much no dress code at all here at Chico State and there wasn't one at MPC either, I'm guessing that's pretty normal at colleges. That I really like, as I've never really liked the idea of going to work in a suit or tie. There's also the fact that I'm really not a morning person and there's no way I'd avoid 8 or 9 AM jobs in the regular work world. I can imagine doing that for a few years, but it would be nice to not have to be up and working at that hour for my entire working career. This semester and last semester I've had 8 AM classes, but aside from these two classes and summer classes, college has never started earlier than 10 AM for me.
Then there's the more long term schedule of semesters and breaks that's also really appealing. I remember a while back Heather said enjoy your breaks while you can because you won't get these nice long breaks when you're in the work world. Which is true in the regular work world, but there are long breaks in the academic world, summers here at Chico State last about three months and winter breaks last for five weeks. I can't imagine any kind of job aside from an academic one that would have breaks like that. It probably wouldn't be all free time as I'm sure there's some preparing for the next semester that goes on, but after a while, that probably wouldn't take too long. And I'm also really attracted to the idea of writing novels, and these long breaks would allow for that like normal jobs wouldn't. I'm sure there's things like politics that would be a drag, but that'd be true regardless of where I get a job. I couldn't teach K - 12 though, I'm just not really a children person at all, and I'd rather teach people who want to be there as I would hope would be the case in college. But college teachers have a lot more power than high school teachers, and a lot more flexible schedules, so the age of the students and atmosphere of the school would be a lot more to my liking.
This isn't something I'm going to do straight out of Chico State. I'm tired enough of college that I want to get a regular job for several years, but this is more of a long term possibility that could be neat to go to grad school several years down the line and then become a teacher. There's also the issue of money since my parents have paid for my undergraduate education, which has been greatly appreciated, but if I do go to grad school, I'd really like to pay for it all myself.
In other news, I'm starting to see the bright side of the breakup of that relationship I was in. We had the person in charge of the career center come and talk to my BSIS capstone class and I was suddenly realizing on my way out of class that I'm single and unattached again. So I can go anywhere out of college. Seattle and Washington in general has this really strong draw to me for several years now, so I might see if I can find a job I like there and live there for a while, seeing what Washington is like since I've lived in California all my life. A few of you live near Seattle. Can you tell me what the atmosphere of Seattle is like if you've been there? I'm especially curious about caladri's opinion since I know she used to live in California and thus knows what the weather is like in Washington versus California.
I just see a lot to like about the idea of possibly becoming a college psych teacher some day. It's a subject that I really like and public speaking doesn't really faze me like it does a lot of people, so that wouldn't really bother me. And I've noticed all these things about academic life that teachers have that I'd like. There's pretty much no dress code at all here at Chico State and there wasn't one at MPC either, I'm guessing that's pretty normal at colleges. That I really like, as I've never really liked the idea of going to work in a suit or tie. There's also the fact that I'm really not a morning person and there's no way I'd avoid 8 or 9 AM jobs in the regular work world. I can imagine doing that for a few years, but it would be nice to not have to be up and working at that hour for my entire working career. This semester and last semester I've had 8 AM classes, but aside from these two classes and summer classes, college has never started earlier than 10 AM for me.
Then there's the more long term schedule of semesters and breaks that's also really appealing. I remember a while back Heather said enjoy your breaks while you can because you won't get these nice long breaks when you're in the work world. Which is true in the regular work world, but there are long breaks in the academic world, summers here at Chico State last about three months and winter breaks last for five weeks. I can't imagine any kind of job aside from an academic one that would have breaks like that. It probably wouldn't be all free time as I'm sure there's some preparing for the next semester that goes on, but after a while, that probably wouldn't take too long. And I'm also really attracted to the idea of writing novels, and these long breaks would allow for that like normal jobs wouldn't. I'm sure there's things like politics that would be a drag, but that'd be true regardless of where I get a job. I couldn't teach K - 12 though, I'm just not really a children person at all, and I'd rather teach people who want to be there as I would hope would be the case in college. But college teachers have a lot more power than high school teachers, and a lot more flexible schedules, so the age of the students and atmosphere of the school would be a lot more to my liking.
This isn't something I'm going to do straight out of Chico State. I'm tired enough of college that I want to get a regular job for several years, but this is more of a long term possibility that could be neat to go to grad school several years down the line and then become a teacher. There's also the issue of money since my parents have paid for my undergraduate education, which has been greatly appreciated, but if I do go to grad school, I'd really like to pay for it all myself.
In other news, I'm starting to see the bright side of the breakup of that relationship I was in. We had the person in charge of the career center come and talk to my BSIS capstone class and I was suddenly realizing on my way out of class that I'm single and unattached again. So I can go anywhere out of college. Seattle and Washington in general has this really strong draw to me for several years now, so I might see if I can find a job I like there and live there for a while, seeing what Washington is like since I've lived in California all my life. A few of you live near Seattle. Can you tell me what the atmosphere of Seattle is like if you've been there? I'm especially curious about caladri's opinion since I know she used to live in California and thus knows what the weather is like in Washington versus California.