Hazzah!
My main concern about going to school to become a qualified teacher (years 0-3) was the amount of time it would take me. I got it into my head that it was 5 and a half years. But it's actually 4 years. And although that is certainly still a long time, and certainly would have caused me some anxiety if it was the only time I'd heard, now that I know it's 4 years instead of 5+, it feels as if I've "won" a year of my life back, and it makes it that much easier to accept the 4 years.
Of course, to make it work, I have to have a job that allows for very flexible hours (which I currently do, if I actually accept new assignments) where I can make sure that I don't work over the "free limit" that would otherwise diminish my student aid. It's a tricky situation, made worse by the fact that I have no idea if I get in (I hope so!). But I like to plan ahead, so...
Other than that, I worked my last day at the school with "my kids" yesterday, alongside their teacher. It was kind of weird, but good to meet her and have a chance to say goodbye to the kids properly. You can tell that they are so used to having me there that they turn to me to ask things instead of her, but I'm sure they will soon get used to it again and forget I was even there!
Hopefully I will be able to return in January to work in another class (I worked in 2A, and it's 2B that might need me - I've had them in two different subjects over the two months I spent at the school) for a few weeks before their new teacher is available.
Things are sort of looking up, actually. It's weird to find the drive and realise what you want to do with your life. I've always wondered about it in other people, but now I get it. I get it much more beyond the dream of publishing, or a desire to have a job where you're not working even on your off hours. But even though I kind of did now, at least mentally, it is still something that I want to do. I was tired as all hell, but I enjoyed it so much and I didn't feel tired when I at working.
Of course, to make it work, I have to have a job that allows for very flexible hours (which I currently do, if I actually accept new assignments) where I can make sure that I don't work over the "free limit" that would otherwise diminish my student aid. It's a tricky situation, made worse by the fact that I have no idea if I get in (I hope so!). But I like to plan ahead, so...
Other than that, I worked my last day at the school with "my kids" yesterday, alongside their teacher. It was kind of weird, but good to meet her and have a chance to say goodbye to the kids properly. You can tell that they are so used to having me there that they turn to me to ask things instead of her, but I'm sure they will soon get used to it again and forget I was even there!
Hopefully I will be able to return in January to work in another class (I worked in 2A, and it's 2B that might need me - I've had them in two different subjects over the two months I spent at the school) for a few weeks before their new teacher is available.
Things are sort of looking up, actually. It's weird to find the drive and realise what you want to do with your life. I've always wondered about it in other people, but now I get it. I get it much more beyond the dream of publishing, or a desire to have a job where you're not working even on your off hours. But even though I kind of did now, at least mentally, it is still something that I want to do. I was tired as all hell, but I enjoyed it so much and I didn't feel tired when I at working.