So I received a call this morning asking me if I can start work next Monday. Obviously, I said yes! I’m a little weary, it still is a government job, and we all know how those are. I hope I can keep my spirits up long enough to hopefully prosper and maybe even advance. All government offices can’t be pits of doom. I hope. 22 months ago

I originally started this goal because I lost my college class, and already I have been given another assignment for Fall. I’m not sure exactly what the pay will look like – it’ll be slightly less than I was making before, but I’ll be able to teach yoga in addition and/or even continue with a part-time schedule at the language school if I want to because my class is a night class at the college.

It remains to be seen if I love the community college teaching – it has its moments of joy and its moments of stress and frustration. It puts me out of my comfort zone as a teacher, which is both a good and a bad thing. I do like that they take the idea of education seriously there, and I feel like I’m doing something useful and important there, as opposed to at a language school. I’m happy to continue to explore this avenue for now.

There’s no question that I love teaching yoga, and I have other goals about building this aspect of my career, so I’m fairly happy with that.

I love examining, even though there are challenges about doing it now that my role has changed so much there. I have various other options for work, some of which I haven’t even had time to really pursue! So far, I feel like my decisions to change my life have been met with abundant opportunities to explore. Hopefully they will begin becoming a bit more financially abundant as well. :)

I feel this goal has served its main purpose as I have secured work I’m excited about for the fall and have other goals that will help me fill in the gaps. I will retire it for now. 23 months ago

It’s work in my field, which is nice, and something I once said I wouldn’t mind doing. This could be a nice fresh start, as long as everything goes well with the mountains of paperwork I need to fill out to even be considered (although the director has expressed a keen interest in hiring me).

It may or may not be work I love, I don’t know yet. But how will I know unless I try? 23 months ago

at the language school (my summer job) – I’ll be working double shifts eventually but right now am teaching just mornings. It’s fun to have my own class and the work is pretty easy… I enjoy teaching these students. I like it – maybe I love it – but it isn’t forever, for so many reasons. It will get me through the summer though, and I’ll probably burn out on the double shifts and be very happy to be done! 23 months ago

at the community college where I worked this past semester. Three things are less than ideal – it is slightly fewer hours and therefore less pay, it is a night class, and it is a very low level. However, it is great that a class came open so quickly and that it was offered to me. The dean has already approved it, and I told them to put me on WebAdvisor for the course. I’m in.

Good things: it will be an interesting new experience. It’s level zero beginners! There will be no essay grading, only sentence level writing because they are just learning to write at this point. It will leave my days free to do other stuff and lots of hours for teaching yoga. There is a chance I could pick up a second class if one comes open. It keeps my foot in the door as I decide what role community college teaching will play in my future. All this is good. 23 months ago

but this week has shown me that I definitely love teaching yoga! Not only that, but I’m doing well and getting better every time I teach.

I was challenged by a few things during my final exam class for YTT (thank you, Universe), but the class went very well nonetheless. I busted out some advanced anatomy terms during my oral exam with the studio owner that we were not required to know, and was able to break them down into their parts, going above and beyond the base of knowledge we were expected to have. I only got one question wrong on my written anatomy final (and I still think it was kind of half-right). My mentor believes in me and is advocating for me when she hears people are looking for teachers. So I have lots of support as I try to make this work.

We have not received the official feedback from our finals yet; it will be coming by email this week, I believe. However, my teacher told me that she snuck a peek at the studio owner’s notes during my class and he had written that he wanted to get me involved in the mentor program at the studio right away. This means he was impressed by my teaching and that I have a chance to teach for him in the future. In spite of our differences, I do respect him in many ways and he’s built a very high quality studio. It would be an honor to work there.

This doesn’t change my plan: to start building experience by working for free, then to apply for paid jobs, and finally to start trying to create my own business. It does make it seem very possible and maybe accelerate the time line a bit.

I’ve worked so hard the last three years to rebuild myself and create a better life, and it’s really exciting to see that I’m getting back what I’ve given and more.

Thank you, Universe.23 months ago

• oral examining: yes, I really enjoy this for some reason
• subbing: OK… occasionally it’s torture, but usually it’s fun and low stress
• preparing students for exams: I like this too

I’ve tried to get some work training, and I would enjoy that if it comes through.

Teaching yoga is coming up, I hope, and I’m sure I’ll love that.

So far, so good on this goal. 2 years ago