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ClustrMaps
2009 Wed 4th Nov First day jitters...
Monday I became officially hired and registered as a substitute for the local school district. This is a great job for me because I do not want to work full time right now, and I can pick and choose the days and assignments I want to work while I make some extra money now and then (for shoes, of course). Since I have not (yet) finished my degree, I can only substitute in specific areas, like the library, as a teacher's aide or for the clerical staff and not as a full fledged classroom teacher. Less money, but sooo much less stress!
My favorite place to work in a school is the library. I have years of experience as a volunteer, aide, and even as the head librarian at a private school in another state. I still volunteer at a school library once a week and it makes me happy, but my son is not such a fan. As a student of the school where I volunteer, and a soon-to-be teenager worried about his reputation being tarnished by his mother's presence, he was not happy about the situation. However, Hubby and I assured him that he would never see me since he would not have any reason to visit the library. Of course, the first day I was there his English class came in for their lesson and there I was, smiling at the irony, but I kept to myself and did not embarrass him in front of his friends. After school, he begged me to quit immediately. This is the same kid I couldn't peel from my leg for the first two months of preschool. Oh, how quickly they grow up!
I did not quit, of course, but purely by accident, my hours did change and now we will not run into each other in the library unless his PE class decides to visit, which (I think) is unlikely.
So today I got my first job assignment. Its a clerical position at the local high school and I am going in as a complete stranger having never set foot on that campus before, which I will admit, has me a little nervous. Back in my own high school days, I was friends with a couple of guys that went to this school, but I never visited there - they were my school's #1 rival! It has been over 20 years so I am pretty sure it is safe for me to be there now...but I probably won't mention that I went to the other high school, just to be sure.
One thing I did not realize is that the staff starts the day SO early! I am not used to getting out of bed before 7:30am, so the fact that I have to leave the house by 7:00 seems almost not worth the money! Ok, I know that's silly, I mean I spent many years working in a corporate environment and often was at work by 6:00am, but that was so many years ago and I was so much younger then! I only hope that I don't fall asleep halfway through the morning. Or, worse, bite the head off some student who is strolling in late and needs a tardy slip to get into class. I might be all "Why are you late? I was here literally at the crack of dawn but you couldn't be bothered to roll out of bed and get yourself here on time with the extra hour you were given?". Of course, he'll probably have some really great excuse that will make feel like a troll, like he was attending his grandmother's funeral or something.
I imagine that the administration would frown on that type of behavior from a first time substitute too, and it might be cause for early termination. I would never hear the end of it from my son if that happened either! He'd be all happy (and maybe even slightly impressed) that Mom was fired for being rude to a student - he thinks I am way too nice to people as a general rule. Of course, he didn't know me in my obnoxious teenage years when I was a huge ball of defensive sarcasm that spewed at everyone who got in my way.
But, that was years ago and I'm sure I won't revert to such behavior just because I am back in the realm of high school...I'm pretty sure, anyway. I better drink lots of caffeine just to be on the safe side, and maybe take some of that Halloween candy I have stashed at the back of the pantry for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. I may not have ever been a Boy Scout, but I do believe in the "Always be prepared" motto!
Wish me luck!