Sometimes I Wish I Had Gone Into Teaching

As you may know, I recently officially completed my Master's degree in Communication. I loved the field and and still do, but lately I've been finding myself regretting not becoming a teacher.

I never wanted to go into teaching. In undergrad I double-majored in English and Psychology, purposely trying to keep things as broad as possible. I would always get the "do you want to teach" question and always respond "no." Even back then I pretty much knew that 1) I wanted to do something writing-intensive, in PR, marketing or publishing, since I at least fancy myself a writer and 2) I would go on to graduate school at some point.

I have a lot of teachers in my family, and while most of them love what they do, I had first-hand witness of the underpay and under-appreciation of teachers as well as the frequently resultant burn-out. It was my mom, though, who really influenced my not wanting to teach. She spent several years as a special ed teacher with a classroom full of emotionally disturbed students whose parents would do things like leave them home alone all weekend while they were out getting high and a principal who had no use for the special ed program. Today she works in higher ed, which has its own set of problems. But yeah, I'm sure you can see how this turned me off to teaching.

In 2007 I lost my job as an editor for an educational publisher, and it was then I decided to go back to school. It took me 4 years going part-time and skipping a few semesters. Funny enough, when I was writing and editing educational materials along with people who had actual teaching experience I had less desire to actually be teaching than I do now.

I think seeing all my teacher friends post lesson plans and creative learning tactics on Pinterest might be part of it. Obviously I know that day-day-life  in the classroom is not much like the glossy, shiny little world of Pinterest. But there's something very appealing to me about getting kids to love learning in general and the books, writing and the English language in particular.

Oh, well. I do also love the path I did take, and most people have multiple careers throughout their lifetimes anyway, so it's not like that door is completely closed to me. But darn you, Pinterest, for always reminding me of what I'm missing out on.

Summer's Officially Over...

How did THAT happen?

It seems like the older I get, the faster time seems to pass.

Yesterday was Labor Day, which to America of course means not so much the recognition of labor but more the end. of. summer. It doesn't matter that it is still bloody hot out; schools have already gone back in session and stores are carrying pumpkin everything (which is delicious, don't get me wrong).

It being the official end of summer, I had to get in a beach trip. I'm lucky in that my parents own a house outside Ocean City, Maryland, so I try to get in weekend trips whenever I can. I just feel so much more at peace near the water than anywhere else. Any body of water will do, but there's just something special about the ocean.

My cousin got married about a month ago in. Plymouth, MA. Absolutely gorgeous.

Anyway, I and a friend went to Ocean City on Sunday and then to Rehoboth, DE on the way back on Monday.

It was in Rehoboth that I had the ice cream probably worthy of Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate."

The Ice Cream Store (yeah, that's their name) has flavors with names like "Crack" and "Better Than Sex," unique flavors like lavender and Mountain Dew, and a few that just sound flat-out disgusting, like Garlic. I had tried some of their more normal flavors in the past and had sampled the bacon, which was honestly nothing special (just some bacon pieces in vanilla).

Their "The Fig's Up," however, was truly yummy stuff. Figs, orange blossom, honey and cinnamon, I think it was.

So yeah, beaches and ice cream. I'll miss you, summer. I love fall, too, just not quite ready for it yet.