This one might be a ramble folks because this one is a brain dump.  If you've watched the news at all over the past couple of weeks, you've heard all the reports about cuts in education that are pretty much inevitable.  Despite the fact that we need to invest in education in order to compete economically globally, I understand  that we're in a bad situation an cuts need to happen.  I get it.  Really, I do.  But I'm going to be honest.  I have no more to give. All these "average" teacher salaries that are being reported?  Yeah...that's after about 10 years of teaching...which means I have about 7 or 8 more years before I'm at the average salary.  In the meantime, I'm 35 and living with my mother.  I make $35,000 a year.  Yes, that is more than many, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have a job.  The cherry on top is that I truly, truly love my job.  But I really don't know how much longer I can afford to have my job.  Especially now that I'm getting my own apartment.  Teaching is soon going to be an occupation that is only used as a second income.  We're going to loose quality, passionate, committed teachers because no one can afford to be a teacher.  Yes, some schools provide ridiculously amazing benefits packages that pay 100% of benefits.  My school is not one of them.  Can I pay a bit more of my benefits...maybe a bit more.  But I'm really afraid they're going to require me to pay a lot more.  I'm really nervous.  I'm nervous that they are going to ask so much of me that I'll have to get a job other than lessons...which means waitressing until midnight on school nights.  Which means exhaustion and migraines.  I can't do that.  And it makes me sad.  Because then I'd be back behind a desk. It's like...I spend 7 years in Boston figuring out what I want to do.  I figure it out and I get to do it for a few years and realize this is what I was born to do.  And then it turns out I may not be able to do this for the rest of my life.  UGH!
I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but I feel like I have to think about this stuff.  It's so discouraging.  But thank God, I get to ignore these thoughts between the hours of 7 and 4 when I'm with my students.  At least for now I get to continue to do what I love.  God willing I'll always get to do this....
Sorry for the downer...it's just been on my mind.