I know it’s only February and summer is a long way away, but I need to decide soon whether or not I’m going to work this summer.
You see, the past few summers I’ve worked in industry through an amazing fellowship program for teachers. The premise is that teachers can take what they’ve learned in their industry jobs back into the classroom, thus enhancing their teaching and the students’ learning. The thing is, all of the jobs I’ve taken each summer have been more about the extra money than what I’ll bring back to the classroom. Each of the jobs didn’t really help me acquire new skills, but used the skills I already have.
So, here’s the conundrum.
I can make $900 a week, plus $1000 in grants and work in industry for 7 weeks. The jobs start the Monday after school gets out and will last until I go back east for CTLB’s wedding. Not much time for a relaxing summer vacation. The job would have to be one that didn’t involve a huge commute and was fairly low-stress.
~OR~
I had planned on taking this summer off and truly enjoying one of the main benefits teachers get — a full summer vacation. I thought I could really work on my exercise and working out routines, and spend a good deal of time organizing my files and classroom (I wouldn’t want anyone to take a peek at the current situation in my filing cabinets at school). The one fear I have is getting bored. The only other time I took the summer off I was really bored, spent way too much money, and didn’t have a lot of fun. Of course back then I didn’t know a lot of other teachers to hang out with during the summer. This time it would be different, since I know quite a few teachers who stick around for the summer and who I could hang out with.
I don’t necessarily need the money, but it would be nice to have a bunch of extra cash to spend while I’m back east. On the other hand, I was really looking forward to taking a true break for the summer and relaxing. These past two years have been crazy-hectic with grad school and teaching full time, etc. Not a lot of balance.
So, what should I do? I really don’t know at this point. I put my application in for the fellowship, because if I don’t do it now, it might be too late to get any position later, and I want to at least look at my options. I have to apply for the position(s) that I want by March and then sign contracts, etc.
Any thoughts? I could really use a few perspectives on this. I’m usually not indecisive, but this one is really throwing me for a loop.
I vote take the summer off and enjoy the free time. Life is too short and it isn’t often that you get time to just do your own thing. Enjoy the time, do new things, and just “BE”. 🙂
Just my two cents!
You’ve been looking forward to this coming summer since LAST summer! Why? Because you made a decision to give yourself the summer off to relax, re-group & just enjoy a free summer.
Sure, the money would be nice but so would sleeping in & going to the beach on Monday @ noon!
Give yourself the summer off, you deserve it!
Absolutely take the summer off, if you don’t “need” the extra. You definitely have deserved it, and believe me, you will find things to do that don’t necessarily require money. Go hiking (best excercise I have discovered), go to the beach, drive to the wonderful places we live so close to. You seriously don’t need a lot of money (aside from gas money) to enjoy yourself.
I do concur, after thinking about this quite a bit, you need a summer off to truly relax after working your butt off with this master’s program. Relish that you have a job that will let you breathe and reboot, so to speak.
Well, I think the safest bet is to plan to take the summer off, devote yourself to taking care of yourself, having fun, organizing. If you need extra $$ , you can always pick something up for a month temporarily.