AuburnChick's Adventures

The day started off in a festive way…

Cake…

A present…

A card and a round of singing…

My birthday is a few days away, but tomorrow is Friday, and then we’ll be on Spring Break, so the celebrating started early…a fun surprise for me.  Even the principal joined in on the fun.

I was so touched…telling the small group how thankful I have been at the way they have made me feel like a part of the family.

Then, it was back to work.  What a busy day too!  We were under a tornado watch most of the day, which meant that a good percentage of the student body felt the need to check out and go home.  Not the safest thing given the bad weather.  The high school is a hurricane shelter and one of the safest buildings in the city.

I had a run-in with a parent who changed her story – right in front of my face – about why she had checked out her daughter.

Grrr…

About 30 minutes before the day was over, I received a message that I was to report to the principal’s office.

My stomach suddenly knotted up.  I wondered if I had done something wrong…maybe got too impatient with a caller during the crazy time earlier.

When I walked in, she said, “I have good news, and I have bad news.”

Then, I just knew.

She continued…”Happy early-birthday…that’s the good news.”

I waited.

“The bad news is that after tomorrow, we can’t keep you on board.”

She went on to explain that it was, in no way, a reflection of my work but a result of budget issues.  Once again, the school is cutting back, and, to save other jobs, my position was being done away with.  They’ll be using existing personnel to fill in the gaps during the day.

I sometimes wonder what others do in this situation.  It’s one that’s happening multiple times around the world each day.

My reaction was the same as the last time I got laid off.

I was calm and level-headed.

The principal offered to write me a letter of recommendation.  I thanked her and took the opportunity to give her a synopsis of my recent graduation and teacher certification.  I told her how much I love the school and the students.  I also asked that she consider me for any positions that might open up.  As I did this, I conceded that while I realize I don’t have the experience of other teachers, I have a strong desire to teach.

I walked out of the office with a heavy heart.  I could tell that the principal’s assistant was sympathetic.  She made a beeline for the receptionist’s desk and told her to give me priority when looking for subs.  You see, I’m reentering the sub pool.  It made me feel good to hear her words and affirmed what the principal had told me…my hard work had not gone unnoticed nor appreciated.

As I walked back to my desk, my co-worker, Ms. D, gave me a quizzical look.  I quietly told her what had transpired, and she immediately looked forlorn.  We’re a team and friends.  We bonded the first day I sat in my chair.

The next thirty minutes were sad.  We both worked quietly…lost in our own thoughts.

“It’s so unfair for you,” she said.

I told her that I’m no better than the other people this is happening to.  I went on to explain that the one thing that keeps me strong is that God has a plan.  I admitted that I don’t like this part of it.

Sigh…

I did a good job with keeping my feelings inside…until I got home.

I called my friend, Rabbit, and unloaded my feelings on her.  That’s when I lost control and shed a few tears.

I’m just so sad.  I’ve been thinking about what I’m sad about, and it’s not about the loss of pay as, ironically, I’ll now be able to collect my unemployment check.  Go figure, eh?

No.  What I’m sad about is that I won’t be a part of the craziness that surrounds the office each day.  I love being a part of that close-knit group.  I thrive on the frenetic activity.

Sure, I’ve complained, but that’s only because people often don’t think.  Especially parents.  Go figure.

However, when you’re around teenagers for very long, you can’t help but become infected with their energy…good and bad.  It spurns you on in a way that other personal interactions do not.

After I got off the phone with Rabbit, I called my sister.  She’s such a woman of God.  She’s going through her own thing right now, so we’ve talked on the phone quite a bit lately.  She offered her love, prayers, and support in the way that sisters do.

Once I had vented, I had to get out of the house.  After running to the bank, I stopped by the grocery store.  A little indulgence was in order:

Caffeine, wine, spinach and artichoke dip, bagel crisps to accompany the dip, and chocolate.

Ok…so I’m PMS’ing too…on top of everything else.  What more can I say.

Ok…so now I need to find positives in this situation.

This job has been such a blessing in so many ways.  I’ve demonstrated my work ethic, working while under the weather for the last week and half, working with practically no voice, and learning the computer system in about two days.  I’m on the administrators’ radars.  I’ve gotten to know the students better and feel like I’ll be a better sub and teacher because I understand how things are handled administratively.  I also had one-on-one time with the principal…an opportunity I might now have had if I wasn’t being let go.

One of the most priceless blessings has been the opportunity to work with Ms. D.  She is amazing.  She’s a hard worker, always giving 1,000% to go out of her way to help students and staff.  She doesn’t waste a minute but always looks for things to do.  She’s organized and methodical.  Her interpersonal skills are more than admirable.  She empathizes and encourages, but she’s tough where she needs to be.  I’ve grown to love her in the few weeks I’ve worked beside her.  I will definitely go out of my way to seek her out and say hello when I’m at the school.

So, the pity party continues…for one more evening, anyway.

I did manage to cook a good dinner.  Now, it’s me-time.  I’m having a glass of wine and watching American Idol.

I think I’ll save the soda and chocolate for tomorrow…probably share the Reese’s Cups with Ms. D.  We’ll toast to a wonderful month together and to a forever friendship.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: jobs, recession, substitute teaching |