I have to have one of the best jobs on the planet. I'm a state employee who trains people, and has a hybrid work schedule. It's been a build up however. I started working for the state in 2017 right after working for a non-profit that was forced to close its doors. The 2017 position was difficult, but nothing compared to what I was doing at the non-profit.
I worked with mentally ill adults. I was a 'floor staff' clinician. I monitored the milieu, ran groups, mediated disputes, and calmed down people when their voices got too loud. Also I was responsible for checking on patients every 15 minutes. Was this done alone, absolutely not, I worked with a team--a damn good one. We initially documented our days/evenings/nights on paper, but in 2018 (I believe) we went to a computerized system. For me the switch wasn't so bad, for some of my co-workers, let's just say, there were some choice words uttered under the breath many times.
In any case I stayed with the state for about three and a half years, while working at a high school. Around July of 2020, as Covid was still at a height, I received an opportunity to work full time as a teacher and respectfully left my position with the state. I taught online for that first year, getting to know students via zoom, and figuring out how to teach while sitting in my basement with comfy pants on. We ended up going back in the building by the end of the school year, but the educational damage had taken it's course. I continued on the second year, welcoming in the freshman class, and dealt with the rigors of teacher life in a middle school building that was shared between two schools.
The next year, I applied to be dean as my personal life was in grand shambles. I was accepted to be a dean
that following year, and worked tirelessly for students who didn't understand the value in education. I got fed-up, became disillusioned, and burned out. I was invited back for another year, but I turned it down. But I needed a job. I didn't want to stay in education, but the only place that would hire me was a middle school in the same geographic area. I wasn't excited about teaching 8th grade, yet I swallowed what little pride I had left and went back to the classroom.
My experience as a middle school teacher was less than exceptional, taxing, and down-right hard as a constipated stool being forced through your anal cavity. By the time I was back in the classroom teaching 8th grade, I knew something in my life was wobbling. Not falling apart just yet—but vibrating hard enough to rattle the dashboard. I had a student call me a pedophile, and received little to no support from admin. During testing students were loud and disruptive. And I was saddled with a 40 student 1st period class. I began to apply for jobs by October. Around the end of November I noticed that the state was hiring for a trainer on the same computer system I was familiar with. I applied immediately. I was hired at the end of the semester just before winter break. I let the administration know, and my last day teaching was filled with joy, pictures, and a good time with my students.
I started my new position with the state, and it was pure joy. By March I felt very comfortable in my role. I was home Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, and only went into the office on Wednesday and Thursday. I taught the class every other Thursday. My joy had been redefined.
On Tuesday April 22nd, I was working from home, and decided to go get some lunch. I hopped in my car and headed down my city's main street. Just as I was nearing the area was the Justice Center was (courthouse, jail, etc) red and blue lights filled my rearview mirror, and police sirens filled my ears. I was being pulled over for having bad tags. I knew driving in this fashion was a mistake, but I was working on getting the money together to get new tags.
The interaction I had with the officer was extremely respectful and professional. He told me why he had pulled me over, which I already knew, and the interaction we had was courteous. However, as he did whatever other check, it was found that I had a warrant. I was unaware of the warrant but figured my car might be impounded because of my tags. The warrant guaranteed that handcuffs would be in my immediate future. Because we were right at the Justice Center, he offered to park my car there in the parking lot, rather than have it towed. I was astonished and grateful. I still had to go to jail and get bailed out, but my car wouldn't be towed.
I was told very little information about the warrant, but he did let me know that I could probably bond myself out on a signature bond, without paying anything. So I was cool. I don't believe getting all loud and emotional with police. Like Goodie Mob said "Can't make no moves, when you in the hands of the man." The officer was so cool I was even able to text my boss and let him know the situation.
To make a long story longer, I got booked, and sat in a cell around 11:45 am. By 3:27, I had bonded myself out, with a signature bond and was walking toward my car.
I tell this story to say that you never know the road that life will take you on. The plan might be to teach for your entire professional life, but life will throw you a curve ball way after Covid. The plan might be to grab some lunch, and you end up going to jail. We never know what is around our next corner. So remain as calm as you can, and if you can't, try fuckin' harder!
This was not the best thing to happen to me, but it was far from the worst. However it was the beginning of very trying spring. Read the next post to see what happens next!
