Going Home

Yesterday I went on a field-trip with my old work. I worked for a grant funded program in Pomona for two years. I worked with kids in a lower income area and promoted college. The program follows kids from 8th grade to their senior year in high school. I LOVED THAT JOB!

Although students at that grade and in that neighborhood tend to have an attitude and are quick to fight, they are amazing kids. I loved getting to know them. The team I worked with became my family throughout my two years there. I would do anything for them. We worked really well together and got stuff done. It was really funny yesterday because we went to the beach and I was standing next to my boss. A guy tripped and fell on the beach; my boss and I both looked at each other and started dying laughing. My other former coworkers from a different school site looked at us and said "no wonder you two used to work so well together." It really is true, my boss and I made a great team.

Of all the jobs I have had, that is the job where I felt most comfortable with the people I was surrounded by. Everyone in the program is there for the same reason and we all truly care about each other. I was nervous to go on the field-trip because I hadn't seen my coworkers, kids, or boss in about a year but everyone treated me like I had never left.

I feel like substitute teaching is a lonely job sometimes, especially when I work at schools I am not familiar with. I am basically my own boss and I enter a school with teachers I have never met before.

I wanted to work in programs similar to the one in Pomona once I received my degree but then I went into teaching. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching but I also love working with such a close group of friends. Maybe I can still consider working for a program like this? Hopefully something will open up. I would still be a mentor at Gear Up if subbing wasn't better pay.

I loved seeing my kids, my coworkers, and my boss. It felt like coming home for the holidays!