My students and families made this quilt as a good-bye gift.
I bet you thought I gave up this blog, huh? Nope. I just needed a little time to mull things over. The truth is that over the past month I have made the transition away from teaching and into making my research business my full-time employment. This transition packed a bigger emotional wallop than I expected. It’s taken me a month to get my boat righted, so to speak.
I loved teaching. I loved being a teacher. It wasn’t just what I did; it’s who I was. I loved spending my days with young children. I loved finding a way that each child, regardless of their needs or disability, could fit in, belong, and shine. I loved being with parents of young children, and helping them celebrate their children’s accomplishments, no matter how small. I loved my colleagues and my supervisors. It’s a pleasure to work with people who love their jobs. And it was much harder to say good-bye than I had expected.
So why did I do it? If any of you have been following Thomas McEntee’s series of posts about the opportunities in the field of genealogy will know that it wasn’t for the money. My business earns an income, but I not going to replace my salary, even a teacher’s salary. My decision had a lot more to do with finally realizing that the old adage, “Life is short,” wasn’t just an adage. If I was going to have another career, the time was now. I am so fortunate to have the opportunity of another career doing what I love. On top of that, the flexibility that being self-employed gives me to be with my family, especially my mom in her last years and my grandchildren in their first years, is precious.
So now I have had a little time to sit with my decision, to turn over the loss of the best parts of teaching in my mind, and to practice researching full-time for a few weeks. I still need to get my work space better organized and settle into a schedule and a rhythm that works for me. And clean my house. (Only kidding about that last one.) I have some exciting things on the horizon that I hope to blog about. I am going to GRIP on July 22 to take Dr. Tom Jones’ Advanced Methodology class. I am also gearing up for a research trip to Ireland with Donna Moughty.
”Celebrate endings – for they precede new beginnings.” (Jonathan Lockwood Huie) How very, very true.
Cathi,
You asked for people’s story of their career transition.
I worked n media and advertising for about 11-12 years. I was looking for a hobby that would be totally unrelated to my career.
I began volunteering at the local historical society, and the one staff member remembered my from my college days when I earned money by working in a public and also a college library.
She asked if I wanted to work part time, and I accepted the offer.
As the years progressed I learned and discovered new knowledge.
Most importantly, I knew I found my niche for that phase of my life that lasted ’till… well, now.:)
I’m now exploring yet another career change that will allow me to pursue other aspects of research, and applying my knowledge and skills to new horizons.
Thanks for commenting, Kevin. Did you find it hard to make the break from advertising, or were you totally ready when the time came? In some ways, I think it is easier when someone else makes the decision for us, like when a company downsizes. But that comes with its own unique set of problems, too. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to do more than one thing in life that we love, and to get paid for it too.
Cathi,
For me, when the time arrived for the career change I had some doubts about breaking with my advertising life. Heck, I still critique advertising, so advertising is “still in the blood.”
I think what tipped the scales was my approach to advertising & media. When other account executives only wanted a quick deal, I Researched for the best solution for my client’s goals. My clients appreciated my approach and dedication to making things work for them. How the scales tipped was that I realized I was already in the “research mode” : )
I remain open to new ideas, new opportunities, and new ways for me to contribute.
Interesting, Kevin. Staying open to new opportunities is the key.
Thanks for this post, Cathi. Let me say something that Stefani Evans says better: don’t underestimate ways in which your “old life” expertise can contribute to your new genealogy life. Keep the drawer ajar!
Harold
Absolutely, Harold! I find that all my prior experiences contribute to what I do today. Even my photography minor as an undergraduate feeds into the family history albums and charts I now create for clients. All drawers, doors and windows remain ajar!
Good for you! This was a career decision I made as an undergrad, when I switched my major to Genealogy, but it is one I have never regretted. I find it a very rewarding–and sustainable–career that introduces you to so many wonderful people, both living and in the past. Good luck! 🙂
Genevera, Lucky you! It’s better to decide before you graduate than after. 🙂 It’s great to hear that it has been a sustainable career for you. I agree with you about meeting wonderful people in this field, both colleagues and clients. My theory is that people who care so much about their family have their values in the right place.
Thank you so much for your encouragement!
This *is* a big step Cathi! But you’ve been gearing up and working towards it for a long time. You are definitely ready skill-wise and it sounds like you are now ready emotionally to let go of what you’ve known and take some risk moving toward the unknown. There’s going to be plenty of ups and downs, adventure and re-evaluation but that’s part of the fun of creating something new. Enjoy the ride. I have every confidence you are going to do great!
Thank you for the encouragement, Marian!
Nice post. I’m sure leaving teaching is a bittersweet proposition, but as you say life is short. That’s why I was happy to stumble across the idea of becoming a tax professional; it doesn’t provide a full income year-round, just like genealogy, and now I can do both!
Dave, you’ve got a great combination there: genealogists who need tax prep services really win! Thanks for posting.
Hi Cathi! This post rang true with me. I left the high school classroom five years ago and mourned the loss of my students and the challenge of teaching at first. September was the hardest time, and I was so glad that my husband and I had a wonderful trip planned — to New England — which was something I could never do when I was teaching. Time for new adventures helped me adjust and feel good about my decision.
P.S. – I’m on the lookout for you here at GRIP!