I'm going into the family business

So after countless hours and weeks of wracking my brains I have figured it out. I've wanted to do this for a long time. I guess I needed to prove something to everyone, my parents, my friends and myself. Everyone always told me I should do this... I guess I just wanted to show people that I could make it in "business" - maybe I had some ingrained disdain for the profession. But I realize that was now just a projection of the way it is viewed in this country. But all that foolishness aside I've learned as I get older that money ain't gonna make you happy - living well on a small salary is infinitely better than slaving away to become "rich" someday.

So have you figured it out yet?

Yes I am going into the family business after years of toiling for the nasty business world. I showed them all, I was a Director of Marketing and PR. I pulled myself up by my own bootstaps every step of the way. I was a Director with a big budget under my direct control and yes I did it without an MBA or even undergraduate work in business (hell I never took a business class in my life!) - and I was damn good at it! Everything I learned I sought out on my own. My ads that I did for one of the biggest brands in the United States if not the world were seen by MILLIONS and I did everything to create them save laying the type (I did the graphical conception, copy, photo selections too - start to finish). I've known marketing MBAs who'd have killed for the experience a mere Linguistics and Japanese major had. But that's all done now! I've dropped that game - it wasn't for me, the ratrace and ladderclimbing sucked. But the worst fate of all? Not feeling challenged. I need to learn constantly but I also need something else.

I need to share. Besides I have "chalk in my blood" as my Mom says...

And finally I woke up one day and realized that getting my Master's in Secondary Education was not such a bad idea afterall. I remember being in front of a class full of 3rd graders doing special lessons for my Mom's class or teaching EFL in summer sessions at my Dad's college. It was hard work. It was a pain at times. But it was exhilerating!

I'm not going to prattle on about how "rewarding" teaching is and how much more noble it is compared to the business world. This is not Hollywood and being a teacher is NOTHING like 'Dangerous Minds', Kindergarden Cop or every film that makes it look like teaching is something anybody can get the hang of in exactly 2 hours. Nope. It's a profession marked by a lack of respect from everyone ranging from parents to Congressmen to the President (no child left behind my ass!). Need a cut? Education is the first on the chopping block. Raise for teachers to get a living wage - you'd think they were asking for millions the way some people criticize them. It's not easy and often it ain't pretty.

But I think I will be happy in the end. I think I'd find some reward in working (since I can't seem to win lotto!) and maybe my language and linguistic abilities might FINALLY be put to use and maybe do some good. Remains to be seen. But starting this spring - I'm back to school!!!

Thanks for listening - it feels good to know what my path will entail!!!
---
Oh yes - please update your blogrolls! I have a new blog which I have FINALLY started to update and add content to! Get your deals over all the ever-expanding Shopping For Wanderlust - find some neat deals and more of my yakking while helping me out by clicking on my links before you get all those fabulous bargains!