Do You Love It Enough to Be Great?

Final assignments and exams to mark.

You'd think that teaching 6 classes would make me rethink my goals and the work involved.  (Especially when you consider that I hate paperwork.)  But I've loved it.  Touching base with other teachers, learning new things, keeping up some of my RVT skills and watching students learn and grow.  Is it tough?  Fuck yes.  But is it worth it?  Hell yeah.

I'm going to miss this round of students.  Don't get me wrong, I liked the last crew, but because I ended up teaching some of these students through the entire year, I've been able to know these ones a little better.  Some still think I'm goofy (they're not wrong), some I'm sure think I'm a hard ass (they're not wrong), and others have enjoyed my classes.  Who knows what any others think.  Part of me cares and at the same time, part of me doesn't.  Here's why:

It is my job to drag them kicking and screaming into their careers.  

If they enter the workforce unprepared, it is my fault.

How's that for pressure?  Their fate, enjoyment, fulfillment, and overall future in the animal care industry rests on my shoulders.  Okay, part of it rests on my shoulders.  They do have to meet me half way and then go out into the world on their own.  But my biggest fear is that they will get into a clinical setting and their supervisor or boss will say to themselves, "what in the hell were they teaching them at that school?"  It's vain, but I'm hoping they go out there and make me look good.  I'm hoping they figure out what they love to do and follow it.  Perhaps they will even have the same courage I did to change gears at some point to make sure they find their professional love.

I envy my grads.  They have their careers just starting.  They could sign up for charity work with Vets Without Borders.  Maybe they'll form a rescue that will save hundreds of pets in disaster zones.  Some might work their way from a basic VA course all the way to vet school and own their own clinic.  I also hope some have figured out that this isn't what they want to do.  Not everyone is as lucky as I was.  Not everyone happens upon their best job ever right after graduation.  Some have to search a while.  Many never find it.  Maybe it's not even with animals.  Could be with children, could be something completely different.  A student with a knack for creating and building things comes to mind.  They belong in a trades program for carpentry or cabinetmaking.  However, just because you're good at it, doesn't mean you'll love it.  

Nine of the worst students ever! :P  ;)
(That'll teach them to beware what they post on the interwebs!)

Once upon a time, I had to take college English   *ugh*  Symbolism, essays, reading.  (I love reading, but do we really have to dismantle every tome ever written?)  My teacher was a journalist who thought I would make a decent writer for a paper.  I disagreed.  I had no desire to deal with deadlines, paperwork or research.  I took college English because college said I had to.  But I was good at it.  One of my best marks, actually.  My core subjects for being an RVT were a little lacking, but English was fine.  I used that English and a second elective course, Mythology, to boost my grades.  I was good at it, but it wasn't what I loved to do.  

So fast forward 13 years and here I am with my hatred of paperwork, deadlines and research - teaching.  I love teaching.  I love being a vet tech.  I still hate paperwork, deadlines and research, but not enough to give up what I love.  I might not be great at it, but I'm working on it.  If you love it enough, you will work until you are great.

Good luck, ladies.  I hope you find what you love.  (And if you make me look bad out there, I will hunt you down!)

Does Pride Still Exist?

My name is Megan and I'm a Workaholic.  

It's been 24 hours since my last shift, tomorrow is Saturday but I've already lined up more work.  I can't help it.  Money is a bit of the equation, but the work is truly the reward.  Knowing that people need me, that I can do a good job and get recognition for it, and the satisfaction of looking back on a shift or a project and feeling like I've done my best is a drug.  It's... well... satisfying.  

I don't know if people look for that anymore.  Do they look at a task and think, "Damn.  I'm going to rock this!" or "Let's just get this done."?  Is there still a sense of pride?  That confidence and self-worth that can be found in completing a task?  Everyone asks how to boost confidence, self-esteem and initiative.  Positive reinforcement is only part of it.  You can't positively reinforce people all the time.  They'll see through it.  After a dozen "good job!" comments, they'll catch on that you're just blowing sunshine up their ass.

I currently teach about 110 students.  They are all pretty cool people.  Some have got their shit together.  They have goals, they show up to class, they hand in assignments on time, they take notes.  Others surf, text, read, get easily distracted or simply skip the class.  (I have mixed feelings on this, but we'll get into that later.)  By coming to class and then tuning out, they're absent.  They miss things that are important.  Not just because they become test questions, but because they are "life hacks" or "job hacks".  All the stuff you learned in high school brought into context and shown a purpose.  

If it was high school, I would understand.  You have to be there.  Your parents insist and unless you want to dress down on a street corner with a cardboard sign and a cup, your options are limited if you choose not to complete high school successfully.  But this is college.  This is optional. You pay extra to be here.  You forego the chance to bring in a paycheque so that you can spend more time in class.  Ideally, to get yourself further up the food chain later in life.  Supposedly you have selected a course study that excites you.  Supposedly, you've chosen a path.  And yet, they show up and remain absent.  

What I worry about is the aftermath.  Will they spend their time, their money, their lives on a college education only to look back and say, "What a waste.  I learned nothing.  I never used it."?  Will they consider their role in that?  Will they blame the institution, the economy, the "hand they were dealt"?  (How passive is that?)

Maybe they will take responsibility.  They'll understand that they didn't take advantage of what was standing in front of them for 3-6 hours a day trying to fill their brains with information for their future.  Perhaps they will realize that to build a future, you must pick up a hammer and nails instead of waiting for the the future to unfold.  

I can sit on my couch and get another year older.  I can do absolutely nothing and I will still age another year at my birthday.  But I will not grow.  I will not be any wiser, or have any better understanding of the world around me.  It's my job to grow.  It's my job to make my world better and enjoy the life I create.  No one else can do that for me.  

And really, why would I want them to?