Good old employment, it always dominates every election and rightly so. I think having a job is a crucial part of the American Dream. After all, isn’t economic opportunity the main reason most of our ancestors came here in the first place. Besides, having a job gives us all something to gripe about and to awkwardly ask strangers about at parties. On a separate note when did work and mortgages become fun topics? I mean I was never a frat type of guy, but this seems like an overcorrection in the other direction.
Anyway, for me a job has always represented the first key step toward independence. Without it my fragile ecosystem collapses. I realize this hardly makes me unique since most Americans have less than two months of savings. What is unique about me is the fact that I am a disabled American. As a disabled American the way people view me is very different than my abled body counterparts. At no time in my life was this more evident to me than during this past job search.
Before I get to the heart of the story, I need to explain of few things about myself and give some background. Consider this first post my origin story. Next week we’ll get into more of the nitty-gritty. The first and most important thing to know about me is I am a teacher. It is what I went to school for. I am certified in a variety of subjects and I have several years’ experience in the field. When I started this blog, I was coming off of a particularly bitter experience and was eager to switch professions. That is why I’m listed as a writer. Don’t get me wrong I love writing, but teaching is my first love and just like most first loves I can’t shake her no matter how bad she treats me. The second thing that is important to remember when reading this story is my CP effects three of my limbs and I use a power wheelchair to get around. That might not seem important right now, but you will see why I mention it next week. Lastly, my IQ is above 140. I know that last part sounds like a brag, but I promise you it’s not.
With these facts in mind let’s start the story at the beginning. My journey to become a teacher started when I was 14. Back then I was in a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) class for reading. Ironic for guy who now reads a couple of books a week. I was in the SLD class because back then I had trouble tracking items on a page. It was a disorder in the same family as dyslexia. Since then thanks to the help of a lot of people I have developed strategies, which work so well that I sometimes forget that this was even a problem. I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to thank those wonderful people. So, thank you and I love you all.
Anyway, back to the story. One day in the SLD class we had a workday to catch up on homework. Being the dork that I am I was already done. So, like any teenage nerd I started to bug the teacher about what I should do next. Keep in mind this was before smartphones. Most likely in order to get rid of me the teacher told me to help the other students. After being rejected by several people I ended up helping a girl with her Social Studies midterm review packet. it turned out to be her first A in Social Studies. Seeing her have that lightbulb moment made me feel being a teacher is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I kept this idealism all the way through College. When I graduated, I even took a job in one of the roughest junior highs in the district at the time. I was confident I was going to be the next Ron Clark. If you don’t know who Ron Clark is, checkout the link at the bottom of this page
Sadly, a classroom wizard I am not. Shocking I know a kid fresh out of school couldn’t magically save the day. Who could have possibly seen that coming? After ten months of working 90 plus hours a week. losing 30 pounds, being cursed at everyday by teenagers, and being told by my boss that I needed to work harder I had enough. I quit. It is a decision I still question to this day. At the time though I felt quite confident that I would get another job in no time. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead I was about to begin a two-year odyssey that would forever change my life.