Here we are at the end of another week and the beginning of the weekend! The story below is my contribution to Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday. As a writer of poetry, Kellie’s writing prompts have afforded me the opportunity to write outside the poetic box. Thank you, Kellie! The writing prompt for this Friday . . ..
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Talk about a time you took the road less traveled and the differences it made…
I was born to teach. I knew that from the time it was even possible to know life carried with it a special purpose. Even my baby dolls were my ‘students’ and when in school, I always volunteered to teach a lesson whenever the opportunity arose. Never minded getting in front of the class and welcomed the challenges when questions were asked. Sometimes my classmates would come to me to explain a math concept because they simply did not understand the teacher. Math – that was my favorite, just like my granddaddy!
Upon graduation from college, of course, I got my first ‘real’ job as a classroom teacher. Oh, dear, the position entailed teaching physics, chemistry, physical science, geometry and general math. Did I ever get my feel wet in a hurry! Here I was barely 21 years old and some of my students were approaching 18! At the end of that first year, of course, I looked for a different position, one which did not require five preparations!
I taught for four years undergoing quite a number of changes in my life that led me to make a move to another state. Requirements were different, certification was different and the pay was definitely different, much less than I needed (Notice the word need, perhaps a better word would be wanted.) Anyway, a position was found that kept me struggling just to keep up with rent/utilities on an apartment and a car payment. At least it wasn’t too far from ‘home’ and I could make a quick trip for food and staples. Nothing like Mama’s cooking and Daddy would always slip me a five dollar bill to help with gas. That five dollars went a LONG way back in the late 60s and early 70s!
Anyway, to the crossroads. . .Teaching was going great and my classes were relatively good. There were always war stories and the classes from hell but that goes with the territory. I was living alone and barely getting by with nothing, absolutely nothing, to carry over from month to month. New clothes were a thing of the past and thrift stores were looking more and more promising. Then, entered the possibility of a roommate. . .
With this roommate came the beginning of a new career that would have never, ever crossed my mind. I was a teacher. That’s all I knew, teaching. My education prepared me to teach. The ubiquitous they say that money is the root of all evil but when I found out she made in one week what I brought home in one month that looked pretty good to me. Evil thoughts went out the window; survival was at the top of the list.
So began the career with the Bayline Railroad in Dothan, AL. Diesel engines, wood racks, box cars, open hoppers, consists and waybills were the tools of the trade now, no more daily lesson plans, in-service meetings, state standards, books, compasses, rulers, and protractors. Instead of walking those hallowed halls, I would now be walking the railroad tracks, climbing on and off railroad cars that needed to be waybilled to their next destination. The sad part was that this job did not require a college education where with teaching the minimum was a four-year degree. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this was just the beginning of a new teaching era that lay a decade ahead.
I could have chosen to stay in teaching for that was the field in which I felt prepared or I could take the road less traveled and take a chance on something different. The Lord works in mysterious ways and had it not been for the decision to leave education for the railroad industry, I would not have gained the real-world experience so necessary for effective mathematics teaching in the future nor would I have met my soul mate. Had I stayed on the narrow path I started I would have probably ended up back home living with my parents, making lesson plans, grading papers and feeling secure in my teaching abilities but never fulfilling my potential or walking through windows of opportunity that I did not know awaited but He did.
Be sure to read the poem, An Echo from Yester Year.
What are your thoughts? Have you ever taken that road less travelled?
catnipoflife 
Wow! I feel the same way. Although I love the classroom, I know there is something more out there for me.
I spent 20 years in the classroom before moving to the District Office. What was so awesome was when I provided professional development for teachers and some of my ‘teacher’ students were my former middle and high school students!
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Very enjoyable writing which I can surely relate to. Job well done.
Thank you, Janice. I have become quite venturesome with my writing outside the poetry box:>)
It is a very enjoyable journey and I hope you have a great time with your writing journey
I took the road less traveled when I eloped at 17. I knew then I would be giving up my own dreams but their wasn’t much choice since my parent’s split and college was out for me. I found raising six kids and being a home maker to be endearing but less than satistifying. Yet the road winded back a bit and I was able to become a staff journalist for a newspaper without a degree and write for other papers, which after the “bad times” led to a book. So even when you know you took the wrong road it usually comes full circle back to you. Yet sometimes I wonder . . .what might have been.
Ah-h-h! What might have been? That is a question each of us probably ponders at one time of another!
I need to, I want to take the road less traveled by… but maybe I’m a bit scared. I somehow know if I go for what I really want, I’ll be able to do it but it’s the first step that seems so difficult.
For you – I’m really glad that you don’t repent the change in the path you took, rather you are happy with the results it got you. Stay blessed! 🙂
It actually worked both ways – leaving teaching and then returning to teaching. Each one led to new territory!
Love the way life makes sure there are no mistakes, whatever we may feel at the time.
LOve your story, but feel so sad that all over the world people who work with children are so underpaid and under valued
That has been my ‘beef’ ever since I was old enough to understand the value of an education. Teachers should be at the top of the totem pole, instead of the bottom! Even the high salaried doctors and lawyers would not be where they are today had it not been for their teachers:>)
I’ve read that in Finland they only take the top two per cent of people to train as teachers, meaning that they really value children and give them the best.
And presumably pay the top two per cent what they deserve!
Sounds like an ideal world, doesn’t it!
There are several countries on the European continent that highly praise teaching and the value of a good education. What happened in America?
We never know what the Lord has planned for us. Great story and I would never have guessed I would be doing today what I am either.
Thank you, Mark, for visiting catnipoflife:>) I just visited your site and started following your blog, as well as on Twitter. Great story!
There was one brief moment in my life where I considered teaching as a career. Until I learned that I have not the patience for such. lol! Instead of teaching, I “encourage” people to teach themselves or at least, learn something for themselves and about themselves. =) It works for me.
Such a pleasure to have you back for another FWF and I appreciate your story and your taking time to share with us about your experiences. Thank you for the wonderful contribution, yet again! ♥
Thank you, Kellie, for your comments! I think teaching has to be in one’s blood! It definitely takes an extreme amount of patience to accomplish what is necessary in educating someone else.
I am really enjoying FWF. As I have mentioned before, definitely has allowed me to reach ‘outside the poetry box’!
Your post is a beautiful and inspiring revelation. Yes, the road less travelled holds a wonderful future that if not our our courage and determination, we may have not experience at all. We need to trust God. We need to trust that inner voice and not what others say. This sounds amazing, “The Lord works in mysterious ways and had it not been for the decision to leave education for the railroad industry, I would not have gained the real-world experience so necessary for effective mathematics teaching in the future nor would I have met my soul mate. ” Thanks for sharing.
Great to have you stop by and I truly appreciate the comments. BTW If you have not read the post Inner Voice, you may find it to your liking: https://catnipoflife.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/inspiration-inner-voice/
Teaching was the most stressful job I have ever had. (Inner city high school – Seattle)
Yep! Definitely had its moments. I will say I was READY when retirement arrived:>)
[…] Here we are at the end of another week and the beginning of the weekend! The story below is my contribution to Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday. As a writer of poetry, Kellie’s writing… […]