Should I stay or should I go?

[USCREW]

Take an educational leave and go back to teaching. There are only around six people out on this leave. You don't have to take a full load, just take a class or two while you teach. That way, you can come back if you choose. It's the best option and will solidify in your mind as to whether you want to continue flying at all. Your seniority will accrue. I will be on VPLOA for August. I feel a twinge of sadness because I feel that this may be the beginning of the end for me at US Airways. I will apply for future leaves when they offer them for September. Even though I only fly 40, it's eight days in the month that I am finding harder to squeeze in. My days in the hospital are more stressful than I could express, but there is great job satisfaction and good compensation. So often, I wished that I was working a trip to Vegas, anywhere in Europe or the Caribbean, or just the Shuttle. My first love is flying, and I am not ready to leave. I'm weaning myself. So my suggestion is to take a leave and explore other options at this time. Don't close the door yet because if you have to ask, then you're not ready.

 

[SS255]

I think that the hardest part about leaving a job is the fear of missing it. I'm willing to bet that you won't miss it as much as you think that you will.

Personally, I would rather have stress at work than stress over finances. While teachers are grossly underpaid, I doubt they are as underpaid as FA's! And I have a feeling that things will get worse at US before they get better.....IF they get better.

My gut instinct is that you should switch to teaching, but then again, only you can make that decision for yourself. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Elevation]

OK, first of all I am an excellent teacher and very passionate about educating today's youth. You don't know me so don't judge my teaching abilities based on a post. Second of all, I really do want to teach but just quitting a "fun" job on the fly (no pun intended) is not an easy decision. Do I want to leave and do what I am passionate about even though it is a difficult and sometimes stressful job or do I want to stay here and do a meaningless job yet have some fun? Am I ready to give up the fun? What if I regret leaving US Airways? In any case, this has nothing to do with my knowledge of teaching pedagogy nor my ability to inspire and motivate children.

If you are truly passionate about teaching then the answer has presented itself, but sounds like from your post you are not ready for it.

 

[FlightChic]

If you are truly passionate about teaching then the answer has presented itself, but sounds like from your post you are not ready for it.

It has and you're right. If I have to question it, then I shouldn't leave US Airways. I will know when I am ready. I decided to stay. I called the principal. It was very hard to do because a part of me wanted to go, but I think I did the right thing. I will turn down the other offer as well. I'm just not ready to put away my wings. Besides, it's going to get really interesting come August 1st. I wouldn't want to miss the "exciting" changes! Thanks everybody for your advice. You're the best!

 

[Elevation]

The kids thank you.

 

[FlightChic]

The kids thank you.

Oh hahaha that is sooooo funny. NOT! Whatever! I'm seriously a cool teacher because I'm young and fun and hip. But I bet I have more fun on overnights! h34r:

 

[Elevation]

oooh a cool hip teacher that doesn't want to teach but have fun...It's a serious job not summer camp, dodo. You don't get it. The kids and parents thank you for being a FA.

 

[4merresrat]

oooh a cool hip teacher that doesn't want to teach but have fun...It's a serious job not summer camp, dodo. You don't get it. The kids and parents thank you for being a FA.

Your killin me elevation. . . Really, what does "cool" and "hip" have to do with being a good educator. There are a lot of hip, cool, young people that shouldn't go any where near students.

 

[Elevation]

Your killin me elevation. . . Really, what does "cool" and "hip" have to do with being a good educator. There are a lot of hip, cool, young people that shouldn't go any where near students.

Exactly.

 

[YVINTERN]

Oh hahaha that is sooooo funny. NOT! Whatever! I'm seriously a cool teacher because I'm young and fun and hip. But I bet I have more fun on overnights! h34r:

I'd say stick around w/ US Airways long enough when I finish my double Bachelors and work alongside you

Oh and you better not be quitting anytime before I get a chance to nonrev on one of your flights and join you on a fun overnight somewhere!

 

[signals]

Ok, I know I'm going to get flamed for asking total strangers for their opinion but here goes:

I'm a reserve flight attendant. I have no seniority and I'm constantly being jerked around with the reserve system which I hate. I don't really like this job but I don't hate it either. It's just OK. It's low stress. I don't have to take work home with me. I get lots of free time, except for the times when I need to be off the most. Oh, and I never get Christmas or Thanksgiving off so I have to celebrate with my family before the actual holiday, then I get all depressed when I fly on that holiday.

I was offered two teaching jobs. I have to make a decision about whether to take them (and which one which I think I know I just don't know whether I want to quit US) and make it fast, as in today. Should I stay here, which is unstable, and things are only getting worse for us, or should I go back to the real world that is full of stress, but I can also make a living doing what I really enjoy and will be beneficial to my future career goals? I do have fun here sometimes. Teaching jobs will always be there, but if I quit here, that's it. I'm out for good. Is my future worth waiting another year? Ugh! I hate this. I was so fed up with US Airways and I have been saying all year I am quitting and now that it's time for a real decision, I am having second thoughts. My gut instinct says to stay for one more year but I just get so fed up with things here that I just want to leave. I am embarrassed to tell people I work for US Airways but I won't be embarrassed to say I am a teacher. Ugh! I know, nobody can make the decision but me. I just needed to get it out. OK, gotta go think some more. The clock is ticking.

I'm not going to read what others said so any similarity is purely coincidental. I'm giving you my 2 cents because you asked! Ultimately, YOU and YOU alone must make the ultimate decision because it's about YOU and YOUr well-being!

Teaching jobs are great. Are they with a school system? Do you get tenure? Are you a temp teacher? Do you realize that with changing social values the teachers have less rights than in previous times? Students may get you fied or in trouble.

Doesn't make sense? Probably doesn't apply. Get it? No?

Who pays your bills? Are you looking for status or stability? Do you mind starting over and at the total bottom? Will your age allow you to do so? Any way you can do both to judge which is better?

BTW, these questions are for your own interests and you don't have to answer to anybody but yourself.

The bottom line is that a job is a living...not a life. I don't like my job but it pays the bills and reality dictates that I can't pay bills sleeping. Somewhere somebody decided that we have to LUV our miserable jobs :blink:

Life involves risks and U have come to a proverbial fork. Best of luck to U and it is U who must decide the path.

 

[Informed1]

I was faced with the same decision this time last year. I was hired in 2000, furloughed in 2003, recalled in June 2006. I dealt with the bs for one year. Of course, I was on reserve and would have been for at least 15 years. I loved the job, loved what US USED to be about, and for the most part enjoyed the people I worked with. Nevertheless, I had to face the realization that I was in love with the "thought" of the job and not necessarily the "thing" that it was. I used to always, and sometimes still do, think about how great US was but the reality is, it is just not anymore. It will never be what it was. The contract was gutted and contrary to what anyone thinks, the f/a group will never get half of what they lost back. Reserve will never get better for the reason that we both know...the union does not care about the reserve, they only protect the blockholder.

So, I left and went back to the job I had while I was furloughed. It turned out to be the best decision I ever made. Sure, there are still days when I look up at the sky and see a plane and think that I would love to strapped into the jumpseat, but then the reality hits. I was in love with the thought, not the thing. Now even more than ever I can't imagine still working at US. Everyone hates them and they (management) have completly demeaned the flight attendant group with making you sale drinks! Imagine the arguments you will have. People used to fight with me over BOB, must less a soda.

Best of luck to you and make the best decision you can. Just ask yourself where you will be in 10 years with US versus teaching? If you decide you don't like teaching you can always go back to flying. Sure you will start over new somewhere else. But then, what will the differnce be? You are a career reserve at US. It does not get any worse than that...and Southwest will be hiring in the future because we all know they will still be here.

Good luck!!!

Ok, I know I'm going to get flamed for asking total strangers for their opinion but here goes:

I'm a reserve flight attendant. I have no seniority and I'm constantly being jerked around with the reserve system which I hate. I don't really like this job but I don't hate it either. It's just OK. It's low stress. I don't have to take work home with me. I get lots of free time, except for the times when I need to be off the most. Oh, and I never get Christmas or Thanksgiving off so I have to celebrate with my family before the actual holiday, then I get all depressed when I fly on that holiday.

I was offered two teaching jobs. I have to make a decision about whether to take them (and which one which I think I know I just don't know whether I want to quit US) and make it fast, as in today. Should I stay here, which is unstable, and things are only getting worse for us, or should I go back to the real world that is full of stress, but I can also make a living doing what I really enjoy and will be beneficial to my future career goals? I do have fun here sometimes. Teaching jobs will always be there, but if I quit here, that's it. I'm out for good. Is my future worth waiting another year? Ugh! I hate this. I was so fed up with US Airways and I have been saying all year I am quitting and now that it's time for a real decision, I am having second thoughts. My gut instinct says to stay for one more year but I just get so fed up with things here that I just want to leave. I am embarrassed to tell people I work for US Airways but I won't be embarrassed to say I am a teacher. Ugh! I know, nobody can make the decision but me. I just needed to get it out. OK, gotta go think some more. The clock is ticking.

 

[Bobbie]

You need to exit this industry. The passengers are.

 

[FlightChic]

oooh a cool hip teacher that doesn't want to teach but have fun...It's a serious job not summer camp, dodo. You don't get it. The kids and parents thank you for being a FA.

Uh, you're the dodo, DODO! :bleh: When I was a teacher I made my classes interesting and did lots of hands-on activities and my students worked very hard since I had very high expectations for them. While my class was "fun" students also knew that I meant business and they better do their best because I wouldn't accept half-arsed work. I went in a school with basically no foreign language program where students hated Spanish and I spent two long years building up the program and getting kids interested in learning Spanish. When I started I had 15 students in a year long class in middle school who wanted to be there. The following year I had 45 students audition to be in my class. I could only choose 25. I had even more students the year after that. I had students who didn't want to learn "Mexican" and by the end of the grading period they were speaking, reading and writing and they were excited about learning more. No, YOU don't get it. :bleh:

 

[Elevation]

Your true level of commitment can be summed up by you leaving teaching for less money, status and stability for "fun". You can wax on lovingly about how you changed the world but you would rather sit and read a People magazine, stay in a 2 star hotel and eat out of a cooler than be a teacher, says volumes does it not? Parents and kids need committed professional educators.