USCREW
Veteran
only when they're on fire. jk
Should I stay or should I go?
- Thread starter FlightChic
- Start date
Edward
Veteran
Lets stick to the topic and answer her question. The other conversation belongs in the water cooler.
USCREW
Veteran
So FlightChic, will you apply for the VPLOA for September? I hear they will offer the next two furloughs in 3 month increments.
InternationalShannon
Veteran
USwestGUY
Member
Flight Chic,
It might be a tough decision, but if you have the passion to teach, or more passion to teach than fly, maybe it would be wise to teach. I am in school for elementary education. It is not a bad gig and there is a little more certainty in teaching than flying these days. Good luck with your decision.
It might be a tough decision, but if you have the passion to teach, or more passion to teach than fly, maybe it would be wise to teach. I am in school for elementary education. It is not a bad gig and there is a little more certainty in teaching than flying these days. Good luck with your decision.
USCREW
Veteran
FlightChic,
You've been flying for how long? Ten years? During all that time, did you ever have a burning desire to go back to teaching? If so, what took so long and why now?
You've been flying for how long? Ten years? During all that time, did you ever have a burning desire to go back to teaching? If so, what took so long and why now?
OP
FlightChic
Veteran
- Feb 18, 2007
- 954
- 0
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #68
Today (notice I said today, not yesterday or tomorrow) my plan is this as long as I'm not furloughed:
1. Remain a f/a for another year and take advantage of the free time so I can...
2. Begin graduate school in Fall 2008 - I'll take two classes in the fall and two in the spring, the program lasts 3 years. When I was teaching before I was also taking graduate classes and it is difficult handling a large teaching load and graduate classes, especially when you are a perfectionist. I did it though, and I can do it again. Ahhh! There's nothing like living off of pure adrenaline for a whole year. I think it will be easier to fly and take a full load than if I were teaching.
3. Continue working on my online teaching certificate so I can teach classes online which is much better than doing ETBs. I could actually teach classes without the certificate but I started it and am learning a lot and want to finish. Again, the classes are very time consuming and I can work on it while on trips or at home.
4. Continue working on my internet biz venture and get that going strong.
5. Since I've been learning web design and I have friends who would like for me to design websites for their businesses I can do web design to also make extra money and it will be good for my portfolio.
I'm not sure if I will apply for the VPLOA or not. It is tempting but it depends on what the deal is. I don't care about flight benefits. I guess with insurance I could get temporary medical insurance which isn't that expensive. I also would love to have Thanksgiving and Christmas off. We'll see.
Then next year if I'm not already teaching I can reevaluate my situation. In any case, I will already have one year of grad school under my belt, online certificate will be complete, web business already up and running and hopefully the major kinks will be worked out by then. I definitely have a passion to teach but I am also realistic as to how time consuming it can be and what it is like teaching and taking classes at the same time. It can be very overwhelming and I don't want to abandon one project over the other. If I'm going to do something I will do it right even if it kills me, and I've been there and done that and was so burned out I came back to US with the June 06 recall. At least with flying, I can focus my full attention on graduate school and other things without my job suffering. I can do both and do both well.
If I don't go back to teaching this year, I will next year unless things here drastically improve which I doubt they will. They only get worse as time goes by. It will also depend on the intensity of the classes I will take. Any decision I make regarding my future is definitely planned and fully thought out and made for a reason. Of course, if the airline falls apart or if I am furloughed I will find a teaching job and get on with my life and never look back.
1. Remain a f/a for another year and take advantage of the free time so I can...
2. Begin graduate school in Fall 2008 - I'll take two classes in the fall and two in the spring, the program lasts 3 years. When I was teaching before I was also taking graduate classes and it is difficult handling a large teaching load and graduate classes, especially when you are a perfectionist. I did it though, and I can do it again. Ahhh! There's nothing like living off of pure adrenaline for a whole year. I think it will be easier to fly and take a full load than if I were teaching.
3. Continue working on my online teaching certificate so I can teach classes online which is much better than doing ETBs. I could actually teach classes without the certificate but I started it and am learning a lot and want to finish. Again, the classes are very time consuming and I can work on it while on trips or at home.
4. Continue working on my internet biz venture and get that going strong.
5. Since I've been learning web design and I have friends who would like for me to design websites for their businesses I can do web design to also make extra money and it will be good for my portfolio.
I'm not sure if I will apply for the VPLOA or not. It is tempting but it depends on what the deal is. I don't care about flight benefits. I guess with insurance I could get temporary medical insurance which isn't that expensive. I also would love to have Thanksgiving and Christmas off. We'll see.
Then next year if I'm not already teaching I can reevaluate my situation. In any case, I will already have one year of grad school under my belt, online certificate will be complete, web business already up and running and hopefully the major kinks will be worked out by then. I definitely have a passion to teach but I am also realistic as to how time consuming it can be and what it is like teaching and taking classes at the same time. It can be very overwhelming and I don't want to abandon one project over the other. If I'm going to do something I will do it right even if it kills me, and I've been there and done that and was so burned out I came back to US with the June 06 recall. At least with flying, I can focus my full attention on graduate school and other things without my job suffering. I can do both and do both well.
If I don't go back to teaching this year, I will next year unless things here drastically improve which I doubt they will. They only get worse as time goes by. It will also depend on the intensity of the classes I will take. Any decision I make regarding my future is definitely planned and fully thought out and made for a reason. Of course, if the airline falls apart or if I am furloughed I will find a teaching job and get on with my life and never look back.
OP
FlightChic
Veteran
- Feb 18, 2007
- 954
- 0
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #69
I've been with US Airways since 2000. I took a voluntary furlough in 12/01 because I wanted to become a teacher. I took the June 06 recall because I was burned out. I was a novice teacher working hard, going to meetings all the time, I was on all these committees at school because they made me and in grad school at the same time and I got my real estate broker's license (don't laugh it's a long story as to why I got it anyway but I digress) and I was burned out from everything! I simply needed a break. So I decided to come back for a while because I knew I woudn't be flying much and I could at least rest and travel some more before I settled down to a more sedentary life. I needed to get it out of my system. You have to remember I was in my 20's and wasn't ready for the 9-5 lifestyle. My first year back, I did miss teaching but was not ready to go back. Last year I really starting thinking about going back to teaching. It's never left my mind. It is and always will be my passion and just because I am here and not there doesn't mean I am not a committed educator. I know what it's like on the other side. It is rewarding, stressful, fun, intense, you laugh and cry all in the same day, and it is one long ride on an emotional roller coaster. It's a total lifestyle change because you find yourself working a 8-5 job (but you can turn it into a 24 hour job if you aren't careful), you are suddenly a "celebrity" and you have to watch how you act, what you say, and what you do at all times because anything you do can affect your reputation, even if it has nothing to do with school and trust me, you will make the front page headlines and it won't be good. If you walk around town being rude to people, get drunk and get too loud and get kicked out of a bar/restaurant, wear a skirt to the night club that is too short and a top that is too tight, anything...Not that I act inappropriately but imagine running to the grocery store to stock up on beer for a party you're throwing on Friday while you're in sweats and a pony tail only to find one of your students running up to you screaming "Hey Miss Flightchic!" LOL! I do love teaching and it is one of the most rewarding professions and in the end when you find your students have learned so much and grown so much throughout the year and knowing that you helped them accomplish all of that and that you have inspired them and helped them to become productive citizens it is definitely worth all the stress and headaches because you are touching not only others' lives but you are helping to shape their future and our society. It is very rewarding knowing that you can make a difference.
Travelpro72
Veteran
- Jan 30, 2005
- 4,964
- 455
I wouldn't worry about making a decision to leave or stay HERE! ! ! ! The way things are sounding/looking the fate of the company may just decide FOR you. 
Ya all can count on Debbie to spread a little sunshine on your day. 
Ya all can count on Debbie to spread a little sunshine on your day.
USCREW
Veteran
Parents can be a big PITA huh? How about those crazy over-zealous moms with the allergy kids? I have three kids in elementary school and I witness the frustration all the time. I live in a neighborhood with lots of young children with moms who don't work. Well, to be politically correct...they don't work 'outside' of the home. They're at the school all the time. Honest to God, if I have to buy something else for a fund raiser, I will scream. Please just let me write one big fat check for the year, for the love of it. Anyway, from my point of view, I think that teaching is great. It's just the parents who can make your life miserable.
SS255
Veteran
FlightChick, US should be thanking their lucky stars that they have you as an employee. It's such a shame that they lose good employees due to unfavorable working conditions, but it's nice to know that their loss will be the gain of the educational system.
OP
FlightChic
Veteran
- Feb 18, 2007
- 954
- 0
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #74
Oh no you didn't! Hey Shannon, it looks like someone else wants to test out our serious ninja gnome skills. So, Pitguy, how's the PIT closure working out for you? Yeah, it must suck being you! You're the one with a scrambled, messed up head with the typical PIT attitude. :rant: BTW, I have no problem picking out my clothes each day and I plan on having lots and lots of kids.
OP
FlightChic
Veteran
- Feb 18, 2007
- 954
- 0
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #75
You're right! Parents can be difficult, especially while their kids are in elementary school since they are their "babies". Middle school isn't too bad, although there are some that drive you crazy. By high school, they are even less involved. I will take a "difficult" student over a "difficult" parent any day.
