March 16, 2007

  • Dilemma

    Ok, i need advice.

    For about 6mos I've been working at the main offices for the Home for Little Wanderers,  as one of their in-house graphic & web designers. I like it okay, at least the creative designy bit, but i also work in a little cubicle that i hate with PR & marketing people who irritate me. To put it nicely.  I never get fresh air or sunshine, and I've been uncharacteristically surly for the past five months, verging on depression. I certainly don't get to hang out with kids or teach, which is what i love about The Home, and which is what i was doing at my old program before i got promoted to the central offices. I'm unhappy to the point where, despite my loyalty to the agency as a whole and its mission, I really want to bail. I also don't make a whole lot of moola, anyway.

    So I've been looking around casually for other jobs, and an afterschool teaching position has opened up at the YMCA up the street from me. Literally, two blocks away. I went and met some of the staff there for an interview to see what it was all about, and it rocks. Well, it would rock if we could somehow meet each other's needs. They basically want to hire an experienced teacher- like me- to work afternoons, school vacations, and summers, plus whatever other flexible roles and shifts I was interested in picking up. It's kind of fun, and they have a culture similar to my old program, where you can be creative and come up with new activities, ideas, curriculums, and innovations as you go along. I'd basically be making the same kind of hourly pay I do now, but only part time, and no benefits like health & dental. That totally blows. I'd have to pick up some freelance gigs or schlep coffee in the mornings for less money, and find my own health care. Sucky suck suck, because teaching art to a bunch of crazy kids at the Y sounds like a really fun and challenging job I could really sink my teeth into.

    There's also the thought of going back to school to get my teaching certs in the fall, if i can finagle my way into a program. Mass College of Art offers health insurance for full time students, but i'd still have to figure out what the hell to do with myself for the next 6 mos.

    My mom would say, "Ann, you will never have a factory job," or something along those lines. Working in a cube and staring at a computer all day feels just like that. I'm not cut out for monotony, but monotony is what pays the bills, i guess. So what should i do? Should i suck it up and stay in my cube while my soul slowly rots away, or do i just say, AH, Fuck It! and make a break for it? How frigging irresponsible! especially since i should be preparing for some tumultuous times over the next few months. But oh, man. how liberating it would be to fingerpaint again!

    I have about a week before i have to tell the YMCA one way or another. Any advice, kids?

    oh, and ps, I'm writing this from home today, because i told my cubicle job i was gonna come in late. Being home in the middle of the day? just having tea and chilling out? yeah, that totally rules.

Comments (6)

  • I'm not sure how old you are...but judging by your picture, you're not old enough to be montonous yet   (that was supposed to be a compliment, by the way).  I say, strike out and see what happens.  I work in a cube, doing graphic stuff, in a factory....I think I might've checked my soul at the door, I'm not really sure anymore.  Of course, today's been a long, long, long day, so perhaps take my advice with a grain of salt.

  • life is too short to do something that sucks your soul. go for it.  besides if you leave on a good note you could always go back if things get that bad. money comes & goes, but being happy at your job, that shit is priceless.

  • Well, I recently cut down to part time so I could go back to school, and I have to pay double the regular insurance premiums, but I really enjoy my job. Earning a part-time salary sucks, and the reduced independence that goes along with it sucks, but the work itself is fulfilling and it gives me the freedom to study in the afternoon. So I'd say fuck it, quit your current place and try the part-time thing, and if that doesn't work out, you take it from there.

  • Does the YMCA need you to start ASAP?  I know it would suck to stay at the soul sucking place for another 6 months, but maybe you can do that to pay the bills/keep your insurance until you can start at MassArt (or maybe even less time, if you can enrole in their health insurance earlier.)

    I just realized I've been doing the cube thing close to 9 yearsnow - I was 19 when I started my first corporate job.  I think my soul is still mostly intact, my job isn't the only thing out there for me.

  • Soul suckage sucks. My job is about half that, half-inspiring. I have other acticities to feed my soul thorugh the sucky parts. However, being in the nutty all bets are offphase of life that I'm in, well, I say do what your heart says. Though I agree with Heather on the practical stuff, if and only if you think you can stand it.

  • Follow your heart.

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