Back to School

Well, mis amigos, it's that time again. BACK TO SCHOOL!!

I can't say that I'm not happy about this. I mean with every semester I'm closer to graduation. While this is its own reward for me, I also don't want this to come too quickly.

I like school and learning; I really would be very comfortable staying in college for quite a while. Although this is not feasible, I secretly wish for it.

Anyway, I graduate next December and I'm happy about the new prospects that I have. I may soon decide what steps I will take toward obtaining a Masters degree. I think my love for school and fear of "growing up" will have a big impact on this decision. The longer I take to finish school and start teaching, the longer I can consider myself a kid.

Of course, in weighing the pros and cons of this decision, I am considering the impact it will have on my career; so I am acting grown-up and making tough grown-up decisions, but I don't like to think of myself as a grown-up.

In case you were wondering, here are the sides to this decision:

Earn Masters while teaching...
- costly, very costly
- this is what most people do, it is traditional and fool-proof
- this is what I had planned on doing, and I hate changing my plans (kind of like stopping at stop signs)
- my students will be very close to my own age
- I will know enough to teach the content

Earn Masters as full-time student...
- possibly free course load, with pay on the side
- not a popular method: awkward afterward getting 1st year job with Masters pay
- new idea and I don't want to rush into it on a whim
- once finished, my students will be much younger than me
- valuable teaching experiences in Masters program and much more sound knowledge of content


Basically, I have to decide if I want to overcome the inertia of my plans to this point.

It's a toughy, but I AM happy to be back in school at TMC.


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