I am on the precipice of graduation, with only a week more of undergraduate classes and a couple weeks before I have the degree in my hands. I still have a student teaching semester to finish up, but that is at least going to be something new and different.
Basically, I am getting a degree in music education, as well as nys teaching certification, but the job outlook is bleak. Not only is no one hiring, but it is estimated that 15,000-20,000 nys teachers will lose their jobs this year. Sooo, that doesn't make it very likely that I will be able to find a job, let alone the job that I would like (teaching band). On the other hand it looks like I might have the opportunity to get a job working for my father. I'm sure the money would be decent, and the hours would be fair (they are only open during normal working hours), but it would have absolutely nothing to do with music or teaching.
So I am feeling a bit of guilt now, because I actually would really enjoy taking this opportunity, and it is a job that I have always wanted, however I have spent so much time and money on this degree and I feel uneasy about the fact that I may not use it. I am a professional performing musician, which in this economy only means a few thousand a year, and I teach drum and percussion lessons, which yields pretty decent money, so technically I would be using my degree, just not for what the college intends. I am also a little paranoid that my students (and their parents) might not take me as seriously if I am not an actual school teacher and my day job has nothing to do with music.
It's an interesting position to be in, as like I said this is a job I have wanted since I was five years old, and I would definitely like to take the opportunity, but I am concerned that I might be wasting all of the time and money that I put into my degree.
Luckily the tortoises don't judge... much.
Basically, I am getting a degree in music education, as well as nys teaching certification, but the job outlook is bleak. Not only is no one hiring, but it is estimated that 15,000-20,000 nys teachers will lose their jobs this year. Sooo, that doesn't make it very likely that I will be able to find a job, let alone the job that I would like (teaching band). On the other hand it looks like I might have the opportunity to get a job working for my father. I'm sure the money would be decent, and the hours would be fair (they are only open during normal working hours), but it would have absolutely nothing to do with music or teaching.
So I am feeling a bit of guilt now, because I actually would really enjoy taking this opportunity, and it is a job that I have always wanted, however I have spent so much time and money on this degree and I feel uneasy about the fact that I may not use it. I am a professional performing musician, which in this economy only means a few thousand a year, and I teach drum and percussion lessons, which yields pretty decent money, so technically I would be using my degree, just not for what the college intends. I am also a little paranoid that my students (and their parents) might not take me as seriously if I am not an actual school teacher and my day job has nothing to do with music.
It's an interesting position to be in, as like I said this is a job I have wanted since I was five years old, and I would definitely like to take the opportunity, but I am concerned that I might be wasting all of the time and money that I put into my degree.
Luckily the tortoises don't judge... much.