Finding a New Career

I have been thinking about what I can do if I were not a teacher. I have training in science, biology, forestry. I could probably do any number of things, if there were jobs available. Right now, here in Sudbury, there are not a lot of options for a new career.

Retraining is not in the cards for me. Sometimes, I think about becoming a doctor, but that is a lot of time and money for a job I am not particularly passionate about. My best friend spent 18 years in school after high school. She is a medical officer of health in Winnipeg. She started med school in her late twenties, and said she was right at the border of the age where you could tolerate the BS you have to face to survive med school. She does not think she would be able to do it in her forties.

She said to me the other day, she is always nervous driving by accidents because she has forgotten all of her trauma training. She memorized everything she needed to know to pass and move onto the next task. She has been working on TB, and now public health education for so long she does not feel confident she would be able to help anyone in a medical emergency.

I like the field she decided to study for medicine. She has an environmental and personal health focus to her portfolio. I would like to be involved in nutrition and environmental health, but the number of years of training after actual med school would add up. Some things are just too late to start. I would be in my fifties before I got to a job I wanted.

I have thought about being a dietician, nutrituonist, or a massage therapist. Again, these fields require additional training on my part which means time and money. We do have Science North here. I have applied on occasion when they have been looking for the educational liaison person. I think they are leery about hiring teachers because the salary at Science North is significantly less than what a teacher could potentially make. They have already lost employees in the position to permanent teaching jobs. My husband says I should tell them I probably won't leave.

The thing is, I really like the fact that we get time off with our children as teachers. It is difficult to find a job that gives you so much time to spend with your family. We work hard during the school year, and often teachers are working or training or prepping during the summer. I just like being able to spend the time my children have off with them. It also allows me to visit with my parents often. I value our time together as a family more than any additional income.

I have been thinking of putting my name into the French public school board. If I am not getting work in the English public system, it cannot hurt to try another board. My husband works for the French Catholic board, and he thinks I would be able to supply in his schools (other than the fact that I am not Catholic). I sometimes feel my French is not up to snuff, but it is pretty good. I find it amazing how much it has improved since I have had children. Of course, only speaking to my kids in French, and reading French books to them has helped me a lot.

I should look on the job bank, and try to find something. Sometimes, jobs will surprise you. Jobs you might have thought were fun, and inspiring can end up being soul sucking, whereas things you might not have otherwise considered turn out to be a source of immense satisfaction.

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