Have you ever had something you really wanted and thought it was going to be your path to take? It even seemed like everything was lining up perfectly … and then … it all fell apart? At the time it’s pretty devastating and you’re not really sure where to go or what even to do next? This happened to me as I was beginning my teaching career.
I graduated college at the end of the fall semester which means there aren’t typically that many job openings since the school year is from August to May. Not to mention, at this time, there were very few openings period and a lot of prospective teachers looking for jobs. So, unsure of what to do, I continued substitute teaching and waiting for an opportunity to fall into my lap. Then a principal I knew very well offered me a short interim. So of course I accepted. Then after that he offered me a tutoring position at the same school. It seemed the logical choice, because I heard there would be like 5 teachers retiring at the end of the year, and what better way to get your foot in the door? So I continued on with the tutoring, assuming it was going to lead to a full-time teaching position the next year.
As the end of my tutoring time was nearing, I kept waiting to hear about the job openings that I knew would surely be happening. One day, the principal talked to me and told me that there would probably actually be no positions open. Talk about devastated, I had put all my eggs in that basket. Then in a few days, he called me and said there would actually be one opening, and asked if I would like to interview for it. Of course I told him yes. Here I was again, putting all of my eggs in one basket, I just knew I would get the job.
The day came for the interview and to say it was less than stellar, would be an understatement. However, I was still pretty confident that I would get the job. So I waited for several days and the principal called and I just knew that he was going to tell me I got the job. WRONG. He told me they had decided to go with another candidate. I felt like someone had just gut-punched me and I was trying to choke back the tears as I hurried to get off the phone with him.
So here I was, I had no idea what to do next, feeling like I had just wasted half a year pursuing a dead-end. Then one night, I finally gave it to The Lord. I told him I had absolutely no idea what to do next and He was going to have to figure it out for me and show me what to do. Not long after that, a family friend, who happened to be a principal, called me and gave me some advice. What she told me to do was not an avenue I would’ve pursued on my own. Again, back to I had no idea what to do. I had this idea that I wanted to work for my county and that was it. The family friend was principal in another county and told me to pursue working in that county. I was naturally hesitant, but I did what she told me to do, after much silent objection. Lol.
Long story short, I became a Title I reading assistant, still unclear of where I was heading next. During my time as an assistant, I had some interviews, some of them okay, some not so okay. I even interviewed at the same school twice. Got rejected … twice. While all of this was going on, we got a new principal. So naturally I was unsure of my future at the school.
There were a couple interims I knew were coming available, plus a teacher was retiring mid-year. I interviewed and got the first interim, but there were some strings attached. I had to give up my secure assistant job to take a chance on an eight-week interim. But I knew (because the principal told me) if I didn’t take this opportunity, I would never get a full-time job at this school I was growing to love.
That interim led me to the next interim which led me to the half-year Kindergarten job. That half-year in Kindergarten is another story for another day, we’ll just say it was interesting and leave it at that. But thankfully that Kindergarten job led me to a permanent Second Grade position, which has led me to my current Third Grade classroom.
During all these jobs, I’ve met so many wonderful people who are now some of my best friends in the whole world. Not to mention I learned so much about teaching. I learned more during my first few years of teaching from my colleagues than I could’ve ever imagined, especially from a reading specialist in our school. If not for this path, I would’ve never gotten to meet her or any of these amazing people. I also would never have met my business mentor and upline. The Lord led me to the business opportunity that He has used to change my life in many ways. The confidence I’ve gained from this business has given me the push to even start this blog.
I could go on and on about how being “disappointed” totally changed my path in life and has become one of my greatest blessings. Although I was heartbroken and devastated when I kept getting rejected, I couldn’t be more thankful for it now. So don’t let your disappointment define you.
Have you had a disappointment turned blessing in your life?
