August 23, 2004
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"Don't feel bad for me".
"I'm really not that poor"
"It really is a misconception".
"You should come join me"
* Don't feel bad for me. Yeah I am a Guidance/College Counselor. I like kids. I would think the feeling is mutual. I work 9 months of the year. I get 2 months summer vacation WITHOUT doing summer homework. I get a Winter Break. I get a Spring Break. I get a Christmas break. I get Jewish holidays off and I'm not even Jewish. I get 10 sick days a year. Feel bad for someone who gets only 2 weeks a year.
My hours are technically 8:20am to 3 pm. My friends get off sometimes by 11 pm!
* I'm really not that poor. (Its just that I'm living in Manhattan makes me forget sometimes.) We have a wonderful union that works for us. It gets us raises. When I was about to start, they won and I came into a job that paid $5,000 more than I thought. (This happens roughly 3-4 times a person's career). Top it off with a Master's Degree and you get an extra $4Gs. We get raises each year. If you wish to coach a sport, which I do, [girls bball/boys baseball] you get at least 188 hours each sport at ~$34 dollars an hour. Here's the kicker. Besides your normal Tax Deferred Annuity [TDA], that we can put our money into so that we get taxed less, we "po" city workers get a ...Pension. This means that when you retire, probably at your highest salary, we get ~70% of that final salary until we die. Checks keep rolling in. Let's see an investment banker get that! ha ha. What else..oh yeah I get paid during the summer so...I pretty much get paid for lying on the beach
or creating a Xanga. [People always hate me when I tell them that 
].
* It really is a misconception. I know some teachers and educators might complain about pay because they feel they should be getting much more, but doesn't everybody who works feel that way? "Teachers are poor." I guess it really depends on what you define as poor. Monetary value or something more than that? I am not poor because I never had a profession where I get treated so well. "Well" in terms of getting appreciated and feeling important every single day. I get on a daily basis, at least a student, parent, teacher, or administrator that makes me feel of some sort of value to them. That's what people really want. They would like to be remembered. They want to have an affect on someone else. Its part of human nature. I guess so is survival of the fittest but people seek other people. No matter what they say. I once told 3 of my fellow colleagues, I think I offended them, that I would much rather talk to a student than some adults. They're more interesting and open. I guess they don't know any better.
* You should come join me. We always need smart, effective and more role models for students. Teach! Counsel! Coach! Give back. Why not? There has to be something to it. I got some H.W. for you . Ask any teacher why they teach. The answers are genuine, real and meaningful. I guarantee that no one does it for the money. But they still do it. The other day some of my students asked me to go to Dim Sum with them. It was great. I got to got to Florida, all expense paid, for 5 days on their Senior Trip. The Senior Prom was at the China Club, open bar for the Chaperones. Find me another occupation that can....WARNING: SENTIMENTAL PART OF BLOG, make you cry to see someone graduate or to find out they got into their dream College.
Hard to do, huh?
Ok, by now you can tell I am a wee bit biased. Sure there are plenty of things wrong and that I can complain about. But that's for a different time
. I'm sure there are other professions that can offer you similar or different things but I gotta REP mine, you know? People are different. I just happened to choose Peace of Mind, Mental Health and free time as my priorities in my career and life.
Comments (16)
Who feels bad for you? You got a comfy job, and you get Jewish holidays off... but do you get Chinese NY off? huh? huh? yeah.. that's what i thought. I don't either. whaddup?
I didn't know high school coaches made decent money. I used to do track, girls basketball, and tennis for all 4 yrs. of h.s., i had no idea they made money to tell us to "hustle" =)
Dang, it's as if you were reading my mind. For real. Currently i'm trying to finish up my MA in Asian American Studies. I just need to hand in my thesis. Originally, after finishing up my MA I wanted to take this year off and apply for a history doctoral program. In the end I'd like to teach at the college level. BUT I've been realistic with myslef financially and realized that if I jumped into a PhD program I'd just be in more debt. So, I've been looking into the NYC teaching fellowship (where you teach and get an MA/Certified) and contemplating that. With this, granted it's another MA but I can work too and hopefully use it towards a PhD in History Education. Haahha, did all this research today. I think I am rambling. Very strange how your blog popped up. But yo, this entry mad helpful and insightful at this moment in time. It is greatly appreciated.
Yanno what? I think what you are doing is AWESOME ! Educators are proof that there are so many good people out there in this crazy world. Yes, there are many misconceptions, but it's foolish to believe them. My neighbor that lives across the street from me is a professor and he built his home on the salary. My best friend Cheryl is studying to become a teacher- she wants to teach little kids. Life is whatever YOU make of it.
Rock on Felix !
PS. i think you'd look great with spikey hair
Word.
I'm sure your kids love you as much as you love them.
School just started so there'll be another round of exceptional fun coming your way...I know you're ready for it!
WHAT A SWEET JOB. hahahaha. hooray for making xangas on the job
my classes started today... sucky :-/ SUMMER ISN'T OVER! LABOR DAY ISN'T HERE YET!
man... now you're making me reconsider going into teaching... or even counseling... ahhhhhhh!!!!!! i mean i love talking to kids (ha! im still a kid) i don't think i'm too cut out for the medical profession, even though everyone says they can see me doing it. i think all asian families are stuck on $$$ and the comfort in life... ohhh man.... this is nuts.... i don't know what to do! HELP!
hello my dear flex =) ... once again, an insightful blog ... i know you're laughing at people like me! now where is my "art of happiness" book? can i trade you for the highlighted copy? 8) hope to see you again soon!
sweet
you are a MENSCH!
I figure someone who gets Jewish holidays off (even if you're NOT jewish) would understand what I meant... and I do... mean it, I mean.
you've shined a new light to what i use to think was a horrible profession. but hearing the way you talk about it and the passion behind it really made me realize how wonderful it must be to be able to help kids and build a bond special with them. you rock~!
You are SO like your brother. Both of you talk accounting like it's so easy. Weaving it into regular conversation and making it all seem so effortless (personal financial managment that is). I've learned so much from the both of you about money, it's so cool!
blah blah blah...... first off, grey/ silver is WACK! LOL and being a teacher is WACK!! lol nah just kiddin'. i do appreciate u and your work.... KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK!!!
ooooo... u've had an excellent start on money management.... teach me please..?!? i kno the key for me is to cut back on the JO'z... i kno i kno
I hate to admit it, but you are great at your job. If you can help me (the biggest procrastinator) on all my college stuff, then you can help anyone. Thanks Loser!
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