Pfewww!

I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. I think I had been holding my breath for so long, I didn't even realize it. However, yesterday, I had two interviews at two different schools. They both went well, and I walked away saying I would be happy working at either school.

In order to attend these interviews, I had to take a couple of hours off of my job at a call center. If you have never worked at a call center, consider your self fortunate. If you have...my condolences. Just let it be said that call center work is like working under the constant watch of prison guards...checking to see how long you have been off the phone without marking yourself available, monitoring if you have your cell phone out where people can see it, telling you that you cannot write, draw, do a puzzle or read a personal book when the calls are coming slowly. Instead they want you to be reading something called the KB (a complete database of every issue a caller could be calling about and how to handle it.) When you don't know how to handle a problem, you are asked, "Did you look it up in the KB?" making you feel like you just asked your mom where your skateboard is and she replies, "Where did you leave it?" or even better, asking how to spell a word and being told, "Look it up in the dictionary." If I knew where to look it up in the KB, I wouldn't be asking you now. Would I? Oh, and I forgot to tell you that they even monitor your restroom breaks. Jeez Louise!

I guess my biggest problem with working at a call center was that when I started, I wasn't very good at it. I am not used to being "not good" at something. This doesn't mean I am good at everything. It means I choose to do things I AM good at instead. Why should I put myself through such agony for something I am not interested in? Now teaching...teaching I am good at and that's where we get back to where this story started.

When I finished my interviews, I still had time before I needed to be on the phones at work. So I took advantage of the break away from the center and had some lunch. That's when the first call came offering me a position at interview number one. However, I had just left interview number two and really wanted to know if I was going to be chosen there. Fortunately, the HR person said that I was free to wait for their decision. I am sure glad I did; although, it was a difficult wait because of the call center environment and the "no cell phone" rules. Finally, though, I saw a blink of light come from phone letting me know I had a voice mail. Suddenly, I had to go to the restroom.

Under the cover of the bathroom, which by the way you aren't supposed to have phones there either, I listened to my voice mail. I then went to the break room where you are allowed to use your phone and called HR back. She said I had a choice to make: school #1 or #2. After weighing my options I chose the second one.

I AM GOING TO BE AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER AGAIN!!!! WOO HOO!

I will be working with fifth graders who have been kicked out of their previous school. This is an area I have been interested in exploring for a while. Now, I finally get my chance.

Some of you may still be wondering about the call center. Well, you won't believe what happened. By this point in my brief call center career, I am doing okay. My scores are above average on my calls (yes, they grade you.) I am no longer hating it, but I am trying to figure out how long I can stay working there because the hours are bad and my son is coming home this weekend. (Yay!) So I approach the floor supervisor and let her know that Friday will be my last day. She in turn says to me, "We need people who will be here during our fall rush, so today will be your last day." What??! She needs people to be here, so she is letting me go. Okay. I can't remember the last time I was told I couldn't work somewhere without there being some sort of funding cut involved. Unbelievable, but okay.

Just remember Call Center, I broke up with YOU!
Yes.I.broke.up.with.YOU!