How have your changed in the past 2 years?
Two years ago this week I started a new job after being a teacher for almost 10 years. I left the classroom to work as a curriculum developer and instructional designer at an educational software company. I spent the first week feeling completely overwhelmed and thinking I would never learn everything I needed to know in order to survive in the corporate environment. Prior to that job I’d only ever worked for small businesses and non-profits, so it was eye-opening to be in a culture that was largely focused on money, yet still interested in making a difference.
So for the last two years I tried my best to understand and learn what I needed to know. Many things came quickly to me and I was promoted and viewed as a leader. But I don’t think I ever learned to play the office politics game. And that side of the business weighed heavily on me. I felt a constant struggle between doing was is right for students and teachers and the nagging feeling like I should be trying to “get ahead” some how.
In my personal life, I started writing more than I ever had before and I discovered that it was what I was meant to do. So that feeling, combined with not being crazy about my office job led me to start freelancing. It’s been about 8 weeks and it was definitely the right move.
My Writing Life 