Somewhere ages and ages hence

I have been thinking a lot lately about what exactly I am going to do after my two-year Master's program is finished. I have posted before about why I am doing this little grad school adventure, and I have also posted about various big changes in my life over the years. But as my second year of grad school quickly ticks by, I need to figure out what comes next.

Here are my options:

• Since I am on a two-year leave from teaching in Brainerd, I could go back there. I did love my job there, but as everyone knows, small town life was starting to wear thin. If I returned to ISD 181, I would only be guaranteed a job, not necessarily my previous job, so I could get stuck teaching at the Mega Middle School. So as much as I value my years in Minnesota, this is the least likely option for me.

• I could continue on with grad school, moving on to my Ph.D. I do like being a student again, and now that I have had a little taste of teaching in college, I can see continuing on.
  

• Or I could go back to teaching high school (and perhaps directing plays), but in the Chicago area. I do very much miss teaching, especially the day-to-day interaction with students. I get a little of that at Sylvan I guess (where I was recently named Sylvan Teacher of the Month -- woohoo!), but it is not the same as teaching my own classes.

If I were a betting man, I would put money on Option 3. While the idea of continuing with grad school does sound fun, I have started to feel that I am at the point in my life where I just want to get on with it. My first stop in Chicago, then Minnesota, and now grad school -- these were all great experiences, but all stepping stones. I think I'd like my real life to begin now.

And what I really want to do is live in Chicago. And I want to start making money again. And I want to teach.

Therefore, I have started to think about the whole job search process. So as the year progresses on and this current chapter of my life enters the waning phase, I hope to have exciting and new and great things to report about my future. I'll keep you posted.