This is Not the Career Path You Are Looking For

Once upon a time, I was young and naive. I applied to various grad schools in the hopes that I would work towards becoming some kind of professional in English or Language Arts. After multiple "no thank you"s and "try again next year"s, I became severely disheartened. Then, I was offered something I did not think I could refuse. I was offered the chance to have a Master's degree in education on the one condition that it be in Spanish, not English. Spanish, a very important subject. Spanish, taught in every school in New Jersey! Spanish is kind of like English, right? I can suck it up to have a Master's degree, no?

I did. I got my Master's degree in one year. And ever since then, I have yet to find stable employment. Budget cuts in New Jersey mean "important" subjects like World Language and the Arts were cut first. The job I do have is part-time with no benefits. The worst of this is the feeling I get when I teach. I like what I do, and I adore the kids, but I do not love what I teach. The few times I do feel like I would love what I am doing, I'm teaching some kind of literature in translation. English.

The State of New Jersey has made it abundantly clear that I need to pay for my mistake early in my education career. "No English job for you, you're already labeled Spanish. Think of all the other people out there who knew what they wanted from the beginning. Too bad!" To New Jersey I say the following:

I should not have to survive on job to job because you can't get your shit together. I'm doing all I can to amend what I did wrong, which wasn't even a crime, just a mistake. I didn't have anyone to tell me "Don't get your Master's until after you have a job or people won't want to hire you." I didn't have anyone who would warn me about how hideous the education system would become the moment I started teaching. I did all of this alone and survived better than you are at the moment. I don't want loads of money or material things. I want to be able to work in a stable job with some kind of benefits and live independently with my fiance. Is that too fucking much to ask, New Jersey? Don't be surprised if and when I leave this state for some place without high taxes and low standard of living. I've already been looking. Florida, Delaware, and Maryland are all far more forgiving when it comes to people who made mistakes, New Jersey. And they won't rob me blind for living there either. The first job I get that is stable and full-time with benefits, I'm taking. I will leave you if I have to, which it's looking more like each day.

RG

P.S. - My friend who always knew what she wanted to be doing also got her Master's in English. She's still waitressing because you won't give her a chance. Two years she's been trying, New Jersey, and you give her nothing. Way to encourage people to get educated.