In the dimly lit halls of education, where administrative indifference is king, the sense that I would get the chance to make any progress had withered away. Every action my employer took would show how little they care for the well-being of the teachers and students under their care.
Once regarded as a noble pursuit, teaching has transformed into a soul-crushing routine. The institution that employed me seemed to declare, “We got you! Your future belongs to us! We will squeeze you until you cannot take it anymore, and then we will simply get some fresh meat. You are 100% replaceable.”
My container of hope was empty at my teaching job, so I made the decision to quit.
I realized I was caught in the clutches of an organization that saw me not as an educator with passion and dedication but as a mere cog in a bureaucratic machine. The relentless demands, the increase in students under my care and responsibilities without a corresponding rise in compensation, and the mounting administrative tasks drained my enthusiasm. It was a daily grind that left me emotionally and physically exhausted.
This decision was not taken lightly. It was a bold move, a step into the unknown. Yet, in that moment of despair, a glimmer of hope emerged. I understood that contrary to the narrative imposed by my employer, they are the ones who are totally replaceable in my life.
And what am I going to do instead? Freelancing.
At the moment, I am in no man’s land. Even though I'm in the final weeks of my work as a teacher, I'm already deep into the world of freelancing platforms, and at the same time, I keep pursuing my writing goals.
So far, this has not been a smooth transition. After all, I'm moving from the structured world of education to the uncharted territory of self-employment. The uncertainties are overwhelming, and the fear of failure weighs heavy on me. But amid the challenges, there is hope.
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