There's No Education like a Florida Education

"I've always wanted a career where I could make a difference." "I want my career to be rewarding, challenging, and engaging." "I want superiors who will appreciate and acknowledge my work." "I want to make a lot of money." "I want to work a descent schedule." "I want a job with good benefits."

Most have made the statements above when asked what their ideal job is. The above statements likely bring to mind climbing the corporate ladder, starting from the bottom, and working their way up to the top at a fortune 500 company. There's nothing wrong at all with pursueing a career with these corporations. However, let's be honest: the 9 to 5 lifestyle just doesn't do it for everybody.

There are those of us who must think outside of the box or else we'll be banging our heads against the dead end jobs forever. Where are those hidden careers that are often overlooked by the crowd?

This article is going to focus on one precious gem-like career that many often overlook in Florida. This precious gem is the field of education! Okay, try to lift your jaw from the floor now. How can the statements from above really fit into a teaching job in Florida? Well, think about it. The minds of young people bring a constant stream of fresh perspective. There are many bright minds in the world today that are just waiting to be molded by a stabilizing role-model in their lives. This truly enables the educator to make a difference by poviding that stability, by serving your role in helping them to make the right decisions, and in teaching them not only a curriculum, but what life experience has taught you. There's no greater joy than watching them apply what they learn from you! Don't like younger kids? Well, you can work with the older ones and even adults, but sometimes they have a tendency to think they know it all at that stage.

Challenges are very abundant in the field of education. There's never a dull moment. You are always learning new things. Curriculums are constantly changing. New educational challenges flourish and flourish. It's impossible to be bored in an ever changing environment such as this. There are many different hats that can be worn as teacher. Consider the examples below...

-Tutors
-Teachers K-12
-Teachers K-6
-Kindercare Teachers
-Professors
-Instructors
-Teaching Assistants
-Paraprofessionals
-Music Teachers
-English Teachers
-Drama Teachers
-Math Teachers
-History Teachers
-Trainers
-Virtual and Online Professors/Teachers/Trainers
-The list goes on and on!

Want to make a lot of money? Well, I can't say that you will get rich being a Teacher just starting out, but for most of us who know what Florida jobs pay, Teachers make out much better than most do here. Even with a temporary certification, a Bachelor's degree, and no previous educational experience, you can make a minimum of $36,000 per year! How many corporations here will pay you that just to start? I know people who live here who have been working for twenty years or more and don't make that. Furthermore, as you get more years of experience, you are compensated for it. If you move into Administration (Principals, Vice Principals, Nurse, School Secretary), the financials get even higher.

Those who work in Education have the sweetest hours, which goes a long way in a big hospitality industry like Florida. Most employers require that you be flexible in your schedule because they operate "24-7" especially call centers here. Some people are fortunate if they even get two days back to back off, let alone the week days! Given all these factors, brace yourself for what's coming next. Teachers have better hours than bankers. Of course, they're there during school hours, they have weekends off, vacation time, sick time, and all of the days that the kids don't go to school off!!! We're talking about Christmas, Thanksgiving, summer time, storm days, spring break, and any other days that the school deems necessary to take off. What does that add up to? A heck of a lot of time off every year! We're talking about 8 weeks in the summer alone. Most people work their entire lives before they even get six weeks off with a reputable corporation. That's some insane time off! You actually have the option to do other things in the summer if you want because it's yours. You get all of this all while having the same benefits and better compensation as corporations.

Are you convinced yet? Well, if you are great, but if not, I hope this article presented another perspective. Sometimes we must think outside of the box and decide to take charge over our own lives. No matter what choices we make, count the costs. It is true that it does take a lot of discipline to be a teacher and that your students will sometimes work your nerves, but wouldn't that happen in a corporate structure as well? I have annoying co-workers who are unprofessional, rude, annoying, and treat me pretty badly. What's worse is that I don't make enough to put up with it. That's why I look forward to teaching fulltime and living up to my potential. I yearn for those who feel trapped like they're crashing into the dead-end corners to jump the fence with me. You can make the difference, in your life and in those of others! Education is the way!