I am tired.
I have started this job 7 years ago. Beforehand I worked as an occupational therapist with children with the hardest mental and physical disability. The job drained me. Oddly enough not because of the kids, but coworkers. Every day was like walking on glass shards. So when the chance represented itself to extend my contract ... I bailed.
Jobs as an occupational therapist in my country are rare. Albino unicorn rare. So I did not take the decision lightly when I swapped my job for an escort at a primary school which payed exactly half less.
I did not care. I needed it. I needed a vacation of sorts. I needed to relax and not think. My assignment was more or less to take care of the needs and safety of a 9 year old girl with a brain tumor. It started with little things … the cleaning lady was on sick leave so I substituted. The cook was absent … so I substituted. Oh I have a bit of an eye in décor and am crafty … so I had craft classes and workshops. Oh one teacher is absent … just let atopy do it … she’s capable enough. Oh she’s a health care worker, let her have sex ed and hygiene classes too. So there I was on a minimum wage working pretty much everything I wasn’t hired for.
Slowly I integrated myself all over the place, the garden, computer science classes and if needed even janitors chores. And I didn’t mind it. I felt needed and capable. The old boss retired and before she left she pushed me on a higher position as a selective class’s teacher in a combination of an afternoon teacher. She could not make my contract permanent due to my health care education. So for the last 7 years I work on a yearly contract.
But now I am tired … This year we are organizing Special Olympics. I’m in charge of the first aid team and everything related with graphics (logo, animation, t-shirts, etc.). I am not tired of work. I guess I am just guessing WTF am I doing. Years are passing and I still don’t have that stability I crave for. How many more years will I lose here? On yearly contracts …. Wondering if I’ll have a job next year. How many years have I lost as an occupational therapist? What exactly did I want to do when I was young?
Would you believe me that a 20 year old atopy wanted to work with old people? I wanted to settle in an old home and be my own master. Life decided otherwise. Because my experience working with elderly were so few and my field on pediatrics so extended I pretty much flunked all my interviews.
So I checked the jobs and sent out two applications. I would send more but as stated … albino unicorn rare. Wish me good luck.
I'm sure I'll do fine.
