The benefits of Higher Education

I was reflecting on the differences between my new job working with late teens and adults at a technical college and my previous job of teaching children in a public school classroom. The benefits are many! I don't have to sit on the floor or use paint, papier maché or liquid glue, which means I can wear decent clothes to work. Also, I can have food, get a drink, use the bathroom or get fresh air when I need it rather than waiting for a bell to ring. I actually feel like a self-determining adult for a change! Last Friday I almost told some students to watch their language and turn their music down, but I stopped myself because they are also adults, surrounded by adults, who can manage their own behaviour. And yesterday I ran a workshop for which I had ample time to prepare, students who were interested in the topic showed up, they thanked me afterwards and I won't have to meet with their parents or spend hours of my own time writing a report about each one! The new job is not entirely perfect; there are some personalities to deal with and some institutional ins and outs to navigate, but overall it's quite a positive change.