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I started working in education at the end of 2011 as a Substitute teacher in my area. At an elementary school, music class for a half day. My first foray into working in education, and on the way, I felt like I might vomit. I was nervous. Rightfully so. I’d never done anything like this. in my life. The only thing that qualified me was that I had a bachelor’s degree. In my county, that’s all that “qualified” me to perform a job that I was in no way qualified to do.

Well, obviously I survived it, and no bodily fluids exited me that day. Yes, I was nervous. Yes, the thought about what the hell was I doing crossed my mind numerous times that day. But, yes, I ended up going back, substituting both there and in other area schools, and I was hooked.

I fell in love with working in education.

I decided at that time that I wanted to become a teacher, so I began pursuing my Master’s in Teaching shortly after that first experience. During the next seven years, and three to four preschool experiences under my belt, I was four classes (including Student Teaching) away from attaining that goal.

Back to 2019, November 18th to be exact, I began my career as an aide (bus aide to start).

I stayed with that school district for the next seven school years. I made many great memories, working with so many amazing kids and teachers, and gained so much valuable experience. The money wasn’t great, but it was the most rewarding season of my (work) life ever. Further, it prepared me for what begins today…

NEW BEGINNINGS

I’m now heading down a different road on my career journey in education. I’m still going to be working as an Aide. The location and the names are changing (along with my wage), but one thing remains: my love for the most rewarding career I’ve ever had in my life.

I’m excited, nervous, and a little scared at the unknowns. I think that’s a normal feeling for just about anyone going through any changes in life. The main thing that I am bringing with me to this new venture is experience and confidence. I know that even though it’s a new age group of students that will present me with new challenges, I am confident in my abilities because I also am good at what I do.

I’m sure there will be more to talk about and share with you here as I go forward, but just know this: my career in education gives me peace and joy, and to me, that is what makes all the hard work and challenges seem a lot less like work, and more like a calling in a field where I belong.

I embrace that. Time to go. Here’s to my new adventure!

FUN NOTE: I threw in pictures of a panther and a cardinal because those are the mascots of the former school district and my new one respectively. So:

GO CARDS!

©Mark’s Life

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However, a lot has happened and a lot more (okay, a few more) new eyes are in here now, and so, I wanted to do a reboot on it, let’s call it Intro 2.0. I also wanted to let you not only read it, but hear it straight from me. I’ve included my first attempt at a voice over. Hope you enjoy getting to know me a little better…from me.

THE EARLY YEARS

I was born in a smaller Midwestern US town and area known for football and steel. The first home I lived in was a large side of a duplex that was built in 1870. Next door, literally, the width of a standard driveway next to a neighborhood bar and grill.

From as early as I can remember, my family spent a lot of time at that bar, including myself. Until I was a bit older, my time spent there would be with my mom typically, always during the day, getting a burger, a Squirt or Coke, and playing one of the video games (typically Donkey Kong) or pinball and playing songs (on 45 records) on the Juke Box.

At home, if I wasn’t outside getting my youngest uncle in trouble somehow, I would be inside, watching cartoons, sorting my growing baseball card collection, all while smelling the wonderful aroma of baked goods or dinner being cooked in grandma’s kitchen.

Sometimes, grandma would have me go to the neighborhood convenient store or Dairy Queen for ice cream. I would either walk or take my bike. I loved doing small errands like that for her. Some might conclude that I did it just because I was getting something out of it. You wouldn’t be totally inaccurate. However, looking back, mostly why I did was because we lived so close to these places and because she couldn’t do it for herself. Additionally, at that time in my life, no one in my house had a car, so, we all had to pitch in and contribute any way we could.

SCHOOL YEARS

In my early elementary years, not much of note really occurred. I remember not liking (okay, being afraid of) my first grade teacher. She was mean. Second grade, I got my first pair of glasses, which shortly after, corrected the problem, and in about a year, I would shed them, and not need glasses again until my early twenties.

Late elementary through middle school, the only thing mildly worth mentioning was that I tried out for the middle school basketball team two years in a row, and the two reasons that I never had a roster spot for me was because being in a football crazy town, they liked to take football players first to help them keep in shape for the off-season. The other reason being that I just wasn’t that good.

Growing up wanting to be a radio DJ, heading into high school only interested me because they had a pretty good telecommunications program that would help me to prepare for that. I loved being in the program, but honestly, once I was graduated, I had little interest in going to college, so after semester at college, I dropped out and just became a member of the workforce.

WORK AND COLLEGE LIFE

Over the course of my lifetime, I have had many jobs in many industries, and have attended various colleges, even having attained two degrees. Let me first list the jobs by industry that I have worked in, not in chronological or any order, but it is a few, so here goes:

• Fast food

• Hospitality (hotel catering and room service)

• Retail sales

• Warehouse

• Factory

• Medical Billing

• Grocery

• Office work

• Education

Notice that nowhere on there listed is radio. I did get accepted into a broadcasting school in the early 90’s, but I never ended up attending because I had to work full time, as it was the first time I had ever been out on my own (with a friend) living, and out of the hometown where I grew up, so work took priority.

Speaking of colleges, because I did mention that I have two college degrees: an Associates in Computer Science from a local two year college, and a Bachelor’s in Business Information Systems.

It was while I was in the homestretch of finishing up my Bachelor’s that I had been let go from the job I was in. I took a job through a temporary agency, finished my degree, was working in Medical billing, and then that job ran out of work for me. So, there I was, a Bachelor’s Degree, and unemployed.

I was told then, this was late 2011, that anyone in my county with a Bachelor’s degree in any field could substitute teach. I applied, did all the background check stuff, and took my first substitute assignment for a half-day music teaching vacancy at a nearby rural elementary school. I’ll never forget that day, because as I was in the middle of the 30 minute drive, I thought I might throw up, and was having a staff meeting with myself the entire drive because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.

Fast forward to present day, and here I am, getting ready to enter my 14th year working in education. I have worked in preschools, sub jobs, bus aide, and for the last six plus years, as a Special Education/Educational Aide, and I couldn’t be happier…in my career. It is the most rewarding “job” I’ve ever had in my life. Funny, it took me 42 years before I found my true calling, and the only issue is that I wished I would have discovered this field earlier.

FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND LOOKING FORWARD

In my life, my family, small as it is, has always been at the forefront of my life. I was born to a single mom, no father in my life, and I was raised by her and my grandma (her mom). In my house growing up, my youngest uncle also was there. He would eventually become the best man at my wedding. We grew up more like brothers.

Speaking of siblings, I had none biologically, but along with my uncle, my two cousins were essentially more like brothers to me (still are). We still do stuff together as we meet up (along with my youngest and oldest uncle) on the first Saturday of every month for a brunch. We eat, swap stories, updates on our own lives, and just enjoy each other’s company. We started this about two and a half years ago, and hope that we always are able until we aren’t anymore.

Friends. Well, I used to have a lot of friends that I would do a lot with. Basically for decades, we spent a lot of time doing a lot together. Wiffleball and football when we were younger, going to concerts, and plenty of sporting events were attended, and many times in my early adult years, a fair amount of adult beverages were consumed.

Now, they are almost all still friendly with me, but with family obligations and age, those fun times are almost all gone now. I am okay with that actually. I still get out, am still a social person (thank mom), and I’ve found other friends through this wonderful page. Even though it’s unlikely that I’ll ever meet many of you in person, I still consider you friends.

©

That being said, I would never paywall anything because my story needs to be told. However, I do put time an effort into what I do here, and if you’re able, you could become a paid subscriber, BMC, or send what you can through PayPal. Links are directly below. Thanks if your able, but thanks for just being here. You are a vital part of my life. Blessings.

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I love this space for several reasons. The main reason initially was that it provides me a space to share my thoughts and feelings through writing. That, in and of itself provides me with a real kind of therapy for me.

But the real joy for me has come in the form of many of you amazing people that I've met and interacted with in this space.

So many people from so many different locations. So many faith/spiritual backgrounds.

Different people from different backgrounds all sharing this beautiful space. It's proof to me that there are so many good people everywhere, and that's contrary to what if usually fed to us through various forms of media.

Our differences are what makes us unique. Our experiences have shaped us. But we are all proof that we are all have value DESPITE the things that are supposed to “separate” us.

In the eleven months that I've been here, I've read more than I've ever read in my life; read about people's traumas, joys, sorrows, imaginations, and lives.

All of these things didn't connect us here by coincidence. For whatever reasons or forces or whatever, we are all connected in one space…Substack.

It's not a perfect place. None of us are perfect. But we are here at the same time for a reason.

Thank you for being here with me. I'm glad to know you.

©️Mark's Life

While my kids are learning who they are

How to love both themselves and others

I've been learning a bit about myself

.

Born quite traditional

Never gave a thought as to

Who I was and who I loved

.

Raising them on the surface

Has brought the usual challenges

Never expected to be blindsided the way I've been

.

The biggest challenge came from within

My own mind couldn't comprehend

Why this “happened” to me.

.

After much thought and contemplation

I finally came to terms

With who I was supposed to be

.

God loves me

He called me to love

Unconditionally

.

Yesterday in town

Was there to support them

In the hot city streets

.
I'll never fully understand

What it's like to be

Who they've become

.

What I do know is

My kids mean the world to me

That has and will never change

.

©️ Mark's Life

NOTE: June in the U.S. Is Pride Month. Yesterday in town, there was a festival. A festival to celebrate individuality. Both my kids are part of that community. Both have struggled mentally on their journeys through self-discovery. Through their struggles, I've had to look at life through a different set of lenses. I can't even begin to understand how much they've gone through. Yesterday, on our way home, my 15 year old asked me if I'd ever be fully okay with her fairly new self-discovery. All that I said was that I'll always love her without condition, and I'll always have her back.

I never thought I'd be the parent to one, let alone two kids in the LGBT+ community. One thing I am proud of is being the Dad to two bright, talented, creative, amazing kids. I just love them. Period.

Take a look at this image. What does it evoke in you? What if what you're doing to try and “carry on” with your life garnered no results? I guess my line of thinking here from past experiences would be to in fact, carry on, try something else, and then re-evaluate.

There's been many a time in my life when something I was trying to accomplish something and left me feeling completely empty and non-productive. This, I believe used to lead me to jump from one career path to another.

I was going to be a radio DJ. Never materialized. I had intentions out of high school to study broadcasting in college. I quickly realized that I wasn't ready for college. Hell, I barely survived high school.

So, I worked fast food, in a grocery store, and in hotel room service. I then decided it was time. I got accepted into a broadcasting school, and a former friend and I moved about 50 miles north so that I could finally pursue that dream.

Well…before I had a chance to start, I had to take a job in order to help pay for living expenses. That ship sunk, and I quit pursuing that dream.

So, then, let's look at carrying on if you get less than desirable results. One time in my life, I was fired (downsized). I had just about finished my bachelor's degree. I then took a job at another grocery store. My now 15 year old daughter was then just three months old. I had to work. My wife had a fairly good paying job at the time, so I was allowed to finish my degree and, even though I had a job, it wasn't quite satisfying or lucrative enough.

I took a temporary job in medical billing, something I had done previously before the downsizing (see above).

Well, that job lasted three months, and they had no more work for me, so they had to relieve me of my duties.

So what's a guy to do? One with a new bachelor's degree and a new baby in the house. In the county that I live in allows you to become a substitute teacher.

That morphed into starting to pursue my Masters in teaching, working for various early education schools, and eventually, to the career as a Special Education Aide that I have now been doing for almost 7 years.

So, that's an example (for me) of taking a bad situation, carrying on, and turning it into a passionate career.

Which leads me to where I get “great results”:

So, the so-called “great” result is that after 42 years of life, I had finally found the most rewarding career that I've ever had in my life.

There is a “down” side. That Master's Degree in Teaching? Since my mom passed 7 years ago, I've been able to take two more classes…that STILL, to this day, leaves me two classes and licensure tests away from completing this degree that I began pursuing some 15 years ago.

I still am doing a job that I absolutely love, but the teaching, not likely to ever happen, because who wants a teacher starting at my older age? Not to mention, I can no longer afford any more education.

Still, I carry on.

If there is one thing I have learned in this life, it's to never stop moving forward. I may complain. I may stress. I may feel like throwing in the towel. But, I press on. Because to me, I do not have a choice.

©️Mark's Life

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