I'm in deep thinking mode at the mo. Here's my dilemma:I'm currently working in a kindergarten called Creative in Hong Kong, and my contract ends in July. I would love to continue to work there for another 1-2 years.
Why do I want to continue working at Creative?
Because I like the school environment, their policies, my fellow teachers, how they work, and I love my current lot of kids (200-odd of them), and even though the 6 year olds will be graduating in the Summer, I have high expections for the next lot of kids starting next year. The principle has also asked me whether I would like to stay on next year.
However?
The school will be changing from being a private school to becoming a government school this September, and government schools require teachers to have or are studying towards a Kindergarten Teacher Qualification. In order to continue working at Creative, I wouldn't mind studying this. But I would like do a Food Studies Masters this September, and I don't want to leave such a large gap of time between my degree and my application towards doing a Masters.
Why a Masters?
Just so that I have something else to fall back on in life, I'm not sure if teaching will become a lifelong career, I am also finding myself starting to yearn to do lab work. Yes, I still hold an interest in food. Both courses are part-time for 2 years. Jobs? Food Technologist/Food Manufacturer/Food Safety Officer/Food Microbiologist/Quality Control/Food Management in Restaurants,Supermarkets etc.
Why not do both?
I would like to spend some time working in other countries of the Far East as well.
Other thoughts on doing a Kindergarten Qualification:
I don't require this qualification to work in private and international schools or learning centres. My next teaching job may not involve teaching this age-group ie. kindergarten. This qualification is only recognised in Hong Kong.
Other notes on the Masters:
Deadline for applications is on May 2007, successful applicants will be informed in August. If there is no contact by September, your application was unsuccessful.
Anyway the problem is I can't decide whether I want to do a Kindergarten Qualification or a Food Studies Masters Degree. Now it would be great if I can get a place at university, AND continue to work at Creative, but I'm not so sure if life would be that good to me. So please your opinions, suggestions, advise, comments would be very much appreciated!!
Thank you!
2 comments:
Hi Stephanie, Perhaps the only Geriatric Comment you will get (?) As a lover of children (more reliable than Adults) and spent 20 as a Scout Leader I can understand your attachment to you current position so would say go for further Education Qualifications. You are only young and have plenty of time to think about 'Food Tech. Courses'. The main criterion is to follow employment where you are the happiest, even if the Salary is lower. Hoping to do a million thinga before you are 25 is all very well, but there is only one Stephanie and and only 24 hours in the day so it is aquestion of writing a career path down on paper, then get it out and re-read it every 2/3 days until slowly building up a picture of what you hope life has in store, then you might make a decision, or possibly sending us another message to consider?????????????
Thanks for the recent letter will try and write before Easter, but Health is a top priority at the moment and I might be going into Hospital. Trust you are well, X X X
Thank you for your thoughts Ron, its still pitch black, but with the replies I've had so far, I think I spy a light at the end of the tunnel.
Hospital?! Please take care of yourself, and I shall pop something through the post for you. Don't worry, postage is cheap over here, sending a letter from here to the UK costs less than sending a letter with a 1st class stamp within the UK! Hope both you and Sandy will keep well. xxx
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