So I'm thinking about changing my career goals...

...to something that is more like what I truly find to be important. For those who don't know, I've wanted to have a PhD since I knew what one was - and I haven't rethunk it since long ago. Ed and I were talking about goals today when we had lunch at Olive Garden - and I think that now that my life has changed my goals should too. I need to do some more thinking about this - but instead of wanting to get to some high point where people think I'm really smart and as a way to prove things to other people, I'm thinking that I can do more things to make me happy instead of prove something to other people. I thought, going into graduate school, that the important thing was the research part, and the teaching was a bonus. But if you've noticed, I'm very intrigued and inspired by teaching science - biology in particular. See, I used to think that if I could do something, I had to do it myself because if I didn't, people thought I couldn't. I've since realized that this isn't very true - I can do whatever I want, and most people don't pay enough attention in general, much less to me, to think that way about how I was living myself. So, one reason for a PhD isn't very much a reason anymore. Also, I'd be the only person close to me (in my family) to have a PhD and having one makes me seem smarter than other people, that was another reason for me to want one. I'm not ambitious in that way anymore - I'd rather be happier than do anything for other people. So that's another thing that is no longer a reason.

Now, what to do about this. Since I like inspiring people to be interested in science and showing them that there are more ways to be in science than going to medical school - I can get them earlier this way, teaching in high school - and teaching both the lab aspects and lecture topics. There are other things to be considered, though. I don't mind going through two semesters to get a teaching license or however long it takes. I'd also like to have summers off so that I can do stuff with Natha and also travel more. I'd also have health insurance (as Ed pointed out) which is something that is somewhat of a bane of his existence being self-employed. Not to mention that schools need science teachers who know what they're teaching. I'd think that with a Master's degree and my lab teaching experience, I could get a job teaching at a private school where we had the lab supplies we'd need... but part of me wants the average kids to get me as their teacher - they're the more important ones to me. They're the ones who don't have people in the sciences in their families and think that the only way out is to go to medical school. I'm also very organized, and I can get all sorts of things done and accomplished because I have certain standards that I would make the students live up to...

I think I'm going to pause my pontification for now and see what I'd need to do to become a certified high school teacher. I'll come back later and let you know what I think after I look into this more...