Each of us during our lifetimes reaches a fork in the road that can be either a very large glaring fork or a subtle one. Either way it elicits a decision. Sometimes we arts people have trouble with decisions and either find it easier to ignore them or make the wrong ones. Not to say of course all of us are like that!

After you have been in the workforce for a time and say reach your 50’s you will thoroughly understand this. By this time you may have had several career changes, you may have changed course completely or even gone back to school to learn another skill. This is not uncommon in today’s work force. When my father was working he stayed at the same job for years, something like 42 years. Of course during that time he advanced to a more responsible position, but the same company. Teachers often do this. It isn’t uncommon for a teacher to teach at the same school for 30 years plus before retirement. Retirement? What’s what? This is another issue where people are working longer and retire at a much older age; look at me a perfect example of that.

It is also not uncommon for a teacher to teach several grade levels on the elementary level. Our credential reads we are certified to teach any grade from K-8. Some of us have rider credentials that allow us to specialize even in elementary. Teachers have to be flexible and ready to move grade levels if requested by administration. This is not so much so for specialists like teachers in art and music. If they are full time however, they can also be asked to teach or tutor within the humanities such as teaching English to fill their hours beyond their specialty role. This even happens on a high school level occasionally.

With people working longer these days it is hard to fully feel retirement when they do retire. Many keep working in other ways such as an at home business, tutoring, or a volunteering at a school or church. People who have been working all their adult lives find it difficult to just “sit down” and relax during retirement. It is better for their physical and mental health not to do this but keep an active and vital life style.

If career change is in your sights for whatever reason take it with stride. A change is often times good for us in the long run.