“Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.”- Albert Einstein (Source)
I’m not happy if I’m not being useful. I don’t know why, but this has been true for a very long time. If I can help, I do. Sometimes I help even when I really can’t. It’s a weird affliction.
People tell me that I need to learn to say no more often, but I really just can’t do it. It’s a blow to my attempts to maintain a distant, unkind front. I have this helpful aura about me, despite myself.
As a result, I’m always looking for yet another way to help people. The Dead Bunny blog is a perfect example of this. It wasn’t enough for me to reach out to local students who need help in math. I had to create this blog to reach a wider audience. I think it’s actually the first time I’ve ever created a blog with the express purpose of reaching an audience.
Of course, as a natural teacher, I’m always adding some sort of value whenever I’m talking about just about any topic. It’s earned me a few interesting nicknames over the past year or so… But it’s also left me feeling like I’m not doing enough, like I could be doing more.
“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” —J. Pierpont Morgan (Source)
About a year ago, I realized that I needed to do something. I had to shake off a rather large failure in my past and figure out how to move forward. Moving forward meant finding a profession where my unique combination of talents and passion would be well-utilized. After exploring job descriptions, I’d come to the slow realization that this meant being in a position where I can create educational experiences and still occasionally teach. A friend suggested I look into instructional design, not realizing I had already considered it. After much research, I finally realized that instructional design by and large focuses on adults, and I want to remain K-12 oriented.
This led to my applying for several freelance writing jobs. To my delight, many of the employers liked me. To my minor dismay, they liked someone else a little bit more. I still found the whole experience encouraging. It helped me feel like I was on the right path, that I was moving forward in some invisible way.
About a month or so ago, I discovered that many of the K-12 educational jobs that intrigue me look more for interactive media experience rather than instructional design. It’s led to my changing my approach to trying to find my path, but in the end is still going to lead me back to school, I suspect.
As long as I can keep moving forward, clearing away the things that don’t fit and building up the things that do, I know I’ll get there.
I’ve sort of become the resident techie at work. The other teachers all know that I’m fairly handy with my own computer, that I practically live on my computer. They also know that my friends are pretty computer-savvy, so I’ll ask them about anything I don’t know.
As a result, I get to hear a lot of their computer woes. Most often, they’re lamenting issues that seem to be related to a virus or some sort of malware. When I ask if they have virus protection, they often snort and tell me they can’t afford it. I quickly grab a sticky note and write down a list of tools they can most definitely afford.
It occurs to me that I’ve been handing out this list a lot lately, so I thought I’d share it with you guys, too.
Keep your computer happy…for free:
Spybot Search and Destroy and AdAware- I run this one with AdAware. Both catch malware, and they tend to supplement each other well. I run them once a week. (AdAware has also caught a virus on my system before…one that slipped right past Norton. I was pretty happy.)
AVG- This is a pretty good virus blocker. You just have to set the scheduler to run it at a time when your computer will be on, but you won’t be wanting to use it. It runs itself, updates itself. Self-maintaining software is a good thing for those with hectic schedules.
CCleaner- This one looks for files that can be deleted that may not have been deleted when you uninstalled something. It also takes care of temporary files. It’s pretty handy for keeping the computer happy. Currently, I run this one once a month.
While you’re enjoying these free tools to keep your computer humming, don’t forget the two that are already on your computer. You should run both Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter regularly. For me, regularly is once a week, but there are many schools of thought on this one. Find the one that works for you.
Keep your computer well tuned, and it does actually make things a lot simpler for you!
Have you been hearing the term “Web 2.o”, but don’t have a clue what it is? Then you need to check out this video. Don’t blink. It moves somewhat quickly!
(If I didn’t get it embedded correctly, then follow this link.)It reminds me that I need to rethink my own approach to Rip-Mix-Burn.
I realize those close to me are laughing right now. They all believe the words “Rebecca” and “workaholic” are synonymous. Normally, I’d be inclined to agree with them, but I may actually be off the hook.
This one is debatable. If I’m working with all of my attention devoted to a particular project, then yes this applies to me. But it’s also not uncommon to see me pick up my DS and play an hour or two of video games because I want some distance from my work. I’m also capable of hanging out with friends and not thinking about my teaching job, my writing projects, or much else. If nothing else, I’m preoccupied with my hobbies.
2. Discomfort in delegating
Me? Not comfortable with delegating? Heh. I tend to train other people in how to do my work so I can keep my workload manageable. (Sometimes, I even give away my work so I can slack off…read a book…write a short story.)
3. Neglect other aspects of their lives
According to my calendar, I am getting in plenty of reading, exercise, and video games. I even occasionally go find a shop to wander around. (I have been known recently to watch cartoons while do absolutely nothing else. Apparently, I can’t work to American cartoons the way i can to dubbed Japanese ones.)
4. Merge other parts of their lives into their work
Finally, one I’m guilty of! I play at working to turn two of my hobbies into small income streams. Someday, I’ll actually go after one or both full force, but until then they’re hobbies that occasionally bring in enough to buy me a new book or a designer hot chocolate.
5. ‘Sneaking’ work
Nope. I’m the girl who writes a fan fiction while coaching a friend through a video game. Everybody knows what’s going on in that notebook. There is no sneaking about it.
I’m excited. According to this article, I’m actually not a workaholic! One more label escaped!
