Damn

So I heard within the past few days that two of the jobs I was pursuing declined to even interview me.  At least the e-mail from EMU was nice.  It said something to the effect of "although we see you have talent and experience, we're looking for somebody else."  Awwww.  It's always nice to hear that the paper/resume version of yourself reflects something positive.  And of course it means more to me, in so much that I have been trained to derive my sense of self-worth through the eyes of others.  Anyhow, the second rejection came today, and it's actually the second rejection from the same place.  I applied for two different jobs at a prestigious local private school, and was turned down for each other because I don't have a degree in Math.  That's right, although I essentially minored in Math at UM (they didn't have minors until after I graduated), AND passed the subject's state test for teaching in that field, AND have shown myself more than capable of teaching it for years on end...  because I don't have the right piece of paper, I was "passed over."  What really frustrates me is the fact that they didn't even interview me.  For all they know, I could out-teach any number of their math teachers, but because those took a few extra courses that I didn't (and I do mean a few, and the courses are not applicable to high school or middle school), they get considered and I don't.  Piss on them.

Then there's my current job.  Look, people, it's Hell.  I can't begin to tell you how tired I am of working in such sub-par environments.  But at least I'm employed at the moment, right?  Well, that's another curve ball, because my certification expires in July, and so my current job can lose me then.  I have completed the neccessary requirements to renew my certification through a Master's Degree, but yet my university and place of business has dediced to take >3 months to respond to my requests.  So now I don't even know if I'll be able to teach next year in a public school.  What REALLY pisses me off about this is that if I were to teach one more year in a low SES district, the federal government would repay $17,500 of my student loans.  The requirement is working in such a district for five consecutive years.  So I could be one year short.  What REALLY stains my underwear is the fact that I've been teaching in such districts/schools for eight years, but because my original schools did not fill out the correct paperwork, they were left off of the list of eligible schools.  Can you feel the rage?

Thank God for (Himself) my wife, who talked me down from my downward spiral (or is that "talked me up?").  Although I'm still really concerned (ok, worried) about the next 4-5 months of my life, I am feeling slightly better about things.