disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
OMG. I'm so scared.
Just got a call for an interview tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. for an English Composition Assistant with a high school. I'm really freaking out.
I'm terrified that I'll do a horrible job in the interview (my lyme has really done a number on my speech and thought processing, so I forget words and stumble a lot, etc.).
Plus, I've never had an interview with such 'professional' people. What I mean is, all the other jobs I've ever had were nursing home positions, humane society, and then this last job with court stuff (and at the time, that was a huge deal too). What if I make a fool of myself?
And then I'm also terrified that I'll get offered the job. I'm still scared to work. It will be part time, which would be MUCH better, but I'm still scared of the bad days. What am I going to do at work on a bad day where I feel flu-like and dizzy and awful? Augh, and then what am I going to do on the days I have my period? My period always makes me so much sicker.
This is ridiculous... for some odd reason, I'm on the verge of tears!
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
This is my 'tude. If the job is a fit, it will be a fit. There is not much you can do. Don't be afraid to be yourself. You should interview them as much as they interview you!
I've been in the workforce long enough to know that nobody is perfect! Not even the dude in the ivory tower.
You will learn to cope/compensate on your bad days, I think. At least you need to give it a try.
You might still be better off than the mother/father of the newborn who was up screaming all night. I've been there myself and know that I didn't get anything done. I say the same now with the Lyme.
I've been working full-time and brute forcing it through the bad lyme days, which might have delayed my progress with the Lyme. But I also need to eat and keep my career.
Just don't forget to be yourself!
I'll reiterate -- if the job and people are a fit, then they are. There's not much you can do about that!
Best of luck! Allie
Posts: 300 | From Northeast | Registered: Dec 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
disturbed, best wishes my friend!
don't worry about the WHAT IFS; deal with them if and when they come up, and not in your mind ok!!
try to relax, and remember the old saying about people giving speeches, pretend everyone is NUDE, and a smile and laugh will come naturally to you. lol
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quote:Originally posted by sixgoofykids: Still, it's a high school. High schools seem pretty relaxed, so you'll do fine.
Are you kidding???
Disturbed... What will be your duties? Will you be assisting in proofreading compostitions, or what??
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Sending you good thoughts and positive energy for tomorrow!
Don't forget to breathe.
You will do great!
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Goodluck on your interview.
Posts: 103 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jun 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo:
Disturbed... What will be your duties? Will you be assisting in proofreading compostitions, or what??
Here is what it says of the job: "Assists the English teaching staff, especially the teachers of language and writing workshops, by working with individual students or small groups in all phases of the in-class writing process. Reads and corrects student compositions; provides students oral and written guidance for revising and improving their written work. Tutors students or small groups on matters of grammar, usage, mechanics, rhetoric and other areas of writing skill deficiencies.
Instructs students in English computer lab; teaches students use of computer and software; helps locate and correct computer problems. Confers with the English resource teacher and the English department as a whole to evaluate and plan improvements in composition instruction. Performs related work as required."
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
Wow... that's pretty comprehensive. I didn't mean to freak you out, but as a former teacher I don't consider schools to be relaxed environments! Sorry!!
I would go to the interview and see what happens. It's certainly worth a shot at it.
What do you think about the job requirements?
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Six.. I don't think she should feel threatened at all by the job interview, ... teachers are nice people!!
It's the work I would wonder about.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo:
What do you think about the job requirements?
It seems fine to me. I graduated college with an English BA degree. This job would basically be what I went to college for.
The only thing that has me kind of iffy is having to teach or speak with a group of kids. I didn't go to college to become a teacher, but to work with English, writing, editing, helping others write essays (but not in large groups, lol), etc., because that is my passion. One on one is fine with me though.
I'm not really afraid of the work I'll have to do. Right now I'm terrified of the interview and terrified on what I will do during days I'm not feeling well. I guess I will just have to push through it. My husband is a physics teacher and he knows someone who is also a teacher and has lyme and pushes through it even if she doesn't feel well.
But I don't think I will tell them at the interview of my illness. Not sure if that would be a good idea...?
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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I want to wish you luck tomorrow, my friend! Just smile and be yourself. How could they not like you?
If the interviewer asks what you've been doing between your last job and the one you're interviewing for, you could just say that you were taking a bit of time off. Also, I think saying what you just said here is important. You're hoping to find a job for which you went to college.
When tomorrow comes, if you are still feeling really nervous, then just pretend that you're feeling confident, enthusiastic and eager for the job. I'm serious. Sometimes just going through the motions and pretending can help one get over the hurdle.
As for handling the days filled with the yuckies, I suppose you won't know how much is too much until you try. Sorry to sound so cliche, but just tell yourself to put one foot in front of the other and see what happens.
I think the kids'll love you though.
Let us know how it goes!
Fuzzy
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
I hope it goes well. If you do get the job & it doesn't work out or you are too ill - you can always quit.
I don't think I would tell them that I'm ill. It's not required for them to know your medical history - especially, right off the bat.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I have continued to work through out most of the course of LD. I became a single Mom two years after I contracted LD. I continued to teach at the HS level and even take Masters level courses. What saved me was to be completely honest. If I was having a day where my memory or speech were not jiving, I would just tell my students. I disclosed my LD to them from day one. This really help decrease my anxiety which we do need b/c it just causes things to be so much worse. I told my students/professors that I was not looking for sympathy, but wanted them to know why some days I might seem a little off. For me, working has helped. It has forced me to fight even harder to keep up with me treatments etc. Having school hours is great b/c you have all of the breaks and holidays. There were days when it was a real struggle, but overall it has helped me.
Crossing my fingers AND my toes for you.
Posts: 710 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Hi guys!
Well.... the interview didn't go as bad as I thought it would. I made this huge deal out of nothing... but I do that quite often, unfortunately (maybe it's the lyme or Bart). Actually, the deal I made was more than just about the interview. I was also upset because of the distance. If it was closer, I think I'd be more happy about this job.
I think the interview went well, but I don't think I'll get it. And I'm not sure I want it anyway. It would be a 30 minute commute. And I know that's not all that bad, but driving while feeling sick is very hard, so that really scares me for those days when I'm just not feeling up to it. I also don't like the fact that it's that far away from home and from my hubby, in case of an emergency or something.
If something came up closer to home (like my hubby teaches at a high school only 10 minutes away) that would be ideal.
She told me they'd be making a decision at the end of the day... so that should be SOON actually. We'll see. I don't have my hopes up because I have a lot to ponder if they offer me the job. But who knows, they may not offer it to me... and that's okay too. It was a good interview experience for future ones.
Will post later on if they offered me the job or not.
Thanks everyone for your support.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
Glad it went well. I can understand not wanting to drive that far.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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lymednva
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Member # 9098
posted
D, I can understand your concern about the distance, especially in this area.
As for the duties, it is easier to work with a small group of kids than an entire class. They are more apt to focus on what you are doing with them, than a large group would be.
Also you should ask for guidelines for discipline with the kids, in case they are not cooperative.
Find out how they would like you to handle it. Sending them back to class without the personalized help may be an option, but get this clear when you start the job.
In addition , as an assistant you would probably not be required to take home work. That's why teachers get paid the "big bucks"
Hope you and M have had a chance to discuss all this. As someone already in the system he may be more familiar with how the job demands will affect you.
Does the driving involve the beltway, or is it on less traveled, and crazy roads? That would make a difference to me in making the decision.
My first full-time teaching job in this area was a 30 minute commute, but I went the back roads and it was much less hectic for me to handle.
Now the same drive is a minimum of 45 minutes, but it's 18 years since I started that one!
Good luck I hope you get offered the job, but if you don't the right one will come along.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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sparkle7
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Member # 10397
posted
30 minute commute... that's not bad where I come from. I used to take the bus to NYC every day. It was like an hour & a half each way. Then, I had to walk 20 blocks each way to my job from the bus station.
I was actually good exercise when I was well.
So, you can see why I had to stop working... no disability, either. I did have a great job in some ways. My boss was a neurotic nut, though. I couldn't even think of doing that now. And people here wonder why I'm moving...
Did you tell them that you had Lyme?
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Still waiting for the call. It's 5:30... I thought I would have heard something by now.
Matt said if they don't call by at least 6:00, then that's probably an answer in itself. But from what the lady said, she was going to be making calls at the end of the day... so I thought even the people who didn't make it would be called. Augh.
lymednva - To get there, you take 270. But there are other ways instead of taking the highway. Though I think the highway would be the fastest, though definitely more hectic. When I went to the interview today, I used GPS and it took me a totally different way not using 270.
Sparkles - I did not tell them I had lyme. They did not ask anything about health or any reason for me to bring it up. That, and I was told by a few people here not to bring it up.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
I think it's best not to be to forthcoming about health issues with jobs or pretty much anything official (except applying for disability or something).
It's best to keep your medical records or related issues private.
You never know... in the future, they may actually discriminate against people with various health issues. Instead of a urine test - it may be a genetic test...
If you get the job & you trust the people, then, maybe you can bring it up. People can be funny when it comes to illness.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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bettyg
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posted
disturbed, thanks for feedback ... you survived it!
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