A while ago, I discussed the series of pragmatic choices that led me to where I am today. Yet, I did not define what I meant by “pragmatic.” The dictionary defines “pragmatic” as “dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.” I have used it to mean something similar but slightly different, as in, making the choices that make practical sense rather than ones that bring me closer to my dreams. After I made that decision, I made a few others, ones that I might not have made if I continued to act out of pragmatism. These decisions may cost a bit of money but I know they are right.

The opportunity to make good on this plan – to stop being pragmatic and to pursue my passion – came sooner than I expected. I had already sent off a change of action request to the state department of education to find out what classes or tests I needed to take to add secondary social studies certification to my certificate. I discovered that all I needed to do was take six more credits in either government, economics, or a couple other options, plus take and, obviously pass, the Praxis. For a few months, the worksheet sat in a drawer while I waited to decide and for summer courses to be posted. Little things kept happening that slowly accumulated into a decision. I made the necessary contacts and found myself tentatively committed to taking two economics courses at an upstate college.

The rubber met the road in May when the tentative commitment needed to become actual. I signed up for a Praxis date and paid. I followed through with the registration for the graduate class. Just like that, the decision became real. With that comes the financial cost. The district is not paying for these classes as they did for my gifted/talented endorsement classes last summer and the three TESOL classes I took through Furman. This money comes out of my pocket, or more specifically my investment account.

Backing up a bit, a couple years ago, I took the plunge and opened an investment account to serve as the vehicle for long term savings. My goal for this savings has morphed over the years from adoption to paying cash for a house. (Explanation of these reasons will wait, possibly, for another time.) For the time being, this account has grown slowly through incremental minimum – personally assigned – monthly contributions while I built up my emergency fund and now concentrate on gathering funds for my 2019 Grand European Adventure. (More on that, definitely, later.) Fortunate gifts, however, enabled me to establish this account with a decent, but by no means exorbitant amount of money. Even with the ups and downs of the stock market, the balance continues to grow. Then came the time to decide from which account I would take the money to pay for the coursework. Even though paying for the two classes will decrease the balance of my investment account over 15% – I told you the amount was not exorbitant – I knew that this purchase was worth it.

Because I made that decision, I expanded my options. I moved away from the pragmatic. Next year marks my third year at my school, in the Greenville County School District. District policy mandates that a teacher teach at their first school in the district for three years before they can consider applying for other positions in the district. The only way around this mandate is to leave teaching entirely as I did the first time or to leave the district. Since I choose to stay in the district, I am obligated to stay at my current school for one more year. I have alluded to changes, high turnover, and other chaotic happenings at my school. I will continue to allude without mentioning details. I find myself tasked, once again with ELA. (Sunday when I wrote this entry, I thought that would be in 8th grade but my principal has since communicated that I will remain in 7th grade. Nothing is for certain.) I could despair that once again I teach something other than my passion. I choose not to. Through God’s leading – I see His fingerprints all over these decisions – I find myself in a much better bargaining position. At the completion of this summer, I should have everything I need to send to the state department and add secondary social studies certification to my teaching certificate.

At the end of the day, I have learned that being pragmatic may save me money but will not move me in the direction I need to go. When decisions line up with your passion, life becomes a whole lot more enjoyable.