"There is a time for everything..."
If you know you me, you know that I have a passion for literature, for writing, and for helping others. So, I am sure that it was a shock to many when I decided to make a career change. I guess you could say it was even a shock to myself. There was a part of me that thought I would remain in the teaching field for the rest of my life. There was a part of me that was happy with that course. However, there was also a part of me that was concerned with a life full of non-stop work.
I have seen many people- some family, some not- that have essentially "worked their lives away" in the job field that they have chosen. As my first year of teaching came to an end, I saw myself quickly becoming that person. I hated that! In my two years of teaching, I missed birthdays, I missed graduations, I missed family reunions, and I missed just spending time with my husband and my family. This scared me beyond belief. I also saw myself and my husband becoming angry at a system that was supposed to take care of its teachers. (Now, I could elaborate on this for a while, but I will refrain.) Just know this, teaching is hard, and teachers are not always well taken care of. Something had to change.
As my husband and I made the move to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a new opportunity arose for us. I was scared, but I was excited. This opportunity would give me more freedom, more life experience, and let's face it, more money. My husband, Hunter, was very excited. This made me really happy. But I had to tell my father of my career change. This made me really nervous. As I explained to him about the time and freedom from work that I was so quickly experiencing, he understood and was happy for me. I was happy, then. You never really stop looking for "Daddy's" approval.
So I began working for a travel agency in Tuscaloosa. Not only did I like the freedom I now had, but I also fell in love with the work I was doing. I did my best to learn everything I could about the business. Like anything I do, I want to be the best in what I do. I soon learned that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I also learned that I had different business values and morals than the people I was working for. After a year of working for another agency, I knew what I had to do- I had to open up my own agency.
So, what do I do? I am the owner, travel agent, and event planner for Heritage Travel & Events, LLC. I help people plan their vacations, honeymoons, family trips, business trips, hotel rooms, and any other type of traveling needs they may need. I also do it without charging a booking fee. I also help groups plan group travel arrangements and events. My job is fun. I won't say my job is stress-free, but I think I have lost a few stress wrinkles since becoming a travel agent and opening my own agency. It's different than teaching high school English, but it is the difference that Hunter and I needed.
However, I definitely cannot say that I lost my passion for literature, for writing, or for helping others. I still love to read, analyze, and annotate literature. I just get to do that now in my free time and really enjoy it. I also added my literature touch to my website. Throughout my website, you'll see part of this quotation:
Happy Traveling!
I have seen many people- some family, some not- that have essentially "worked their lives away" in the job field that they have chosen. As my first year of teaching came to an end, I saw myself quickly becoming that person. I hated that! In my two years of teaching, I missed birthdays, I missed graduations, I missed family reunions, and I missed just spending time with my husband and my family. This scared me beyond belief. I also saw myself and my husband becoming angry at a system that was supposed to take care of its teachers. (Now, I could elaborate on this for a while, but I will refrain.) Just know this, teaching is hard, and teachers are not always well taken care of. Something had to change.
As my husband and I made the move to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a new opportunity arose for us. I was scared, but I was excited. This opportunity would give me more freedom, more life experience, and let's face it, more money. My husband, Hunter, was very excited. This made me really happy. But I had to tell my father of my career change. This made me really nervous. As I explained to him about the time and freedom from work that I was so quickly experiencing, he understood and was happy for me. I was happy, then. You never really stop looking for "Daddy's" approval.
So I began working for a travel agency in Tuscaloosa. Not only did I like the freedom I now had, but I also fell in love with the work I was doing. I did my best to learn everything I could about the business. Like anything I do, I want to be the best in what I do. I soon learned that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I also learned that I had different business values and morals than the people I was working for. After a year of working for another agency, I knew what I had to do- I had to open up my own agency.
So, what do I do? I am the owner, travel agent, and event planner for Heritage Travel & Events, LLC. I help people plan their vacations, honeymoons, family trips, business trips, hotel rooms, and any other type of traveling needs they may need. I also do it without charging a booking fee. I also help groups plan group travel arrangements and events. My job is fun. I won't say my job is stress-free, but I think I have lost a few stress wrinkles since becoming a travel agent and opening my own agency. It's different than teaching high school English, but it is the difference that Hunter and I needed.
However, I definitely cannot say that I lost my passion for literature, for writing, or for helping others. I still love to read, analyze, and annotate literature. I just get to do that now in my free time and really enjoy it. I also added my literature touch to my website. Throughout my website, you'll see part of this quotation:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do....Exlpore. Dream. Discover"- Mark Twain
I will elaborate on why I chose this quotation in a later blog.
I still get to help people. I get to help families make memories. I get to help couples celebrate their bond as becoming one. I get to help friends enjoy moments together like none other. I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss my students some, but I also get to help another group of people-my family. I get to do more things with the people that I love most in this world. And that cannot be replaced.
And finally, I still get to write. (Now for the whole reason I have written this blog.) As I get to experience helping people with traveling and getting to travel myself, I am going to use my love of writing to share about my experiences. Whether my blogs help you plan a trip, or whether you just like to read about other people's travels, I hope you will enjoy what I am writing and will continue to write in the future. (Input will always be welcome.)
So yes, I have made a change, and I am happy with this change. I hope that my life-change may help you somehow. I know it has definitely been beneficial for me. If you are struggling with a travel decision or a life decision, let me just leave you with this,
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: - Ecclesiastes 3:1
Happy Traveling!
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