first impressions

today was the first day on the job.

yes, i am EMPLOYED!

first, i am a little uncomfortable with my job title - on paper i am classified as a teacher assistant, but they have me working up front as a secretary.

now, i'm ok with this so long as secretaries do not make more money than assistants. OTHERWISE, i will find myself in trouble: am i willing to make less than what i should be for the job i really do? or is it better for future pursuits to have the "teacher assistant" as opposed to "administrative assistant" on my (official) resume?

i guess i'll see how the money works out. this is a different state so things may not work the same way they do in illinois.

now that i'm back on the other side (ie, NOT teaching) i'm feeling very homesick when it comes to work. and the person i miss the most is mr. p; not for any crush or whatever reason (how would you call a reason like that? romantic? i dislike that word) but because he made work fun and was kind of the grease (no pun/insult intended) that allowed the parts of the school to work together smoothly.

and also, I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE. there is this rift between teachers and non-teachers. you might not believe me but it's true and i felt it within the first few hours of being there. maybe it's called deference? anyway it's kind of like the admin. help is on a different level (perhaps because of our close working relationship with the administration?) i feel maybe there is this distrust between the two groups. but the principal and assistant principal both seem really cool.

of course it's going to take more than a few days to assess the situation and see what is really going on. and i think i will try to keep my mouth shut for the most part. not that i have a problem with gossip but sometimes i think i say too much - like when i tell other teachers that i taught third grade last year - will they look at me with pity?

ok, i don't think i look down on being a secretary. it's just that i really hate feeling like i don't know what i'm doing. i would be a lot more comfortable there working with students. i would prefer not to answer the phone (especially since I HARDLY KNOW YET HOW ANYTHING WORKS!) of course, these are only my first impressions. i'll withold judgement. i'll just observe, not judge.