This is my very first Odyssey post and I think given the topic that I will discuss it is fitting for such. When I switched my major to Writing I had a lot of people question me on what it is that I wanted to do with such a degree. I chose the major simply because I love writing. Easy enough. Growing up I was always taught to pursue a career that you would do for the rest of your life and be happy doing it. Although no one else saw my vision, I did, and quite frankly that’s all that matters.
So what is this article going to be about? Dreams. That’s right. More profoundly, the importance of living your life the way you desire. To some, this might be a wake-up call, to others this might be reassurance. Whatever take-away that you, my fellow readers get is entirely up to you.
So after majoring in writing, I decided to work as a substitute teacher while I go to school. Like many other places of employment; there are rules that everyone doesn’t always agree with. Nonetheless, they are there to protect us. At least that’s what we are told. It was a gloomy Friday in January. The date on the calendar just happened to read the 13th. While I was teaching something happened.
A 24oz of Wake Up coffee mixed with Cappuccino and French Vanilla from Wawa caused me to have to go to the restroom…a lot. I called administration to get someone to cover my class while I stepped out. I was told that there was no one that could cover my class and that my best bet was to “hold it.” I hung up the phone and looked over at the black and white clock on the wall.
The short hand was on the 9 and the long hand was on the 12. I had a good 45 minutes to “hold it”. As I returned back to my desk I started thinking. Is this really the protocol? What if the students were fighting and I called for help? Would they have given me a message to pass a long to the students? “The office said you guys should hold it because there is no one that can assist.”
My blood began to boil. This is why I chase my dreams, so that I don’t have to ask permission to use the restroom. I’m a grown man for God’s sake. Was there no one at the school that could supervise a group of high schoolers for 2 minutes max? Since I didn’t work for the school, I called my boss. I let her know: “hey, I am here at the school and I am trying to get some supervision for my class so I can utilize the bathroom facilities.”
She started off by explaining that I was to call the Admin at the school and have them send someone to my classroom. I told her that this was what I had done and they said that I should “hold it." My boss told me that she would call the school to find out what was going on. Less than five minutes later, someone showed up to my classroom to relieve me.
As a writer, my goal is to become a Best-Selling author so that I didn’t have to ask permission to use the bathroom. I want to work for myself. After I earn my name I then want to open up my own publishing company etc. The moral of the story is in life you have to know where you are going. If you don’t, people will take advantage of you and your time.
OD out.
