Empty promises

Quit my new job, finally.

To be honest, I feel quite used and cheated. I was too slow to realize this. I was given a lot of false hope and trusted them, thinking that my terms would be better very soon. But a quick analysis shows that they pretty much lied to me from the very beginning. They gave me baits, let me believe that I’ll get what I wanted. In January, I just wanted to settle down so took whatever they gave me. It was after the payday of February that I realised how cheated I was.

They never wanted to give me math classes or higher-level classes. They just wanted me to stay as long as possible, to handle as many lower-grade English classes as possible. I was just a placeholder. I looked weak–I was weak. I looked nice and could to take whatever shit was thrown at me. I seemed desperate. I thought quitting at this time was wise enough. But I really should have quit in mid January, when there seemed to have no prospect of getting more hours.

Why did I wake up? When did I realise that something was off? Well, for one, they wanted me to keep the class with the yelling kid. Nope, no way. For another, the promised math class was once again “postponed”. It probably didn’t exist in the first place. Then, there was asking me to take a biology class. What a joke.

Moreover, I never saw any other soul in the building. I think other teachers probably have mostly online classes. Last thing. HR accidentally showed me that some other teacher was getting a better rate.

I’m still too young, still too weak.

Realistically, when should I have spotted the problem? Well, the very first instance was when the manager gave me the wrong address before the interview. That should have been a red flag. Then, when all of my classes were young kids in January, that should have been the clue as well. After that, when my January paycheque was so miserly. But I suppose I got out in time, before the Spring Dinner. Perhaps I should thank the reckless kid I met.

Another thing I got from this: I’m out. No more teaching for me. Nope! Gone and away. No teaching English. No teaching math. This is simply not for me. Not necessarily that I’m not for teaching. But more that the industries for teachers to work are just very baity. Because people who become teachers, the majority of them, are meek (or weak). They are cooperative, and they tend to take care of others before themselves. So the industries have a way to screw you over and over again. They may not have had the intention to screw you in the beginning, but then after a bit of advantage they’ve taken, they see how easy it is to do so.

Another thing I also learned is that probationary period doesn’t work. In relationships and in careers. If it’s not a Hell yes, then it’s a no. I tend to give people a chance, a probationary period, before deciding if it will be long term. Well, it turns out that this is just a waste of time. I’m not going to trust empty promises any more. I won’t get swayed by words anymore. Actions always speak louder than words.

I suppose this is not a wholly negative experience. At least it gave me something to think about. I’m 30, (hopefully) not a fool anymore.