The choice.

Why is it so hard to know where you want to go in life. Sitting in front of my computer, I now have to make the most meaningful choice of my life! I don't know which one I prefer! I can't know if I've never tried it! I know I want to teach but I don't know if I want to teach in elementary school or if I want to teach in a high school!

Choice 1 : Primary.

Choice 2 : High School.

Primary.

Dear diary, today is the last day of my first year as a primary school teacher. I would be lying if I said I didn't like my job. It is not always easy to work with young people, especially since the government is not always on our side, but I have always wanted to teach. Ever since I was little I would play with my stuffed animals and my blackboard and I imagined myself being their teacher.

Choice 1 : Inspiring.

Choice 2 : Dead-end Job.

Choice 3 : Office Politics.

Inspiring.

My students are so cute. I get lots of little gifts and cards telling me how much they love me and how sad they are to change teachers next year. I also received messages from parents telling me how inspiring I had been for their child and that I had motivated their child to love school. I am so thankful for my first year.

Choice 1 : Straight A's.

Choice 2 : Purpose.

Straight A's.

Dear diary, today I won the award for the teacher with the highest marks in her class for the past year. All of my students passed the ministry exam with flying colors. Almost all straight A’s. I’m so proud of them! I feel so relieved, I'm not such a bad teacher after all!

Choice 1 : Successful student.

Purpose.

Being a teacher is the job I've always wanted to do. For me, helping young people in their path through life is what really gives me purpose. Guide them, support them, comfort them during a more difficult time or even congratulate them on their good moves. I only live for my students. There isn’t a morning when I get up and I don’t want to go to work. What more could I ask !

Choice 1 : Successful student.

Dead-end Job.

Dear diary… today is the last day of my first year as an elementary school teacher. FINALLY! I would be lying if I said that I was cut out for this job. It’s so difficult. All this correction, all these little monsters that cry and run everywhere. They keep moving, don't raise their hands to speak, and they don't follow any rules. I can't take it anymore, it's nothing but a dead-end job. I really need my summer vacation.

Choice 1 : Depression.

Choice 2 : Love.

Depression.

I come out of my annual doctor's appointment. Depression. This is what is written on the piece of paper that she gave me. The school year starts in 2 days and I have nothing ready, how am I going to do! I'm so stressed to go back. I will never make it. I doubt that the antidepressant prescription that my doctor gave me really has a positive impact….

Choice 1 : Leave of absence.

Love.

Dear diary, as you know, I spent the summer in Italy with my family. It was probably the best summer of my life. I had time to relax after my stressful school year and even managed to build a plan for my upcoming classes. I thought of lots of ideas to motivate my students. But the most important thing is that I spent the whole month of July with a man! He is so beautiful and attentive! He is also a teacher in a primary school in Italy. We understand each other, and we have a lot in common. It’s so exciting!

Choice 1 : Find love.

High School.

I never thought I would end up teaching high school! I hated my high school years at the time. I like to teach only one subject. I'm passionate about history, so teaching it is really rewarding. It sure is hard to get teenagers to listen in class, but as long as they pass their exams, they are very happy. Knowing every detail about World War II is not what interests them the most, but if I can motivate at least one to take an interest in our past, it will already be a success!

Choice 1 : Office Politics.

Choice 2 : Maddening.

Choice 3 : Internship.

Office Politics.

I was warned that the teachers were real gossip girls, but I never would have imagined it being this bad. When lunchtime comes around, they start telling their endless stories. They talk behind the backs of students, parents, and even the government. It never stops with these office politics! I'm not sure I want to get into it.

Choice 1 : Lottery.

Choice 2 : Human ressources.

Lottery.

Dear diary, last week over lunchtime, between two not so interesting stories, one of my colleagues told us that her daughter was selling lottery tickets to finance her school trip. Obviously I bought one but I would never suspect that I would win! Especially not the jackpot! Proof that it can pay to do good deeds.

Choice 1 : Retirement.

Human ressources.

Yesterday I realized that some teachers were talking behind my back. They complained that I was too young to teach and that my students will never learn with a teacher like me. I am so disappointed. I spoke to my manager, who contacted HR. My friend, a sixth grade teacher, told me that the others had been speaking out against me for two months now. I can't believe it….

Choice 1 : Compensation.

Maddening.

My students are about to drive me crazy !!! They make me angry! They throw pens across the classroom, they do not do their homework and even worse, during my exams, I have to take their phone away, or they will send each other text messages! They insult me and they insult my material. As if history was useless! Careless maddening class...

Choice 1 : Overwhelm.

Choice 2 : Sexual Harassment.

Overwhelm.

It's crazy how much correction I have to do! A colleague has gone on paternity leave and guess who now has to take care of his corrections??? ME. As if I don't have enough to do already. I have stacks and stacks of homework. I feel overwhelmed by my correction. I've only been doing this for 3 days. I am really furious with him, paternity leave does not prevent correction. During my maternity leave, I did not ask someone to do my job for me...

Choice 1 : Leave of absence.

Sexual Harassment.

Dear diary, I’m lost… I don’t know what to do… We changed principals last week at school. I think he’s misogynistic. I think he doesn't like women. He keeps calling me into his office just to make fun of me and try to put me down even if I tell him to stop and ask him to treat me with respect. Yesterday, he bothered me three times in my day, but today was the worst… When I came into his office he started to compliment me on my appearance, I was uncomfortable, so I got up to go out and that's when he slapped my butt! I'm very ashamed… I have to report this sexual harassment to someone...

Choice 1 : Compensation.

Internship.

Well, it looks like beginning next week I will have an intern with me! I remembered the time when I was the stressed intern, I must say that it's been a long time! I’ve been teaching for 30 years and it’s the first time I’m going to have an intern. I just hope she is competent, I have patience, but I have my limits!

Choice 1 : Lose a job.

Choice 2 : Flirtation.

Lose a job.

I'm speechless... I am losing my job to a stupid intern... What am I going to do? She was talented, but I never thought I would lose my job... She is younger and more dynamic than me they said... Oh yeah?? Well, I have experience at least! I should be happy for her I imagine...

Choice 1 : Retirement.

Flirtation.

Dear Diary, this week I welcomed the intern to my class. And to my surprise, It's a man. A man passionate about history. He is older than I thought, it is a career change he is undertaking. As it turns out, I think I'm his type. He complimented me all week! He flirts with me in front of my colleagues. I must say that I don't hate it!

Choice 1 : Find love.

Successful student.

What good news! After all these years of hard work, I have my reward! I learned today that one of my former students was part of a well-known research group and that they had managed to find an early cure for cancer! Wow! I am so happy for him. When he was young, he constantly talked about scientific things and the research his parents were doing. I am proud to have encouraged him to continue on this path.

Choice 1 : The End.

Choice 2 : The choice.

Leave of absence.

It’s almost Christmas holidays. It's not going well to be honest. I received a letter from the school committee asking me to leave my position. In the letter, they say that my stress greatly affects the quality of my teaching and that I should therefore take time to get better. In other words, they are sending me on a leave of absence... The only good thing is that I get paid to do it. They may be right. I may not be made for teaching….

Choice 1 : The End.

Choice 2 : The choice.

Find love.

Dear diary, good news! I'm getting married! I am so happy! I never thought I would find love so easily. Life is good at times, you just have to trust it. I'm going to shop for my wedding dress today !!

Choice 1 : The End.

Choice 2 : The choice.

Retirement.

Today I took a big decision. I'm going off to retirement! I know, it’s a big decision, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I’ve been dreaming of traveling to Asia for a long time. I now have the opportunity to do so. Tickets are already purchased! In three months, I leave for Thailand with two good friends of mine. What fun we're going to have!

Choice 1 : The End.

Choice 2 : The choice.

Compensation.

Things are finally settled! I will receive compensation for what happened. I don't know how much yet, but at least I'm not on my own. I'm going to use this money to take time for myself, rest and think about what I really want. How about a day at the spa?

Choice 1 : The End.

Choice 2 : The choice.

The End.

The end! Thank you so much and I hope you had enjoyed my hypertext narrative!

Choice 1 : The choice.