In the advent that fear isn't holding me back, which means I'll have the liberty to do anything without an atom of fear, then what I'd be doing is quitting my job as a teacher and using the opportunity to venture into another profession where my skills, commitment, and efforts would be more appreciated and valued. It's no secret that despite the fact that teaching is a noble profession, still our efforts, time, and the like aren't appreciated or valued, especially in a country like Nigeria, and with the continuous rise in the cost of living, I can't help but look for a way to work in a place where my service would not just be appreciated but also reward me diligently.
Teaching is a noble profession, like I stated above, so don't get me wrong, I love my job and enjoy doing it; however, with the economic hardship and rise in cost of living, my wages can no longer sustain my immediate family, not to talk of extended families, or explore using my earnings for other necessities. So despite the fact that I usually have a kind of fulfillment when I impact knowledge on young minds, I still must recognize the reality of things and understand that passion alone can't pay the bills, because the appreciation we get from teaching doesn't reflect the amount of sacrifice and hard work we put into it.
So, if there's nothing to fear, I'd either explore getting a teaching job abroad, where teachers are well paid and appreciated, or better still just delve into another profession where I'll get paid more so I will be able to cater for my responsibilities as a husband, father, and son to those around me. Through the years, I keep wondering what it won't feel like to work in a place where my efforts are so much appreciated to the point where I'll need to start wondering if my earnings can comfortably take care of my responsibilities.
The major reasons why I've been unable to do this are fear, fear of what if that profession also fails, and fear of what I won't survive if I quit before I secure another job, because the truth is that it's quite difficult to combine searching for another job while still working actively as a full-time teacher. So if fear wasn't a factor, I'd have gladly taken that bold step and explored other career opportunities that would offer not just better financial rewards but also professional growth and a greater sense of fulfillment in what I do.
And now as I explore the situation, I can't help but wonder that it seems leaving teaching isn't necessarily my biggest fear, but the uncertainty of what lies ahead after leaving is. So with that being recognized, I think my biggest fear is the fear of starting all over again, the fear of how I'd fend for my family when I do, since leaving would mean losing the little financial stability I've built and venturing into the unknown. Overall, if fear won't be a thing that can stop me, it's worth knowing that I wouldn't be holding back from leaving teaching and would dare to explore what else I could become, such as going back to school for my master's, study further so I can become a software developer or a programmer.
Here's my entry for the Indiaunited weekly writing prompts, you can click this link for more information, so you can participate as well.
All photos are generated using ChatGpt.
