And the Student Becomes the Teacher

Last Thursday, I got a job offer. It came a week after graduation (the timing couldn’t have been better) and outside of tax season. I discussed it with my loved ones and some wise friends, all of whom thought it a great opportunity for me to move onward and upward. My boss was supportive this time, saying that I was now aptly qualified to move on to better things. He even offered me some independent work on the weekends to make some extra money.

I’ve spent a good portion of the week slowly telling long term clients when the time is right. All of them have expressed great sadness over my departure and wished me great luck. I was touched by an e-mail from a very important CEO whom I’ve worked with for over two years now. He has watched me go to school and progress into the field with great ease. He is very sad to see me leaving, but also happy that I can go on to something bigger.

The most important thought I can take away at this point is that you should never doubt your gut feeling. I had a chance to change jobs earlier this year, but the timing was wrong and the job wasn’t what I wanted. I was surviving in my current job and could wait another six months to graduate. Having the degree would open more doors and my search would be more productive.

I pointed out to my boss this morning that he is getting a gift as well. He molded me with the varied accounting skills every bookkeeper needs, plus the added experience of corporate tax returns and business formation. He can now take someone like me (2 years ago) and mold another great bookkeeper. In turn, I can learn new things from someone else and perhaps teach what I know to someone else.

I have already offered my services (for free, if they can’t afford to bring me on paid) as a Master Writing Tutor to the writing center at Housatonic Community College, where I used to tutor many years ago. In the intervening eight years or so, I’ve learned a great deal about business writing and other things that I didn’t know before. I want to pass these skills onto all the students who are there now, and the school that provided the next level of education.