–I was working on this as a possible essay but I decided, instead, that it overlapped a bit with some other essays I was working on so I’ve turned it into a blog for you!
My office is mobile. As an adjunct professor of English at a community college, my office is in fact a rolling back pack leftover from my last full time (non teaching) job. It was a company Christmas gift (which you picked from a catalog that reminded me of collecting tickets from cigarette packs when I was a kid. No, I didn’t smoke but I had family members who did, so why not get something from their bad habit?).
Inside the bag are text books, papers to grade, dry erase markers, staplers, Mad Libs (yes, Mad Libs are a great grammar reminder game). I’m afraid to leave too much out of the bag because I don’t want to be unprepared. My students, often, don’t have that same fear; but, I really love my job. Even as a part-time low paid grunt composition teacher. I love it.
It is a job I never envisioned myself doing.
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I don’t know when I got it into my head that I would go to college, but I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to go away to school. AWAY being one of the key parts of that equation. I had no desire to stay local even though it was rumored that the local university gave minority scholarships to caucasian students. I never investigated that myth. I just couldn’t picture staying at home for college. “Home” wasn’t particularly a comfortable place.
Besides the university, there was also a community college in my county. I actually spent some time on its campus after I moved in with my father during my second semester of 7th grade. I worked on projects in the library. A COLLEGE library I told myself. My father was taking classes and he eventually earned an Associates Degree in Business. Yet, I think he even downplayed the two year school and I know my guidance counselors never even mentioned the possibility of community college to me (granted, they weren’t particularly helpful in many regards. I’m sure many people had terrific guidance counselors, but I didn’t!)
As I work with community college students now, I realize how much I have in common with them. There are younger students who work one (or more) jobs while studying towards their degree (a much cheaper first two years than even a state four year institution) and there are older students who are working full time jobs with family obligations as well as school. I can see myself in all of them. I was the girl, as an undergrad, who had to work and I went back for my master’s while working full time in my 30’s.
I wonder if the students realize how comforting it is to be surrounded by people going through the same challenges versus the students I knew as an undergrad: the kids who had cars and spending money. The kids who went out to party because they didn’t have to be at a mall food court job the next day at 8 am. How come community college wasn’t really explained to me as a viable option? Would I have even seen my similarity to those students if it had been? I wonder if I would have listened because I was ranked high in my graduating class and – again – I wanted to move away.
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I think back now to how nice the community college was that my father attended. I loved the man who ran the cafeteria area. He was either blind, or visually impaired, and had this terrific machine that he could put money under so he could tell what denomination the bills were. I tried to always have a dollar for a soda when I went there, just so I could watch him ring it up and work his way around his own personal space.
When I was an undergrad, I did learn a little bit about community colleges. I had the opportunity to take some classes at the local (I had moved away) one that would then transfer, but by the time I knew these smaller (cheaper) schools existed, I was already taking upper level courses.
Don’t get me wrong, I won’t wax too poetic about all the work I do for little pay. I don’t deny that I still dream of having a spot at a four year institution because their work load is lighter (but their environment does seem a bit more political) and because I want to teach more creative writing versus just: write this informative essay (although I try to keep it fun). I still have this dream of having an office, only 3 classes to teach and a few students to mentor. Even as much love as I can give to the community college system, how much I can relate to its merits (how much better I fit in) I still look beyond my working class upbringing and want that next level of achievement.
But, then again, I don’t have the patience to go back for that PhD.
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Back tomorrow for a writing prompt and/or inspiration picture 
BRR stay warm!
Thoughtful post. So glad this teaching gig is such a great fit for you.
I still remember in college being amazed by the kids who were given credit cards by their parents — not for emergencies but for J. Crew sweaters. I asked one or two whether it was like Christmas every day. They looked confused.
I did find out if you an English BA you can teach development classes, btw. So if you ever want to teach a “how to put together a paragraph” kind of class let me know!
I had a roommate who went home every weekend and would leave her I’D badge for me because she never used her declining balance (the money you’d use to eat at like pizza hut on campus). I did take advantage of that a few times! I always used all of mine at the c store for shampoo and stuff
Great post, Jessie. I think you’re also not alone in that, many times, high schoolers aren’t informed about realistic (and interesting!) options available in community colleges. It was for that reason that it took me several years after high school to go to college – because I couldn’t afford the 4-year and I simply didn’t know about the (again, interesting) 2-year options until I got out in the world on my own.
Having been a student in a community college and now teaching at one (two actually), I can say it’s a great experience on both sides. Yes, I loved my 4-yr uni and I love teaching at them as well. However, I think it’s great that there are so many options out there and, as you mentioned, the students I teach in CC are so varied, but are there because they want to be. I love my adult students and the younger ones who are using the 2-yr as an affordable entry into a 4-yr program.
Do I have a desk? No. But I also kind of like that sense of mobility and working out of my backpack.
Anyways, it’s great what you’re doing. Keep it up. I know your students appreciate it.
I would love to talk to more juniors and seniors in high school to tell them their options! I also didn’t realize that private schools actually give more scholarships than public. If I’d know that, with my grades, i should have applied to some of the smaller private schools but we get so scared of the dollar sign!
Glad you are enjoying it too! I’m really torn about applying for full time if it came up. 6 classes a semester? Just don’t know if I could handle that!
Great post, Jessie. I went to a junior college than was converting to a four-year college. (It’s now a university.) I was in the first graduating class; it was an experience to be sure.
Sounds like that could be some great essay material
Great post. I never imagined I’d end up teaching at a community college, although I had lots of experience with one as my older sister went that route and now has an advanced degree. I do find that I have much in common with my students, although I also found a group of similar peers on my small, liberal arts college campus (a whole group of us who struggled and pinched every penny).
I am full time at a large cc, so I get to teach many different courses, including creative writing. I hope you get the same option as well.
Thanks for stopping by, Sandy!
By my second semester, I was starting to meet more people at my university; but, it still surprised me how I was the only one who was working. I didn’t work my first semester and I struggled to get by. I can remember once (and I’m not being pity thou me I just think this is funny!) collecting all my pennies and asking someone to trade their quarters with me so I could do laundry cause I had no way to get to the bank
My department head has been great and is letting me teach literature courses this semester and over the summer. I’m supposed to have an online creative writing section in the fall! I can’t wait for that!
So glad that you love what you are doing , Jessie!
May more opportunities come your way in the future . . .the kinds you want!
I didn’t go to college, didn’t understand how it all worked and didn’t have parents who were able to help me at all. And I shared once about my counselor . ha! But my oldest definitely knew she wanted to go and so I got to learn along with her what to do. . .or tried to anyway. I’m not sure what her counselor told her – asked him later – but it scared her out of her original plan. I think he talked about cost. She thought for awhile about joining the army! But, did go to the community college, taking 2 years of classes in one year, after graduating high school in 3 years. She was on a mission. She applied to some of her dream schools . . .all far away . . .and got a huge scholarship to the University of Southern California. So she went out there, took extra classes and summer school and had her BA in political science by 19 after a year and a half. She’s now 24, been working and saving her money, and is applying to law schools, some offering scholarships. I think she was afraid at the start that the community college wouldn’t look good on her resume. What do you think about that? Does it hurt students chances if they don’t go to a 4 year college? She has done fine, once getting the job, and has figured that her performance is what they will look at more than her school.
Thanks for sharing your essay!!!
I can relate to having parents that didn’t really help you along with it. Always killed me with my parents (here I mean my father and stepmother) that there was this: you must get good grades for college and apply to schools and etc etc etc but no help with actual school work, or taking us to the after school programs we needed so that our college applications look good etc.
That is so awesome about your oldest! I wish I’d had more courage when I was going out into the college world. I was so scared of loans that I took the teaching scholarship that I ended up having to pay back anyway!!
I don’t know that a community college would be frowned upon on a future application. Not if you had good grades, other activities and went on to finish your other work. I think there was a time where it might have been looked down on, some, but I think those days are way far behind us now.
What Debbie says about ‘resume’ is something many of my chef friends battle- CIA vs CC, or even a four year…it does matter, but only to a top percentile, and unless your in that, I believe an education is an education.
I used my Assoc English degree to work for the CC I went to. The director asked me if I wanted to work for her, and I loved that two year job. She was sad to see me go, but I had kitchen dreams. Now I have wanted to go back into working for the local CC Culinary program, and taught at a private school for a year and half, but funds are low. If the economy gets better, I will apply. I love the writing stuff though. Maybe I am getting to up there for standing on my feet in a hot kitchen, did it for soooo long. We would council (part of my job promotion) students about the choices of CC vs four year, but I saw so many students who partied and were not serious about school land in our CC from four year schools, and they were not embarrassed (they thought the program of two year was easy, cooking) to tell us they screwed up the big college programs their parents wanted for them. A Key too, is it the parents pressuring their kids, or putting it into their heads…
I really did enjoy being the directors assistant in the class room, and lectures. More than I thought.
I enjoyed reading the essay, brought back memories…like it when that happens!
Glad you enjoyed it, E!
I did have quite a few students who admitted they were only taking classes so their parents would continue to pay for their car insurance. College ready on any level? NO.
I agree with you that an education is an education. For most people, their employer isn’t going to care if they went to DUKE or Winston-Salem State University (just pulling some examples from my state). Well, they might look at DUKE and go WOW but most just want to see you took the time to complete your schooling
Debbie, Law school is an entirely different thing – perform well on the LSATS and if a paper is asked for then knock em dead with that but for the most part law schools look for diversity in the classroom so a 4 year university is just the same as a junior college or community college – its all about the LSATS – she should approach it with confidence.
I’ve heard the same thing about law school. Although, some of the bigger schools – I’m sure – do look at where you did your undergrad work, just like students trying to get into a PhD program.