I was hired at (Redacted) High School through a job fair, my principal Dr. (Redacted) was not there when I was hired. I was hired to teach English. After 8 days, I was pulled into Dr. (Redacted)'s office where she informed me she was displeased with me, she wouldn't have hired me and I was being transferred to special Ed. My new position was as a teacher of Exceptional Children. And you know what, I loved it! I loved getting to work so close to the children.

I succeeded and I thrived. I co-taught in multiple classes and I did so well that my co-teachers offered me glowing recommendations. However, my principal brought me into her office to complain about me three times. She accused me of sleeping in class, of being on my phone to often and just not being a good fit. At this point it was apparent my principal personally did not like me.

In April I was informed that I would not have my contract renewed. I was told to find a new job. I did so and found a new job. My new employer though said I could not be hired until they spoke to my principal, Dr. (Redacted). She refused to respond to them. All of my other contacts gave me glowing recommendations, my principal just refused to speak at all and I lost the job I had.

During this same time, my principal refused to fire one of my co-teachers who had skipped over 20 days of work due to "anxiety". I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I have a mental illness requiring medicine. I missed three days all year due to actual illness, while she missed 20 and once left me in charge of a class of forty students. But I was punished. She played favorites.

What I fear is that this will keep happening. I won't get a teaching job as long as she refuses to speak to them. So I'm now unemployed, with no clear path forward, no protection and no ideas.

I'm remembering two quotes to calm myself, one secular and one spiritual. The secular one comes from the philosopher Crates: Why run away little Phonecian? Nothing bad has happened to you. Crates was teaching Zeno of Citium humility by forcing him to carry around a pot of lentil soup, which was the food of poor people. When Zeno tried to avoid being seen, Crates smashed the pot of lentil soup all over him. Zeno was embarrassed, but Crates made the good point, that life has still continued and nothing so bad has happened. He's lost reputation, so what? He still has his character.

The second quote comes from one of my patron saints. St. Francis de Sales: Yet the divine Goodness would not have called you to the path on which you are traveling without strengthening you for all of this; it is for Him to bring this work to completion (Phil 1:6). Even if He takes long to accomplish it, be patient: the task requires it.

No matter what I am still alive and as St. Frances de Sales said, God still is moving me forward, even if I can't see it. I'm not alone on this journey. It will happen. How I don't know, but it will, it just will take time.