Working Girl
So, I had every intention of coming here and devoting myself solely to my studies. As you may recall, during my undergrad I worked two jobs at one point while attending Sac Sate. I was always very busy and never felt like I had the time to really invest in my school work, it was always about just getting it done. So, while the tuition is outrageous at UChicago, I really wanted to come out here and focus on the school work and enjoy the city in my spare time. However, as I mentioned many posts back, I was awarded work study and so was seeking a job in the community. I now have three jobs (only two overlapping at a time as you'll see).
On Saturday mornings I tutored 5th - 8th graders in the suburbs at Kimberly Lightford's Saturday University and twice a week I am the arts and cultural assistant at Experimental Station. And now I have gotten a job as a tutor for SAT prep with Academic Approach.
Saturday University is in Westchester, a suburban neighborhood 35 to 50 minutes by car from Hyde Park depending on traffic. Fortunately one of the women who works there lives down the street from me and has been giving me a ride each weekend. We arrive to an office building where one of the office spaces is for this tutoring service. There are 4 "classrooms" (small offices large enough for a fold up table, 6-8 chairs and a teacher's desk) along the perimeter with two small whiteboards drilled into the walls. There is a kitchen in its own room as well. In the center space there is a library in one corner, a computer lab (8 computers), and an area where the kids eat. I came in after the program started and so I have subbed for a teacher who couldn't make a few of the weekends and if all teachers are present I am the "resource specialist" who helps two low performing students with mental and developmental disabilities. This program is ten weeks and runs in the fall and spring. Dec. 2nd was the last Saturday (which I missed because of yoga at the planetarium). I'm not sure if I will join them in the spring, the drive is the biggest deterrent, plus I'll be writing my thesis. Otherwise I really enjoyed the experience and it was a pretty relaxed gig for TWENTY dollars an hour, 4 hours a week.
I love the atmosphere at Experimental Station. There is so much going on: coffee shop, bike shop, independent news magazine, arts and cultural events space, etc. I work closely with Matthew, who seems sort of second in command behind the founder, Connie. I have been working there for almost three months and in that time I have helped set up and participate in a intergenerational gathering and a home movies screening. The intergenerational gathering brought older adults and the youth from the bike shop and a few folks in between those ages, together for conversation, lunch, and collage creating. The home movies screening showed movies that had been digitized from community members. So that was neat because it showed Chicago as far back as the 60s. I also do a little research (how do you screen print and what are the needed materials? which hardware store sells the paint we need for the "big room" cheapest? etc.) and data entry for the bike shop and past events like the ones described above. I don't make much money here but I'm looking at it as gaining more from the interesting experience and one unrelated to education.
At the grad career fair the University hosted a month or so ago, a tutoring service asked me to apply and interview. Which I did and landed a job with them. They pay FORTY an hour so, yeah I couldn't not take this on and with that kind of money I will only need to work a few hours a week. I started training this last Friday (paid, but not at 40$ an hour) and then three days next week and then a final test the next Monday (Dec. 18th) and if I pass that then I'm officially hired and can start work. I will be teaching the test prep courses offered to students at a high school and have the option of working right here in Hyde Park as little or as much as I want, there's no minimum or maximum of hours. So between the pay and flexibility I'm really pleased with this opportunity.
On Saturday mornings I tutored 5th - 8th graders in the suburbs at Kimberly Lightford's Saturday University and twice a week I am the arts and cultural assistant at Experimental Station. And now I have gotten a job as a tutor for SAT prep with Academic Approach.
Saturday University is in Westchester, a suburban neighborhood 35 to 50 minutes by car from Hyde Park depending on traffic. Fortunately one of the women who works there lives down the street from me and has been giving me a ride each weekend. We arrive to an office building where one of the office spaces is for this tutoring service. There are 4 "classrooms" (small offices large enough for a fold up table, 6-8 chairs and a teacher's desk) along the perimeter with two small whiteboards drilled into the walls. There is a kitchen in its own room as well. In the center space there is a library in one corner, a computer lab (8 computers), and an area where the kids eat. I came in after the program started and so I have subbed for a teacher who couldn't make a few of the weekends and if all teachers are present I am the "resource specialist" who helps two low performing students with mental and developmental disabilities. This program is ten weeks and runs in the fall and spring. Dec. 2nd was the last Saturday (which I missed because of yoga at the planetarium). I'm not sure if I will join them in the spring, the drive is the biggest deterrent, plus I'll be writing my thesis. Otherwise I really enjoyed the experience and it was a pretty relaxed gig for TWENTY dollars an hour, 4 hours a week.
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| The view from the Experimental Station office. |
I love the atmosphere at Experimental Station. There is so much going on: coffee shop, bike shop, independent news magazine, arts and cultural events space, etc. I work closely with Matthew, who seems sort of second in command behind the founder, Connie. I have been working there for almost three months and in that time I have helped set up and participate in a intergenerational gathering and a home movies screening. The intergenerational gathering brought older adults and the youth from the bike shop and a few folks in between those ages, together for conversation, lunch, and collage creating. The home movies screening showed movies that had been digitized from community members. So that was neat because it showed Chicago as far back as the 60s. I also do a little research (how do you screen print and what are the needed materials? which hardware store sells the paint we need for the "big room" cheapest? etc.) and data entry for the bike shop and past events like the ones described above. I don't make much money here but I'm looking at it as gaining more from the interesting experience and one unrelated to education.
At the grad career fair the University hosted a month or so ago, a tutoring service asked me to apply and interview. Which I did and landed a job with them. They pay FORTY an hour so, yeah I couldn't not take this on and with that kind of money I will only need to work a few hours a week. I started training this last Friday (paid, but not at 40$ an hour) and then three days next week and then a final test the next Monday (Dec. 18th) and if I pass that then I'm officially hired and can start work. I will be teaching the test prep courses offered to students at a high school and have the option of working right here in Hyde Park as little or as much as I want, there's no minimum or maximum of hours. So between the pay and flexibility I'm really pleased with this opportunity.
Hi Chelsey. Have new internet service so will try again to post a comment. Glad that so much seems to be going good for you. You deserve it. And when can I expect to borrow some money.we will be so glad to see you and Patrick at xmas. Will keep this short in case it does not go through. Please let us know if it does
ReplyDeleteMuch love from both of us
Success! Your comment posted :) I can't wait to see you both for Christmas! Patrick probably won't be able to come out because of work unfortunately. We're hoping he can come to spend New Years Eve with me in Chicago!
DeleteAll my love xoxox