Adults 50 and over are returning to the classroom— some as students, others as teachers. Although being a student can be enjoyable, few activities are as rewarding as teaching. I think fondly less about my student days than about my experiences as a substitute school teacher and a community college instructor.
Eight days after I had graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, the U.S. Air Force stationed me in Minnesota as a missile launch officer, a position that my journalism degree had not prepared me for technically. But a well-rounded liberal arts education served as an excellent foundation for not only understanding technical military subjects but pursuing other interests.
A bachelor’s degree was all I needed to be a substitute teacher in the public schools of Minnesota. The certificate, which I still keep, from the State Board of Education attests that my “satisfactory preparation and experience” qualify me to teach students, grades seven to 12.
My missile duties consisted of 24-hour assignments that were followed by two to four days off. What better use of free time than to wake up to a morning phone call to see if I wanted to substitute that day?
Although I was only in my 20s then, it was an experience many older adults look forward to today. Being certified as a substitute teacher and receiving a call in the morning to teach is a great way to start the day. Those early experiences convinced me that I needed to teach after I completed my Air Force service.
Fortunately, I had another career as an English and humanities professor and taught classes at community colleges—Wake Technical and Sandhills. Being part of a faculty and staff that improves lives for so many is the best part of teaching and a meaningful way of giving back to a community.
My class preparations provided more than enough material to develop community presentations on the history, food and other cultural aspects of the American South. I’ve given talks for the Southern Pines Public Library and other community groups and was invited to speak last year in the Ruth Pauley Lecture Series.
The teaching bug is still with me, even after retiring. I’m conducting a program on the history and culture of Southern foods at Sandhills Community College on Sept. 16.
Think about if teaching can add meaning in your life. Teaching transferable credit courses at a community college requires a master’s degree with specific hours in the subject being taught. Explore the opportunity to teach an evening course to students interested in improving their fortunes in life. The credentials for being a substitute school teacher are more exacting than decades ago but definitely achievable. Conducting an enrichment class requires knowledge about an interesting topic.
Find yourself in a classroom—next time as a teacher rather than as a student.