“It’s an honor just to be nominated,” or so they say after they lose out to someone else…but it is quickly followed up with, “No, really, to be included in the same group as all these talented people is a dream come true.”
Wrong. The dream come true is to win.
No one ever dreams of coming in second.
As the popular mid-90s T-shirt said: Second Place is the first loser. NO FEAR.
I write to you today as the first loser; I now know how Laszio Cseh feels. Never heard of him? Oh, maybe that’s because he came in SECOND PLACE to Michael Phelps in the 400 individual medley last summer in Beijing.
No one remembers the silver medalist.
I applied to a perfect job, basically had it, but was then informed that they had to do formal interviews. “Ugh, oh well, it’s just a formality – and they know m; I’m fine. This job is mine.”
The interview went well, I was comfortable, confident, and cool.
Just one problem: there were 68 applicants. With the current recession and cutbacks in funding to education, the market is saturated with veteran teachers, so it will be virtually impossible for teachers like me with just two years of experience to get a FT job.
Dang it.
So, I got the call today. “Unfortunately, we are going to go with someone with 10 years of experience. You were second out of 68 people though. That says a lot. Keep us in mind in the future. Hope to see you subbing in the building soon…”
I got the silver medal in the 2009 job interview skills category.
you know what the salary is for a second place candidate?
The same as sitting on your couch breathing.
ZERO dollars per hour, if you were wondering.
I shed literally three tears, pulled myself together since I had a doctor appt., and haven’t looked back.
When you have a stroke, it really puts things in perspective.
I am disappointed about this job, but it’s not the end of the world. I like subbing just fine, and getting to go to the high schools has been a refreshing change from middle school.
Just like everything else this year, I leave the past where it is, and I press on.
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