In nature, it is the animal that is the generalist that does better during bad times. The specialist does better during times of plenty. I remember learning this in biology class when my college professor showed us pictures of some kind of animal or coral or something. The thing lived on a cliff where the ocean tide often changed. One of the things could live both under the water and above the water, while another kind could only live under the water. During good times that specialist did the best and it's sheer population underwater was proof of it. However, during periods of low tide the generalist was doing better. It's population far out numbered the specialist, while the specialist was barely hanging on for life.
Then there are other examples in nature. Take for example the animal that has a varied diet. Perhaps it can eat many things such as insects, plants and small animals. Compare that to the animal that has only one source of nutrition. When that one source of nutrition dwindles, which animal will suffer? Although the specialist may be better adapted at getting its one and only source of food, the generalist will be better off in hard times because it has such a varied diet.
I see many parallels between this and the current economy. Although I have spent the last three years getting my masters degree in education, I also need to be flexible. I love teaching, but despite what the media has touted for the past five years, right now there are too many teachers and not enough jobs. In New York City, there is a hiring freeze. No new teachers are allowed into the system, the only exception being private and charter schools. In our specialist society, that puts newly minted grads like me in a tough position. Yes, I am looking into moving, yes I am willing to take something related to teaching that is on the lower end of the pay scale. No, I will not give up on finding a teaching position.
Yet I can't help but remember how specialists and generalists work in nature. This is definitely a hard time. If I cannot do teaching, why not look at what else I can do?
I believe that everything happens for a reason. People also often "fall into careers". Why not see if I can help that "falling into a career" occur? I just need to look at my skills and talents. I need to be open to the possibility that teaching may not be a very viable option right now, especially in New York City. Perhaps some of the other jobs or careers I'd like are even more scarce, but as I said, I think that things happen for a reason. I call it karma, others call it God. Call it what you want, but it seems to be true. So if I am meant to do something else, I am alright with that. The important thing to me is that I enjoy what I do. I want to feel passionate about it. I want to be engaged in it. I want to be able to use my talents and skills to succeed in what I do. Although I am not going to give up on finding a teaching job, I will also look into other options. It's better than falling into something I don't want. Rather than that, I'd much rather choose what I fall into and cause it to happen. Perhaps that's not falling into a job at all, but perhaps it is.
Life is a fluid journey. If I am like water, I think I can go anywhere and succeed. My goals are not set in stone, but are flexible. I want to influence people for the better and if I can do that in one career over the other, than so be it.
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