So I’ve had a few months now to get used to this being laid off thing and to figure out what I want to do both immediately and in the near future. It took a lot of reading and thinking and writing exercises and praying and working and praying some more and fasting and even more writing, but I’ve finally discovered what I want to do when I grow up – and I’ve even worked up the courage to go public with it.
I want to teach people to write, both through school application essay editing and through one-on-one tutoring or small classes. This probably does not surprise anyone reading this post, especially given that I’ve been editing successful application essays for top-tier business schools (including Harvard, London, Wharton, Duke, and MIT) for several years already, and I love it. I love editing and I love teaching applicants to write more effectively as I edit their work. ‘Tis a rush.
And it will probably be no further surprise to learn that I don’t want to do it here. I’m hoping to stay in Boston about another year and then move to…
Europe…
Specifically…
Finland.
Miksi Suomi? (Why Finland?) For one thing, because that’s where I feel I’m being directed. Plus, the language is fun to speak (though ttj tells me that most of what I’ve learned so far sounds quite formal and nobody speaks that way anymore). And because I’m already an honorary Finn with close friends there. And because I’ve wanted to live in Europe and experience different cultures and learn different languages for more than two decades now. And because, with the home office setup that two dear Suomi friends have helped me to establish, I can. (She says with determination.)
In preparation for this new life of mine, I’ve recently spent time reading how-to business books (in the somewhat embarrassingly bright and recognizable yellow-and-black For Dummies series), researching competition, working on a marketing plan, and signing up two (hopefully three) new clients. I really really need to create a website and business cards, which things are on the to-do list. To my surprise, I’m finding the business aspects of this endeavor to be fun and interesting rather than intimidating and overwhelming. Maybe I have some business acumen after all. Who knew?
congrats. i hope it goes well for you!!
Finland seems so far away…
Good luck! It sounds like an adventure!
Your life is one big adventure! Good for you for finding a path, and best of luck as you walk it 🙂
Wow! How exciting! I, for one, would love to have you read, edit, and instruct me on improving my writing! I’m sure you’ll be fantastic! Maybe one day in the distant future I’ll come visit you over there. I’ve alwasy wanted to visit Europe and Finland would work. 🙂
It’s funny, I’ve started thinking the same thing lately–that I’d like to teach writing myself. Years ago during the last economic bust, friends were advising me to go teach English in a community college, but I was terrified of it. Now I think it would be kind of fun, at least the kind of continuing education classes where you have people who are actually interested. Best of luck.