Pros
Rewarding job. I loved working with children and teaching them social, emotional and academic skills. I forged meaningful relationships with my students and missed them when I left. Also, I had an opportunity to observe and work with daytime teachers, so it’s a good job to test the waters before committing to a teaching degree.
Cons
I’ve been an after school teacher for various nonprofits in the city. This program didn’t provide me enough support with working with a class and was also pretty disorganized. Teaching is tough, especially if you don’t yet have a credential or formal training. I didn’t feel valued as a teacher for all the work I put in, so I got easily discouraged about my potential in being a teacher. The criticism I received was not constructive, and it only left me feeling put down. If you are passionate about youth work, I would suggest looking into another organization.
