When contemplating whether or not I should pursue being a barista again during a gap between teaching contracts sometime in the near future, I realized I needed to reframe the question.
The question was initially “this or that.” Until last week, I hadn’t considered if the constraints for pursuing teaching and barista work were surmountable. Turns out, they are.
Barista Guest Shift
The day before this pandemic school year began, I did a “guest shift” at Arlington Five Coffeehouse to have some fun (and to feel “useful” after a teacher’s summer off).
Despite not having worked as a barista in over a year and never stepping foot behind the counter at Arlington Five, I was able to feel right at home with all the brewing equipment and especially the staff around me.
I was amazed at how much fun I had instantaneously. Given the community and artisanal components of the job, for me it’s more of a hobby than a job to be a barista at a very well-run coffeehouse. (Working at a poorly run coffeehouse is very much not enjoyable).
Ever since that shift, I made a promise to myself: I will find a way to integrate barista shifts into my life as a teacher, or whatever career I have in the future. Jessie Duffy, the owner of Arlington Five talks about the positive implications of working a serving-type job to get out of one’s own head in the first episode ever of aathentik conversations.
Lifelong Integration
Now that I feel caught up in my course preparations as a high school teacher, I first thought I could substitute teach for some extra dough (money) to afford some extra dough (cookies).
But one of my core principles spoke up: “Aatik, why would you do something as a means to an end? Would you genuinely enjoy substitute teaching for those days?” To which I replied, “No.” Damn you core principles, always making things complicated.
The seed that was planted a couple months ago began to grow to the point where I can no longer find a reason for why I shouldn’t work at my favourite coffeeshops in town, assuming they need the help and can accommodate my tricky schedule.
Questioning the constraints that seemingly prevented me from having both, I now realize that I’m able to pursue being a teacher and a barista. Time will tell if this actualizes, but one thing is already certain: my identity is not fixed, professionally or otherwise, nor is there good reason for it to be.
The first step is the hardest step, which is to call yourself out on your own bullshit. This is almost always going to lead to things you need to do or improve on, but once you commit and don’t shy away from what you uncover, it gets easier from there.
Keep questioning societal or religious pressures that don’t make sense. By challenging them, we’re able to break free and live our life in the abundance that is waiting for us to take it into our hands.
UPDATE: I reached out to Arlington Five and lined up a shift that filled a gap they needed filled: they were closed a few Sundays ago because no one could work this shift. This Sunday “community” shift perfectly fits my criteria: in the a.m., max 4 hrs. Turns out that coffeehouses in the neighbourhood can use the help in order to stay open to serve the community, so it’s a win-win!
