S2 Ep 6. Navigating Post-Election Stress: A Word of Encouragement

A moment of rest and reflection. 

Transcript

Narrator 0:01

Welcome to the UX Teacher Prep Podcast , the ultimate destination for educators who aspire to break into the field of user experience and product design . Your host , zee Arnold , a 15-year teacher turned UX researcher , is here to guide , coach and mentor you through every twist and turn as you make your career transition into tech . If you're ready for a more satisfying career and lifestyle and you want the balance to unleash your creativity , this podcast is for you . Now for the show .

Coach Zee 0:43

Hello teacher friends , welcome back to the UX Teacher Prep Podcast . Of course , I'm your host , zee . Today's episode is a bit different from our usual deep dives into job hunting tips , portfolio building , etc . Instead , I want to take a moment to address something I know many of us are feeling right now a sense of uncertainty , maybe even anxiety , about our futures , about your future as an educator or transitioning teacher . It's no secret that the past few years have been hard on teachers . You've been on the front lines during a global pandemic . You dealt with rapid changes in teaching methods , fought for resources and advocated for your students in a system that seems to change at the drop of a dime , and advocated for your students in a system that seems to change at the drop of a dime . And now , with the results of the 2024 election still fresh, only a week ago , it's natural to feel anxious about what this means for our country and our education system , and I've been watching the news and listening on social media and a lot of teachers are in a difficult headspace right now . So , whether you're stepping out of the classroom and into UX research or UX role , or just starting to consider a career shift , I want you to take a deep breath . We're going to get through this together . Look , no matter what party you voted for , the truth is things are going to change . The policies and leaders we see coming in will shape the next few years , and it's likely going to affect the education sector in a big way . Maybe you're feeling uncertain about the future of public education , nervous about new laws or regulations , what you can and can't teach to students in school , or even just exhausted from the constant political discourse . Policies , leadership and priorities are going to shift , and a lot of teachers are wondering what this means for public education , for our kids and for the future of teaching .

Coach Zee 2:37

I want you to know that it's okay to feel all of that . It's normal to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all , but here's the thing this moment is also a chance for you to take a step back and reset . If you're transitioning out of the classroom and into UX or any other field , I want you to recognize that it's time to be encouraged . I want to encourage you to take some time for yourself . Right now . It's easy to feel like you need to hit the ground running , start networking , work on your portfolio , find a job immediately , before things get crazy , but taking a moment to breathe , reflect and process everything that's happening is just as important as updating your resume . So maybe you're feeling a mix of emotions right now fear , frustration , maybe even hope . Whatever you're feeling , it's valid .

Coach Zee 3:28

As educators , we've been on the front lines of so many changes in recent years . We've been the advocates , the fighters , the ones who have stood up for our students time and time again . It is exhausting and it's okay to feel tired . So , friends , today I want to take a moment to encourage you to step back and take care of yourself . You've been giving so much to your students , your community , and now you need to give a little bit back to yourself , and we've talked about this before on this podcast . Your mental health and your physical health should always come first , and as you take that time for yourself , remember this it's okay to slow down , it's okay to take a pause . Give yourself permission to process everything that's happening around you . The job search can wait a few days , or even a few weeks , because your mental health is important , and taking time to care for yourself now is an investment in your future success . Take a walk in your future success . Take a walk , journal your thoughts , pray , meditate whatever helps you connect with yourself and recharge .

Coach Zee 4:32

I know for many of us , faith is a big part of that healing process , and it is for me . My faith has given me strength and hope in life . So in times like these I lean on my faith the most . It's been a constant source of strength for me . So if you find comfort in a higher power , lean into that . It could be God , the universe or whatever spiritual connection you hold dear . Faith can be a guiding light when everything else seems chaotic , when everything feels like it's out of place . It reminds us that , no matter how tough things get , there's a plan and we're not going to go through this alone . Even when we can't see the end of the tunnel , having that anchor can help us find the strength to move forward and to keep going .

Coach Zee 5:16

So you might be wondering what's next for me , what does this mean for my career ?

Coach Zee 5:20

And while I can't personally answer those questions for you , I can tell you this the skills that you have honed as a teacher your resilience , your empathy and your flexibility are exactly what we need more of in UX and in the world overall .

Coach Zee 5:36

It's true that the world is changing , but do you know what that means that means that there are going to be new problems to solve , new voices that need to be heard and new opportunities to make a difference inside and outside of the classroom . So if you're feeling lost or unsure , I encourage you to hold on to your faith and your belief in a brighter future . We don't know what the next few years will look like , but we do know that we have each other and we have the strength that we've built up from our experiences . We teachers have battled tough times before and we will get through this too . Thank you for listening and if this episode resonated with you or if you just need someone to talk to , feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn or Instagram . I'm always here to support you in your journey and take care of yourselves . We'll talk again in the next episode .

Narrator 6:33

Hey , thanks so much for tuning in . If you like this podcast , hit , follow and scroll down to leave a five-star rating . Then share it with a friend . If you're looking for resources to help you on your tech transition journey , head over to uxteacherprepcom . Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram at uxteacherprep for daily tips and motivation . Have a topic you'd like to hear addressed on the show ? Send us a DM on Instagram . If you're listening on YouTube , like , subscribe and share . Until next time , be well .