Odd jobs prepare teachers for life beyond

OliviaFranklin 

Most teachers have had many different jobs outside of being a teacher. These jobs range from a convenience store clerk to a dishwasher at a sorority. 

Mr. Greg Golka, a theology teacher since 2001, had lots of jobs before his professional career. He worked “everything from banquets setup, to working at a hotel, to working at Wendy’s, to working at a convenience store.” He also worked at Coca Cola, “delivering and stocking shelves,” he explained. 

Before coming to Marian, he worked as a campus ministry coordinator in Chadron, Nebraska, where he was the minister of the Catholic Church to the college community. 

While in college, Golka worked at a bowling alley. One of his fondest memories was “when a tour bus pulled up to the alley, right before close. The European band, Ultravox, wanted to go bowling at 10:00 at night.”

He also worked at a cleaning company where he cleaned office buildings in the evening. On the job he learned a valuable life lesson: To share the knowledge, he said, “Don’t be afraid to get a job at Chick-fil-a or McDonald’s, and stick it out and do the best you can, because that grit will serve you well, no matter what you do in life.”

Mr. John Paul Franco, a Spanish teacher, has had “a diverse, random, hodge podge of jobs.” 

In high school, Franco worked at “a grocery store and Funplex.” During college, he “painted houses and worked at a sorority house doing dishes for three years.” 

He believes it was a great job because he “got free food, and doing dishes was not that bad.” 

For his career jobs, he worked at “National Indemnity Company, a very large insurance company, owned by Berkshire Hathaway.” There, he worked as a “financial data analyst.” He also taught English in Spain for one year. 

Even though he didn’t like all of his jobs, he feels like they were “all a part of the journey that led him here,” referring to Marian.

Mr. Craig Panning, an economics and business course teacher, was the “ACT tutor for math and science sections at Huntington Learning Center, and a substitute teacher at various schools in Omaha.” 

Panning has worked at Marian since 2012. Before coming to Marian, he worked at Phoenix Academy. One of his fondest moments there was when he “discussed painting his daughter’s nursery, and the next day, one of his students brought a teddy bear that he still has to this day.”

According to Panning, these random, odd jobs can help you meet new people and they plays a key role in networking to help you find the right job. He said, “you may end up taking unconventional routes to get there, but that networking can go a long way.” 

Mrs. Jaime Piernicky, a math teacher since 2017, “has worked at a lot of places.” 

Before Marian, Piernicky worked at Mercy, then became a stay-at-home mom for 10 years. 

During her summers in college, she worked for a judge. Anytime there was a jury, “she would take care of the jury by checking them in, listening to their excuses and helping them find parking.”

Even while being a stay-at-home mom, Piernicky missed teaching and would often sub and tutor or “use her brain.” Her favorite thing about teaching has been the students because they’re “hysterical, and do hysterical things.”

Mr. Chris Dziadus, a history teacher at Marian since 2016 has worked in jobs ranging from store clerk to golf maintenance worker. 

Before Marian, he worked at “St. Roberts and student taught at Boys Town.” In high school and college he worked as a golf course maintenance worker. He also worked at a pet shop, grocery store and a place called “Service Merchandise, which is like a Walmart, but no longer in business.” At most of his jobs, he considered himself the “low man on the totem pole” and often worked entry level positions.

If you’re looking to apply to jobs, you “should ask your friends, family, and your friends’ families and ask if they know anything that’s hiring. It always helps to know someone. Secondly, go and apply. Apply to a bunch of places and always follow up after an interview.” 

Teachers have worked many jobs that have helped their career today. Even the jobs they had as teenagers, that they thought wouldn’t impact them, helped them with networking and helped open up more opportunities for them.