Guys, I really need some advice or insight bc I honestly don’t know what to do rn.
I’m an international student. I came to the US for high school, did my undergrad in psychology and communication, and then got my master’s in developmental psychology from an Ivy League school. I’m currently working as a teacher at a private school in NYC.
I’ve been at my current school for two years, and usually people in my position （a 3-year program) get promoted after around two years. But my leadership keeps telling me I need “one more year.” The confusing part is that whenever I ask for specific feedback or advice on what I need to improve, she can’t really give me a clear answer.
There were actually two potential opportunities at my current school. The first one seemed to be affected by internal politics and relationships. The second one was the role I applied for, but my leadership does not seem willing to promote me. She keeps saying she was not involved in the hiring decision, but I often saw her meeting with the hiring team, which made the situation feel even more confusing.
I’ve also interviewed with a bunch of other schools, and none of them worked out either. So now I’m starting to think maybe I’m just really bad at my job, or maybe teaching is just not the right career for me, even though I’ve tried so hard.
The thing is, I do enjoy teaching. I always ask mentors for feedback, and they’ve told me I seem ready for the next step. The promotion I applied for was only to become an associate teacher, not even a head teacher.
I’m just feeling really discouraged and honestly miserable right now. I’m thinking about quitting, but I also don’t know what else I should do. I’m also considering going back to school for an MSW once I have permanent residency in the US.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you know if it was time to leave teaching, switch schools, or change careers completely?