u/NoHovercraft2477

Just as I've finished applying for my 30 day credential the district substitute teaching pool I was going to apply to paused hiring (southern CA). Not sure about SD unified at this time. I don't have the ability to apply to a broad range of districts because of a limit in my travel capacity/radius. I wanted to take an opportunity to explore the public school classroom environment before committing to going through a teaching credential program, and I was told subbing was a good option. I currently work with preschoolers in something related at least w a few months experience, I just feel disheartened because it seems very competitive right now to even get jobs by applying directly to the district.

I know there are sub agencies like Scoot/Swing as well. I've heard mixed things about both and that maybe Scoot is better than Swing but honestly not sure. I appreciate any advice.

I woke up and have not gone back to sleep. I have been crying at 3 am worrying about my hair. I’ve lost, probably 50% of my hair density compared to when I was a teen, and it still looks okay but I finally decided to take a step a little while ago to address it. I’ve had confirmed high testosterone for 4 years now and I’m taking spironolactone 50 mg so far to help with the hair loss but it’s only been about a bit over a week. Not on any other medications though I did do bc in the past, I stopped out of concern for side effects. My insulin levels to my knowledge are normal. One thing I have not checked is vitamin D and other vitamin levels and I have had deficiency of vitamin D in the past.

Right now my testosterone total is at 82 and my insulin tested at 5.5. A1C within normal range at 5.2 my OBGYN suggested metformin and I’m not sure if it would help in my case. My testosterone used to be really high at 105 about 3 years back. I’m getting somewhat regular periods for the first time in a while this year so I am grateful for that. (I don’t have issues with weight gain besides symptoms like the hair loss and irregular cycle). I’m hoping getting a full vitamin panel will tell me what I’m missing potentially and im honestly not sure if I should go on birth control to regulate things again

The thing is, since I am a hijabi outwardly hair isn’t important in terms of what people think of me in public. But it doesn’t change what I see in the mirror and what I worry about someone wanting from me if I was in a relationship or something. I just feel undesirable and uncomfortable with myself. Worrying about future pregnancy. Worrying about hormones, has taken a toll. I really want to start a family I just don’t know how or when it will happen for me. I’m 25 now and watching the slow progression of what’s happened to my hair and health has taken its toll.

I’m trying to get to a place where I can be stronger than this. There has to be more to my life and to me than what I look like outwardly but it’s incredibly hard feeling like I won’t be loved because of everything happening to me. I would appreciate any support.

Salam alaykum,

I'm in the process of navigating how to pay khums as someone who has not done this before. I didn't know khums was an obligation until recently and wasn't knowledgable about it, so I've had to catch up on how to address this issue (already spoken to a scholar about this and received directions). This would be my first year paying it. To add to this after paying khums on what I already have, I was told I still need to speak to a jurists representative to reach a settlement for the amounts of previous years I haven't paid.

After consulting with a scholar, I had to account for paying khums on the entirety of what I have in my accounts, and was told I still have to determine the amount I need to pay on every single item I own that was left unused this year. I am assuming this means literally everything, like clothes, foodstuffs, and all other household items I own. My marja is Sistani, so I'm just making doubly sure I'm going about this correctly and that this is the actual process I need to be following. My question is also whether or not I need to keep repeating this year after year meaning paying khums again on the same item that already had khums paid on it prior. I'm understanding that because khums is a 20% tax on more than just cash income, it ends up denting more than just 20% of my current savings because it includes the income and unused items as assets. At least, that's how it's panning out so far for this first time paying it.

Adding to this the issue of the settlement that has to be reached, I'm wondering what the representative will demand and if I will end up being left with little to no savings at all unfortunately.

I don't have an issue with paying the khums, I think what makes this a stressful process for me is the issue of navigating what I hope is only temporary financial instability as a result. In my situation it would take me at least a year to build up the amount in savings I would lose to paying khums in this manner. But I can't really say much about it if its obligatory and this just happens to be the situation I'm in. I appreciate any help/advice on this.

Hi everyone,

I've got a bachelor's in art as of last year (in SoCal), and am currently working as a teacher's aide, more in the area of early childhood education. I also take child development classes, two days out of the week and will be doing so going into the fall so far. My hope was to gradually ease into it maybe a few days out of the month.

Subbing is something I want to do eventually if not sooner than later so I can gain some experience in classroom instruction, and, I hope, gradually work my way into to a teaching credential program so I can become a teacher, maybe for something like Tk or kinder/1st grade (or art. I didn't want to pigeonhole myself into only being an art teacher, long story as to why but it is still an option.) So far, I really do enjoy working with littler children despite how chaotic it can sometimes be. I am comfortable managing difficult behaviors; I just have less experience in the way of classroom management for as many as 30 kids and being the teacher going over a lesson plan over the course of a full day.

My job at present is flexible and allows me to set days and hours during weekdays, and I am hoping to keep it for some balance, but my worry is if I apply to a sub job alongside the two days per week classes, it wouldn't be feasible.

I was also wondering if anyone had experience or advice for subbing the younger/elementary grades, especially if you were new to this initially. I'm usually easygoing and find it easier to be with littles. I am just worried I may be "too nice" and won't know how to direct the kids. Thanks.

Salam Alaykum everyone,

I'm sorry if this is a frequently asked question, but I hope someone can bear with me and help. I'm a born Shia muslim and I've been investing more time into trying to learn more in depth about Islam. I'm trying to understand our practices better and also discern how/why they vary between schools of thought. I've realized how important it is to continually educate myself on these matters. For me personally I don't just want to be informed that differences exist, I'm trying to understand why they exist.

I was hoping someone can help me understand this confusion I've been in regarding combining prayers - recently I asked a scholar about this matter, and he explained to me that we as Shias follow certain time windows for prayer (allowing us to pray asr directly after dhuhr for example), but he informed me that in actuality it is better (but not necessarily obligatory) to separate them and pray them at their ideal time, according to Sayyid Sistani. This left me in sort of a conundrum. In my family at least, its been regular practice for us to combine prayers and this is what I know (or at least assume) most other people in my community will do, including at our masjid.

I am aware it was a practice of our beloved Prophet peace be upon him to combine in some instances even when it didn't seem outwardly necessary, and it was supposed to be a mercy for us. But did that necessarily mean we were meant to combine prayers almost all the time as is commonly practiced today (how did we get to this point)? Moreover, if I don't combine and were to chose to separate, what prayer schedule (for asr and isha) am I supposed to operate on? Was the sunnah of the Prophet usually to combine or in actuality to separate.. and if its fine to do both then should I just continue doing what I've always been doing ?? That's what's left me really confused.. as in it makes me worried to continue doing what I've been doing when I've just been told its actually better to do something else.

I would be grateful if someone could help shed some light on this and how I can sort of navigate it (... especially since no one in my family tends to go out of their way to separate prayers. I want to try and do whatever is ideal but I'm really not sure how I would navigate that socially). Jazakallah khair.