Letting Go of Certifications
Created using NotebookLM In fall 2024, I transitioned out of working with or in a K-12 setting after over 30 years. I moved into higher education full-time. Although I’ve lived in this space for 15 years as an adjunct instructor, I still had a difficult time making the move. Not because the work was complicated or boring-it wasn’t- but because I no longer traveled in the same circles, so the people I talked to and learned with were suddenly not there anymore. That’s a hard thing to accept. Adding to the change, I also had to consider some of the certifications I achieved in K-12 that were no longer relevant to my full-time work. Some are prestigious, others not so much, and a few of them either require ongoing professional development hours or have a set expiration date. This brought a new dilemma- do I keep a certification that is no longer relevant just to have it? Do I let it go? Does keeping it mean anything when I have no intention of returning to that space? Does the accomplishme...