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The Midlife Dropout
United States
Приєднався 24 вер 2024
Welcome to TheMidlifeDropout.
My name is Steve and this channel is a space for those seeking freedom from conventional expectations, a deeper connection to themselves, and a more intentional way of living.
Here, I explore alternative living, mental health, self-discovery, and the journey of breaking away from societal norms. From reflections on life as an educator to the pursuit of creative independence, I share stories, philosophies, and practices that inspire growth, resilience, and purpose-driven living.
My life is my message, and this channel documents my transition from a traditional career into a life of freedom and authenticity. Through storytelling, I aim to connect with like-minded individuals and build a community that values simplicity, exploration, and meaningful connection.
INSTAGRAM: midlifedropout
BLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/themidlifedropout.bsky.social
TWITTER: x.com/MidlifeDropout
My name is Steve and this channel is a space for those seeking freedom from conventional expectations, a deeper connection to themselves, and a more intentional way of living.
Here, I explore alternative living, mental health, self-discovery, and the journey of breaking away from societal norms. From reflections on life as an educator to the pursuit of creative independence, I share stories, philosophies, and practices that inspire growth, resilience, and purpose-driven living.
My life is my message, and this channel documents my transition from a traditional career into a life of freedom and authenticity. Through storytelling, I aim to connect with like-minded individuals and build a community that values simplicity, exploration, and meaningful connection.
INSTAGRAM: midlifedropout
BLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/themidlifedropout.bsky.social
TWITTER: x.com/MidlifeDropout
How I'm Using One Little French Word To Change My Life This Year
👉Subscribe for more content👈
www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeDropout
Within the last year I came across the French word dérive which as Wikipedia states is: an unplanned journey through a landscape, usually urban, in which participants stop focusing on their everyday relations to their social environment.
I'm using this as my word of the year to transform my life into one that aligns with my values. I'm embracing life as it comes and shedding my attachment to habits, routines, and restrictions. Life is what happens while we're making plans, so I'm making less plans and enjoying life as it comes.
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Hey there! Welcome to TheMidlifeDropout!
If you’re over the grind of the 9-to-5 and craving a life that feels more meaningful, you’re in the right place. This channel is all about stepping away from the traditional, having honest conversations about mental health, and figuring out what really matters in life.
If you’re someone who’s tired of going through the motions and wants to start living more intentionally, hit that subscribe button. Let’s figure it out together. 💭
Thanks for being here-it means a lot. ✨
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My Gear:
1. Camera: Canon M50 E0S 📷
2. Mic: Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone 🎤
3. Lighting: The Sun 🌞
4. Colored Lights: VIJIM VL120 RGB
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EMAIL: themidlifedropout@gmail.com 📧
INSTAGRAM: midlifedropout
TWITTER/X: x.com/MidlifeDropout
BLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/themidlifedropout.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeDropout
Within the last year I came across the French word dérive which as Wikipedia states is: an unplanned journey through a landscape, usually urban, in which participants stop focusing on their everyday relations to their social environment.
I'm using this as my word of the year to transform my life into one that aligns with my values. I'm embracing life as it comes and shedding my attachment to habits, routines, and restrictions. Life is what happens while we're making plans, so I'm making less plans and enjoying life as it comes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey there! Welcome to TheMidlifeDropout!
If you’re over the grind of the 9-to-5 and craving a life that feels more meaningful, you’re in the right place. This channel is all about stepping away from the traditional, having honest conversations about mental health, and figuring out what really matters in life.
If you’re someone who’s tired of going through the motions and wants to start living more intentionally, hit that subscribe button. Let’s figure it out together. 💭
Thanks for being here-it means a lot. ✨
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Gear:
1. Camera: Canon M50 E0S 📷
2. Mic: Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone 🎤
3. Lighting: The Sun 🌞
4. Colored Lights: VIJIM VL120 RGB
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL: themidlifedropout@gmail.com 📧
INSTAGRAM: midlifedropout
TWITTER/X: x.com/MidlifeDropout
BLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/themidlifedropout.bsky.social
Переглядів: 49
Відео
I'm Nearing 40. Take My Advice For A Better Life.
Переглядів 89619 годин тому
👉Subscribe for more content👈 www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeDropout I just want to give some advice to younger people. Hey there! Welcome to TheMidlifeDropout! Thanks for being here-it means a lot. ✨ Chapters: 00:00 You Can Love Something Deeply and Still Outgrow It. 00:28 Regret 00:48 Time Is Your Most Precious Resource 1:14 Happiness 1:40 Most People Aren't Thinking About You 2:00 You're Allowed ...
To Anyone Feeling Lonely This Holiday Season...
Переглядів 169День тому
👉Subscribe for more content👈 www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeDropout Happy holidays to everyone. I love you and I want you to know you're not alone during this time. Hang in there better times are on the horizon. Hey there! Welcome to TheMidlifeDropout! If you’re over the grind of the 9-to-5 and craving a life that feels more meaningful, you’re in the right place. This channel is all about stepping ...
How Much German Can A BEGINNER learn in 2 weeks?!
Переглядів 15714 днів тому
👉Subscribe for more content👈 www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeDropout I've spent the last few weeks learning German. Germany is a beautiful country and learning languages is something I've always been interested in but never had the time to commit to it. Come listen and watch what two weeks of daily practice has done for me as a complete beginner. Hey there! Welcome to TheMidlifeDropout! If you’re ov...
Here's What I WISH I Knew Before Becoming A Teacher. Don't Rush Into The Decision.
Переглядів 20921 день тому
👉Subscribe for more content👈 www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeDropout Thinking about becoming a teacher? In this brutally honest video, I dive deep into what teaching is really like-no sugarcoating, no fluff. From the daily chaos of working with kids to the emotional toll, the exhaustion, and even the low pay, I cover everything you NEED to know before choosing this career. Is teaching worth it? Can ...
Our Search For Happiness Is Making Us Miserable
Переглядів 25028 днів тому
👉Subscribe for more content👈 www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeDropout Are we too obsessed with being happy? In this video, I unpack the idea that happiness might not be the ultimate goal in life-and why contentment could be a better alternative. While happiness is fleeting and tied to external events, contentment offers a steady, sustainable sense of peace, no matter what life throws at you. Join me ...
5 Essential Classroom Management Tips To Keep You From Going Crazy.
Переглядів 263Місяць тому
👉Subscribe for more content👈 www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeDropout Are you struggling with classroom management? In this video, I’ll share 5 practical tips to help teachers create a calm, structured, and productive classroom environment. These strategies work for all grade levels and focus on creating routines, setting boundaries, minimizing power struggles, and more! What you’ll learn: ✅ How to e...
What Open Heart Surgery Taught Me About Life, Priorities, and Resilience
Переглядів 141Місяць тому
👉Subscribe for more content👈 www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeDropout In 2012, I underwent open heart surgery-a life-changing experience that reshaped my perspective. In this video, I share my personal journey: what it felt like, what I didn't expect, and how the experience helped me re-envision what truly matters in life. Whether you're facing a similar challenge or seeking inspiration to prioritize...
Why I Left Teaching (The Honest Truth)
Переглядів 3,4 тис.Місяць тому
👉Subscribe for more content👈 www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeDropout Just a dude who was a former teacher trying to verbalize why I left the profession. I'm not speaking for anyone but myself. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:10 The Bureaucracy Of Education 5:52 Things Seemed Intentionally Designed To Fail 11:52 The Emotional Toll 16:04 Pressures Of Accountability 19:40 Why I Left 21:57 Conclusion My G...
I Was Stuck In A "Normal" Life. This Is Why I Choose To Break Free.
Переглядів 1,2 тис.Місяць тому
I Was Stuck In A "Normal" Life. This Is Why I Choose To Break Free.
Hope and Despair: How To Find Light In The Darkest Moments
Переглядів 339Місяць тому
Hope and Despair: How To Find Light In The Darkest Moments
I Left The Rat Race To Visit The Coolest Little RV Museum In AMARILLO, TEXAS
Переглядів 522Місяць тому
I Left The Rat Race To Visit The Coolest Little RV Museum In AMARILLO, TEXAS
Responding To Your Comments About Being A Teacher And Why I Don't Suggest It
Переглядів 2,8 тис.2 місяці тому
Responding To Your Comments About Being A Teacher And Why I Don't Suggest It
🚌Exploring MEMPHIS and the Lorraine Motel 🚌
Переглядів 522 місяці тому
🚌Exploring MEMPHIS and the Lorraine Motel 🚌
Kill Comparison To Save Yourself. Don't Take Time For Granted.
Переглядів 4912 місяці тому
Kill Comparison To Save Yourself. Don't Take Time For Granted.
My First Road Trip Being True To Myself And Living Closer To My Values | Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, USA
Переглядів 1872 місяці тому
My First Road Trip Being True To Myself And Living Closer To My Values | Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, USA
I Was A Teacher But It Broke Me. I Don't Suggest Education Right Now.
Переглядів 98 тис.2 місяці тому
I Was A Teacher But It Broke Me. I Don't Suggest Education Right Now.
How Would You Build A Bed Frame For Your Van? 2001 Ford Econline e150
Переглядів 6962 місяці тому
How Would You Build A Bed Frame For Your Van? 2001 Ford Econline e150
I Bought A Van And Am Going To Drop My Life To Travel The Country
Переглядів 4,4 тис.2 місяці тому
I Bought A Van And Am Going To Drop My Life To Travel The Country
Beating My Anxiety By Doing These 5 Things Each Day And How Dropping Out Of Life Is Challenging Me
Переглядів 2642 місяці тому
Beating My Anxiety By Doing These 5 Things Each Day And How Dropping Out Of Life Is Challenging Me
How Did I Get Here? Failures And Lessons From A 37 Year Old Dropout.
Переглядів 1,6 тис.3 місяці тому
How Did I Get Here? Failures And Lessons From A 37 Year Old Dropout.
I'm Dropping Out Of My Life And I'm Not Sure What's Going To Happen.
Переглядів 2,3 тис.3 місяці тому
I'm Dropping Out Of My Life And I'm Not Sure What's Going To Happen.
Thanks for the analysis! I need some advice: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). What's the best way to send them to Binance?
Im a 5th year teacher making 35k 😢 NC at a private school because public school nearly actually killed me. Also public schools pay no extra for having a masters !
My mom was neglectful and abusive and I went to school with other low income kids that were abused. Stop blaming parents. Teachers these days have simply become entitled and lazy, mostly because they’re millennials
I’m truly sorry to hear about your experiences, and I completely agree that systemic issues like abuse and poverty deeply impact children. That’s exactly why teachers work so hard to support students facing these challenges. To clarify, I’m not blaming parents-just pointing out that family dynamics can be a significant part of the bigger picture. Teachers aren’t magicians; we can’t fix systemic issues alone. Instead of labeling educators as “entitled and lazy,” maybe we should focus on solutions that address the root causes, like poverty and lack of resources.
git gud buddy
I have a year and a half to get some kind of retirement after almost 28 years. Of course I can't live off of it. I hope that despite being in my 50's that I can get a job outside of education. Of course, even though I was forced to work a second job for years, I won't get social security even though I plan on working outside of education when I retire from teaching. I tell young people not to be teachers. The state is also lowering standards to be a teacher. The future of this country does not look good. I feel I wasted my life. I don't even own my home due to the pay. medical bills, and student loans.
I thought teachers had "good" health insurance?? You STILL have to pay??
Many student teachers never return to interview for teaching jobs after they graduate. That says a lot.
Honestly, I understand why parents take the side of the kids. I think a lot of us have been screwed over in the past by a teacher, and our parents believed them over us, which is infuriating. They’re trying to not have their kid relive that same trauma… but it’s an over-correction. Now they won’t believe *anything* the teacher says about their kid.
The attitude is okay my kid is (bad, struggling, failing, etc) how are you going to fix it. Just because I get your child for an hour… In a classroom average 30 students… I teach over 150 students…
Take it easy, brother. Everything will be fine. Hard work isn’t always rewarded, but your teaching skills and strong command of the world's most international language make you valuable. You’re not alone-many are in similar situations.
It’s 100% parents fault because parents control their children’s access to society. Tv, the internet, the standards enforced at home. The week before Christmas we were told our son said “this is stupid, I’m not going to do it”… when he got home I said “I think electrics and video games are stupid” and removed them from his room for Christmas break. Step up… raise your children. We’ve raised 2 marines one state level recognized basketball player and the 2 younger are deciding what they want in life. If you give your kid electronics before discipline you lose.
I taught high school English for 1 year at an alt-ed school and it was about all I could handle. I moved back to the previous city I lived in before and now I teach adjunct at a university (and am also looking for other jobs, etc.)
Asians respect teachers but they still dont get paid much. Crapph job in the west. No respect or support
Man, all school gave me was debt and PTSD.
I quit teaching and became a Chippendale dancer.
No secretaries in the office to assist the teachers?
Nowadays very few people earn enough to not have to worry about live expenses. No matter what we do, we are underpaid, unless you are a cheap labor base entrepreneur or a cunning and views-hungry UA-camr/Influencer. Young people have no desire to work or study. They don't think critically, they just eat that TikTok crap and that's their whole life. I have to supervise my own children so much and even force them to learn, otherwise they won't do anything on their own. There's like no desire to be smart! I've done so many things in my life on my own, learned so much, shed blood and sweat. I have delayed gratification many times. Today, young people want to have everything IMMEDIATELY. The world is collapsing before our eyes in many ways. Intelligence is pushed into a corner while the pure stupidity is favored.
Thank you this was not easy for you to do you are helping heaps of people wonderful thank you
Very underrated video needs more views man 👍
Thanks!
❤❤❤🙏❤❤❤
I enjoyed this video so much. It gave me a lot to think about and some very needed motivation. Thank you!!
Best of luck to you moving forward!
If you like working a lot, constant change and telling people what to do throughout the day and enjoy the challenge of trying to get people to do what you tell them, this is a viable career path. And - yes - you should love being around children! I love children because they are people and I love being around people. I just hate telling people what to do and I am a strong introvert, so this is not the career for me. I hate constant energy demands. Found out after over twenty years into trying to teach all ages and convincing myself that I was the problem and just needed to become a better teacher and build a thicker alligator skin!
Teaching has turned into a scam job.
I taught at a high school for almost 2 years. Not very long, but that time was enough to put me through more physical and spiritual strain than I had ever experienced. It’s just not worth it, be good to yourself, do something that makes more money and that you don’t have to take home with you.
As a former teacher I can say: you read my mind. We are living in the culture of disrespect . Who is going to fix this while more and more of us are leaving? No idea.
😔 I'm SO sorry it's like this for you. I was like this for me too, even in the small, private school setting as a teacher. It's abuse across the board. 🙏 Hope you find rest and peace. ❤️
Try this: 1. Use textbooks that explain things, give worked examples, exercises. If the school doesn’t have, buy them yourself and keep record of who has one. 2. Just teach the class, do a test maybe once a month, see if you can find a way to get it graded by computer or an assistant. 3. Ignore everything else and see how long before you get fired (30 years probably).
Oh no….”Remember your WHY ?” 🤪. That person brought that talk and is long gone now, yippee. She was just another speaker paid at an opening Institute Day…..and probably laughing all the way to the bank. She had the nerve to tell an entire gymnasium of teachers, paras, secretaries that she still had 31 more sessions/school districts to meet with thru September of her “Why” nonsense presentation. This is Gaslighting at its finest! School system wasting so much funds and teachers time sitting thru this junk. No wonder why teachers are leaving their profession. Teachers have all the accountability. Administration, working to please the higher ups. Society, including parents and students have no accountability. UA-cam has many teachers leaving, what a shame. “You matter, your home life matters, turn off your devices.” If teachers did that and took up all their “WHY,” there would be half the teachers. Many teachers can’t leave. They have several children of their own. I’m a para, and I see what the teachers, social workers secretaries go through and the lunch clerks. God Bless them and God Bless Me !
Oh no….”Remember your WHY ?” 🤪. That person brought that talk and is long gone now, yippee. She was just another speaker paid at an opening Institute Day…..and probably laughing all the way to the bank. She had the nerve to tell an entire gymnasium of teachers, paras, secretaries that she still had 31 more sessions/school districts to meet with thru September of her “Why” nonsense presentation. This is Gaslighting at its finest! School system wasting so much funds and teachers time sitting thru this junk. No wonder why teachers are leaving their profession. Teachers have all the accountability. Administration, working to please the higher ups. Society, including parents and students have no accountability. UA-cam has many teachers leaving, what a shame. “You matter, your home life matters, turn off your devices.” If teachers did that and took up all their “WHY,” there would be half the teachers. Many teachers can’t leave. They have several children of their own. I’m a para, and I see what the teachers, social workers secretaries go through and the lunch clerks. God Bless them and God Bless Me !
Oh no….”Remember your WHY ?” 🤪. That person brought that talk and is long gone now, yippee. She was just another speaker paid at an opening Institute Day…..and probably laughing all the way to the bank. She had the nerve to tell an entire gymnasium of teachers, paras, secretaries that she still had 31 more sessions/school districts to meet with thru September of her “Why” nonsense presentation. This is Gaslighting at its finest! School system wasting so much funds and teachers time sitting thru this junk. No wonder why teachers are leaving their profession. Teachers have all the accountability. Administration, working to please the higher ups. Society, including parents and students have no accountability. UA-cam has many teachers leaving, what a shame. “You matter, your home life matters, turn off your devices.” If teachers did that and took up all their “WHY,” there would be half the teachers. Many teachers can’t leave. They have several children of their own. I’m a para, and I see what the teachers, social workers secretaries go through and the lunch clerks.
The public has no idea what the job entails.
Resigned after 2 years. I had a lot of the same issues as you, it feels like there's a total disconnect between admin and staff. It's so hard to come in and teach every day when the students don't care and practically make a game out of bombing open-note tests
You might enjoy my neurodivergent learning series
Teaching SUCKS nowadays. I’m in my 25th year. Loved it for maybe 10-15 years. It is SO different now. I regret my life choices…
My dad was a teacher in Africa and his favourite saying was " spare the rod spoil the child". He was known for the belt but every child in his class was sharp. Parents would fight for their kids to be in his class. This law of don't beat kids is killing western society
Teaching is really a thankless profession in this country
Amazing man, Das ist sehr sehr gut für zwei Wochen. Also good idea two create youtube channel to see the improvement during the journey.
Thanks. I am with family and friends but feel really overwhelmed. I might give myself permission to have some down time
Thank you for this. Holiday time is tough for me. I just want time to be still, quiet, and restful. However, the demand is to be social and gather in groups. I wish it was okay to say no, that's not for me.
I feel the same
Tetris: NES version. I play online against others from all over the world. It is super chill and really inclusive. TNP, or tetris for the non pro. It's a discord community. Please feel free to stop in and hang out! Cheers to everyone who might see this...
🫂
to start: i am not diminishing your perspective and opinions. jsut laying out my own. i do not have the teacher perspective on this either. 1) the union... why are you not getting them on your side? 2) i do not work outside of my contract. if the work can not get done... it does not get done. if you do the work on your time... that shows the administration that the work CAN be done. 3) it is cute you think that "merit raises" are real ( hint: they are not) 4) this idea of "curious students" .... not sure what you are talking about here.... very few people are curious learners. 30 years ago from my perspective... most other students were not interested in school. it was a place to hang out with friends and not get in trouble for truancy. ( though yes getting in trouble IN school for other things) i would love to see a radical change to the curriculum. how people gather information in the real world has drastically change. the enemy of education is not just ignorance anymore.... it is marketers, influencers, mis-information mills. < education to fight these enemies is key , IMO 5) respect/disrespect is a antiquated myth used to control people.... there is a) cause and effect / FAFO b) sympathy & empathy c) trust & truth . satisfy abc and you will get a vague semblance of what people say "respect" is. but in reality, too often, "respect" is jsut obedience... and that in an unjust hierarchy that must be rejected and fought against.
I’ve taught for 29 years, every grade from preschool to doctorate. All public schools, colleges, and universities. The problems are derived from the same root causes. The feminization of the profession, the refusal to fully fund the enterprise, the expectation that teachers are counselors, behavior specialists, etc. I teach Head Start now and six of my 13 students are or will be on IEPs. We don’t have adequate special education support. I am ridiculously underpaid but I’m an hourly employee so if I don’t get it done in 40, too fucking bad. And preschool is soooooo hard. I go home physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I almost didn’t make it to winter break. The only reason I work is because I have to. Ten years to retirement. I would not recommend that a young person choose this profession. I’ve never seen it this bad. Covid and post-Covid has been awful.
I teach college English. I gave up the opportunity to get a full time position because I need time away from the classroom. I am teaching for my college online, three classes, and I'm still tired. It wasn't my college campus teaching that had me tired; instead, it was the dual credit high school instruction that ran me down! However, sometimes you can just be life tired, and sometimes you can need time away from the classroom too. Get some rest.
Sir! You do NOT owe anyone any explanations for your life choices! The ONLY thing that is important in YOUR life is that YOU are happy. I am also a teacher. I am HOPING to retire this year. Definitely earlier than I would have expected. But for all the same reasons you are leaving, I am leaving. It has taken a HUGE toll on my physical and mental health and it is time for the next chapter of my life. I am entitled to that, and I deserve that. And so do you. The ONLY person who can determine what is right for you, is you. People are so quick to judge and spew hate and judgy opinions without having walked a mile in YOUR shoes. Maybe that Marine should go teach for a year. Maybe the people saying you should have known better before committing to becoming an educator should go be educators and realize how much worse the system is than they realize and the effects it has on a person to try to keep up with a broken system. Maybe those who are saying you shouldn't work outside of your contract hours should ask themselves, "Hmm.....what if my surgeon didn't put in all that extra work? What if they weren't consistently maintaining their knowledge base in their field? What if the surgery was not completed in the time allotted because of complications? What if my surgeon did not have to adjust to each person's individual meeds?" We have a vitally important job. And we take it seriously. If we only work to contract. guess who suffers? The kids. That would make us bad people. So we either sacrifice our own well-being, or that of our students. Unless we leave. At the end of the day, leaving is the right thing to do. Both for us, and for the kids. The way I see it, if someone else can do a better job than I, then I should make room for them to do it and serve the students better. And if they can't do it any better, then that just proves that I (or you, or any other teacher) am not the problem. But we already knew that. I have put in my time. I did the best I could. Even the best teachers can't make everyone happy and take a ton of abuse from admin, parents, students, and even other teachers. The goal posts are constantly moving. With every new principal, with every new chairperson, with every new superintendent, everything changes. I suppose that could happen with any job. But most jobs don't have NEARLY the turnover we do. And why is that? Why is there SO MIUCH turnover in education? Hmmm.....why could that be? I love my students, but this job is untenable anymore. And I personally won't be sacrificing myself for it. There is a teacher shortage for a reason. And it will only get worse, and worse. And finally, they system WILL collapse. Sadly, it's the students who will suffer (and lets face it, ultimately society). But there is literally nothing teachers can do about that. We don't have to be society's punching bags. At some point, like every other person, we have to put the oxygen on our own faces and make the best of what is left of our lives. Maybe then people will start to appreciate the role that we occupied and the huge burden we shouldered for years and years. (They won't.). Hopefully, the next chapter can restore some of our health and well-being. I very much wish that for you.