Losing it all because of a vaccine.

What you have is my YouTube Vlog of my last week at work. I am a New York City public school teacher. I became a teacher through the NYC Teaching Fellows, cohort 27. Basically I began my teaching career in 2016 while going to graduate school for Special Education. I graduated with my Masters of Science in Education, my program was special education for urban adolescents. I graduated with a 3.8 GPA. Busted my ass, dragging my son to night classes after working during the day. Thuggin it out for my future. And now all of that is on hold because I refuse to inject myself with medicine that is suppose to help with the Covid-19 pandemic. It doesn’t prevent me from getting covid or spreading it, just from having severe symptoms.
So because I would rather trust in my natural immune system I can not work in my career field…my passion being in the classroom.
This has been lingering over my head since the mayor announced this mandate in August. Out of all the city agencies in the city, only teachers and medical professionals are being required to be vaccinated. The way my colleagues in the DOE turned on those of us who were choosing not to be vaccinated was scary. The “holier than though” commentary for my life choices. Choices that shouldn’t effect them because if the vaccine is effective you have nothing to worry about. Nah because I chose my natural immunity I was the reason Covid-19 keeps spreading.

Never mind the fact that the city is operating as though there isn’t a health crisis, nah they are only concerned about the safety of the public when it comes to forcing this vaccine on us.
The broadway show Aladdin was closed because of an outbreak. Only vaccinated people are allowed in venues. And Electric Zoo also had an outbreak, where if you were NOT vaccinated you had to provide proof with a negative test and the vaccinated were free to enter without providing any proof that they were not sick.

Vaccinated people can still catch and spread covid, often being sick without having any symptoms. What’s the point of a vaccine that doesn’t work is what I ask myself. I am not writing for someone to change my opinion on the vaccine. I am NOT anti vaccine.

I do not want to inject myself with this medicine and be fucked because my body doesn’t react right to it. I have issues with regular medicines and soaps when it comes to my body. Its so sensitive to everything over the counter. For example, non drowsy cold medicine makes me sleepy and I feel nautious taking it. I’ve been like this my whole life. Outside of Advil or Tylenol I try to stay away from any medicine and use natural remedies to support my bodies immune system.
I shouldn’t have to explain myself and it sucks that I feel I constantly have to defend my vaccine choice.

I do not want to get anyone sick, I do not want to get sick. Period. How can I trust in science when the information that is being presented to me isn’t all the truth. They aren’t sharing potential side effects of the vaccine. Any data on it is like finding a needle in a haystack. And the lack of accurate information is frustrating.
Now being forced out of my job because of my choice. A job that I am passionate about, that I know for a fact I am making an impact on my students lives. I teach in my neighborhood and my students deserve to have a teacher that is completely invested in them. A lot of my students don’t have consistent people in their day to day lives that are invested in them. A teacher who understands and can speak to their struggle because I been there myself. I look like them. I am from where they are from. And I believe in them. No matter how rough my days can be, I always show up clean slate ready to plant seeds for them to aspire to reach their greatest potential. Its more than academics. Rita Pierson says children don’t learn from people they don’t like and building relationships is my greatest natural skill.
I contemplated going against my own judgement and just getting the vaccine so I can teach and every time I did, something came to light that told me to trust my intuition.
This whole situation sucks. I am trying to look at the silver lining though. Every ending allows for something new to begin so I am putting my faith in God and getting clear on some of my passions. Starting over is scary as fuck BUT it also inspires so much hope because at the end of the day what do I have to lose. I have already lost it all. Like Fab says in Dave East’s song Levelin Up….”The best part about coming from the bottom. Is there ain't no place you can go but up. New levels bring new devils, never let it turn you devil. Call them plays so the team win, Coach K to my blue devils”.