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A couple of weeks ago I went fully auto.

When it was discussed a feew months back and as recently as a month ago I was assured there was plenty of work, there was even a waiting list!

Fast forward a month and I have 7 pupils. Im not even covering franchise & petrol.

so what do I do?

im going to get my website back up and running (thanks to Rob for helping with that) and im handing my notice in. So it doesn't matter how much work i have as i don't have to pay for a car.

I am enjoying teaching automatic, its very different but not as challenging as manual, although i do keep telling people to bring the clutch up and change gear! The trouble with it is that you can misjudge how pupil is progressing. I used to measure it against how they could change gear, how much stalling etc. with automatic there isn't this bar. I have to find a measuring bar. I am still learning. I know it will become easier as im only driving my car, the same for doing the maneuvers.

On one of the instructor forums one of the automatic instructors makes out that driving an automatic is difficult, like its a special car. its not as once the gears are taken out its a case of point and steer. Yes theres kick down but thats not hard to do.

Those that go from manual to auto wished they'd gone straight to auto, as its that easy. I don't believe it is that easy, BUT if they believe it is, its amazing how that makes them so much more confident after attempting gears and a clutch has destroyed any.

I still find I sit and watch their left foot. I keep wanting to tell them to keep it still, for that I can catch myself before I do say something.

As much as I do enjoy my job, the last couple of months have been very tough. Not only have I had to hand over a full diary to the franchise (all my manual pupils) i've had a couple of complaints that I have taken very personally. The way its feedback is not good, you get the impression they don't care in the office, in fact you can almost hear them sigh. its not constructive and just makes you feel like your being attacked by people who don't do your job.
So I have posted my notice. Maybe doing it part time I might fully regain my love for this job. I have found my stress levels have been up so high and i've been that down that a couple of times I've considered getting in my car and just driving or just sectioning myself before I do something really stupid. I don't feel I can tell my franchise this, they wouldn't care anyway, so my dark thoughts are being wrote down here in the hope that just writing it gets it out of my mind.

A lot of my stress is my own fault, i take everything so personally and think about it that it just eats away at me. I envy those who seem to let it go over their head. one day i might be able to do that, even if it is helped along by medication.