So since my first placement at a certain childcare place I have wanted to work there. I have had other placements that I have very much enjoyed and been successful at but the first place so far seems to be where I want an actual job. Now since that placement I have heard various comments about how much they pay ECEs. Things like "this is the best place to work because the pay is the best" and "I think it's ridiculous we don't get paid as much as the ECEs there" and various other comments about the MONEY. And it always makes me feel weird like okay I understand people need money to support themselves so of course it's a factor in deciding where to apply, but my interest was based on how much I enjoyed my placement and respected the supervisor and other ECEs, policies and practices etc. It doesn't sit right with me to apply to a place based on pay alone and in fact I remained ignorant of how much exactly the pay at this place is (initially I just didn't think of it but later I intentionally didn't look it up because I didn't want $$ clouding my judgment of other organizations, which by the way were also great and I wouldn't at all mind working for them either). Until today. When the pay was mentioned offhandedly by someone at the college. And now I know. And I kind of understand why people are so obsessed with it... But tbh if I go into my next placement and change my mind about where I want to work- to me the money is barely a factor. Of course I need to pay back school debt and try to move out etc. But not at the risk of losing passion for my career. So we'll see how it goes!