Why Teaching?

Why did I choose the teaching profession?

Was it because I loved having parents degrade my career?  How about people referring to me as a glorified babysitter?  Maybe I love politicians pulling funding from my career every year, leaving me with very little and paying for much of my classroom out of my pocket?  Summers off?  Wait…maybe it’s because I loved being demeaned in college and that my work was simply coloring and using glue sticks.  I can give you a for certain head nod that those were not the amazing reasons I joined the teacher work force.

So why did I begin teaching?

“I am a teacher. It’s how I define myself. A good teacher isn’t someone who gives the answers out to their kids but is understanding of needs and challenges and gives tools to help other people succeed. That’s the way I see myself, so whatever it is that I will do eventually after politics, it’ll have to do a lot with teaching.” ~Justin Trudeau

A little bit about your author:

1. I said I would NEVER become a teacher.  I had no intention of stepping foot back into a classroom.  When I threw my cap in the air at graduation, I had every hope of entering the medical field and trying to erase my memories of my own schooling.
2. I could not enjoy my current career path.  I loved interacting with people in the doctor’s office.  I loved learning new theories and information in the scientific department.  Yet, I didn’t love medicine.  Was I doing well in my studies? Yup.  Did I have friends? Yup.  Did I love it? No.
3. I made a conscious decision that I wanted to love my future career.  Even if that meant making a financial sacrifice.  The words “teaching” kept running through my head.  I decided to take one education class to get my feet wet and see if I even enjoyed it.  I was immediately hooked.

A few years later I found myself in my own classroom.  Shaking.  Feeling like I had to puke.  Nervous about making an impact, maintaining classroom behavior in an inner city school, and wondering if I could do it.  From that first day to now, I have been loving every moment of it.

It’s true–I don’t get paid very much for my qualifications.  I not only have a bachelor of science, but I also have minors in English, Science, and Religion.  I then received my Masters degree and continued my education after that as well.  I soaked in learning about research based methods, utilizing data, curriculum mapping and planning, child psychology, and becoming a better teacher.

I love learning.  That’s why I also love teaching. 

Teaching kids the love of learning is one of my favorite parts of my job.  I love having those “light bulb” moments where they finally understand and connect the dots.

Why else do I love teaching?

1. I love watching kids grow academically, emotionally, mentally, and as a person.  I get to have an impact on that child (that may be remembered for the rest of their life).  Woah.  It’s a blessing and a curse.  More than anything, it makes the weight of my responsibility even heavier and sacred.
2. I chose teaching, because I can be silly and crazy.  I get students excited to learn and explore the world around them.
3. Personal Growth–I’ve seen all backgrounds of students, which helps me get insight into different perspectives.  I’ve worked with farm kids, rich kids, inner city kids, and many more.  I’ve seen students excelling in school.  I’ve seen kids who need love, because they don’t get it at home.  I’ve seen kids with strong wills and those who are still learning to stand up for themselves.  I’ve seen kids who go to bed hungry, listening to gun shots in the street, and wake up not knowing where or when their parent will return.  It’s an emotional job.  I get attached to my kids.  I care and their problems become my own.  I stay up at night wondering and praying for their safety.  Since I’ve become a teacher, I learn more and more that my life is about others.  I’ve become more patient.  I’ve become diplomatic when conversing with parents and colleagues.  I know when to speak and when to hold my tongue.  Most importantly, I have learned from my students what it is like to come from a plethora of backgrounds and how to meet them with their needs.
4. I enjoy working with kids.  I’ll never forget as my husband was around a group of children that were not his own at a party with friends. His patience was wearing thin and he eventually had to go into a different room.  I quietly went up to him and whispered “I do this every day.”  As we came home from that party and talked about our time, he simply stated, “I couldn’t do that every day.  Even with a summer off…”  He understood.  I love working with kids, your kids.  I get excited the first day of school and can hardly sleep.  I love coming in on Monday mornings to little chatters and kids racing to tell me about their weekend.  My job is a joy.
5. I can be a voice for those who are too afraid to speak out.  You teachers know exactly what I’m thinking about.  We have all had to report a situation to social services.  We gain the trust of the child.  We may be the only one’s that child feels like he/she can talk to or express their concerns.  We listen.  We love.  We speak up for them and we do everything in our power to give them the best life.
6. I inspire change.  It’s hard to not let politics get in the classroom, and I do keep the classroom neutral.  However, we discuss justice, injustice, history, peace, and becoming a better person for society.  We teachers want your child to inspire change for the future and promote goodness.  In the words of Elphaba and Glinda from Wicked, “Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”
7. I have a purpose.  My purpose is to teach, train, and mold our future.

Teachers choose teaching, because of those seven points (there are more too).  Some want summers off, but I can assure you they hate their profession (and usually don’t last long).  I knew my profession would be difficult.  I knew I would never become a millionaire.  I knew I would have to grow and learn constantly.  I have to beat my personal best every day.  I engage, love, care, and teach kiddos daily.  I LOVE it, and I have never looked back since I chose my calling.

“Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honour for me.”~ A. P. J. Abdul Kalam