1. "It takes a special person to be a teacher."

This is usually the first and most common thing every teacher or future teacher has heard. In my opinion, it takes a special person to do any job, not just teaching. I could never be a computer scientist, a biologist, or a doctor, but there are plenty of people out there who do it. Being a teacher doesn't make me special, it's just what I chose to do with my career. There are millions of reasons teachers choose to teach, and being "special" isn't one of them.

2. "You know you will never be rich right?"

Most people do not go into a career without knowing the average salary to go along with it. Teachers are fully aware that it isn't a high paying salary, but we obviously don't care. We choose to teach because that's where our heart leads us, not because we want to be rich or poor.

3."You better marry rich."

This one gets me every time. I am not going to choose to marry my future husband because of his yearly salary. I am going to choose to marry my husband for our love, compassion, trust, bond, and relationship together. I appreciate that you are trying to make sure we are well off in life, but I can figure that out on my own.

4."I could never be around kids all day."

Well, that's why I am a teacher and you're not. We all have different callings and passion in life and they are going to be different from one person to the next. I could never be around dead bodies all day, but someone loves doing that. I could never take blood from patients all day, but that is someone's passion. I enjoy being around kids and teaching them new ideas and concepts all day, so I am a teacher.

5. "Why would you want to do that?"

For the same reason that you are in your career; because I want to. Most people do not choose to teach because it is going to give you a high salary or the best benefits. Most people choose to teach because they are inclined to work with students, help them grow, and be a motivation for success. I want to teach because that's what God planned for me.

6. "Do you really need to go to school for that?"

We have all heard the saying "Those who can't, teach." This saying is degrading in every sense of the phrase. We earned degrees and masters degrees, and spent countess hours after school grading and planning. Not only do we have to know the information, but we have to learn how to teach it, what methods can we use to make sure that every student understands what we are teaching, how to manage a classroom of 25 students, and we have to be prepared for anything and everything to take a turn for the worst. Can you show me 8 ways to answer 6+6?

7. "You're going to get sick so much."

It is very possible that I will get sick a few times a year. I have 25 sneezing, coughing, sniffling, spitting students to teach every day. I will get my flu shot, stock up on vitamins, and use hand sanitizer every chance I get. This is another thing to add to my "I don't care" list.

8."Don't you just teach whatever the principle tells you to teach?"

This makes me laugh when I hear it. Principles are not there to tell you what to teach and how to teach it. In most cases, teachers work together to plan lessons that coincide with each other so they can guarantee all students, from all classes, are progressing accordingly. Teachers are responsible for making pacing guides and lesson plans for the entire year; the principle will usually review them, but they don't write any lesson plans.

9. "I need to have more adult conversations."

I have plenty of adult conversations, but talking to children has taught me more than any adult ever could. Have you ever listened to a child? I mean really listened to them. They are encouraging, insightful. intelligent, and open minded about almost anything. If you are teaching elementary school, your students are going to ask you millions of questions. Some of the questions will be related to learning, but most of their questions are about life in general. These kiddos are little balls of insight, listen to them!

10. "Good luck, you're going to need it."

And to this, I say "THANK YOU"! I am going to need some good luck. I need luck in having great parents to my students, smooth flowing lessons, easy observations, confidence in my presentations and conferences, grace in my voice, and showing my students that I am here to guide them. I am their biggest fan, their secret keeper, their protector, and their educator. I will take all the luck in the world that my students will know my good intentions and when they leave my class, they will see the world in a whole new color.

Therefore, take these words of mine into your heart and soul… Teach them to your children, speaking of them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 11:18-1