As an education major at my college that I attend, I figured I would compile a fun list of things education majors would never ever say. Of course, there might be a few things from this list where other education majors might agree to some of the time. But as a general whole, this is what I have found to accurate among my peers / teacher candidates.

1. "I cannot wait for all of the certification exams!"

In New York State, we have to take the EdTPA, ALST, EAS and Content Specialty Test. All of these test are expensive (EdTPA is $300). These exams cost money and I know that I am stressed out about trying to save money to pay to take these exams and pass them the first time and the safety net not always being there to save you!

2. "I have a small cold; I won't be going into the field today."

It is sometimes better to suck it up and go into the field with allergies or a runny nose than it is to contact your field representative, contact the school district, write a letter of apology, send your field representative an email of your apology letter, buy an envelope, bring in the letter the next time you enter the field, contact your cooperating teacher to schedule another day to make up the time, etc. I did not attend to one of my field placements because I was with three and four-year-olds and I had bronchitis. As soon as the medication ensured me that I was not contagious for 24 hours, I went back into the field because I did not want to go through the absence process again.

3. "There are so many guys in my childhood education classes!"

I am surrounded by estrogen in all of my education classes. Every once in awhile, there will be a handful of male childhood education majors. Most of the time, if there are male future educators, they will be adolescent education majors with middle school extension. It'd be nice to have variety in my classes, but in the meantime, I'm happy with my fellow classmates as well.

4. "I know I'll be making so much money after college!"

Whenever I tell people that I want to be a teacher, they all tell me, "Good luck with that!" I know that I will not be making a lot of money, but I will be making enough money for me. I also plan to marry someday. I will survive. I could also move to another state / location in the United States. New York State is also allowing for more teachers to be hired in New York and is doing something now about the shortage in New York State. I would rather love what I am doing than hate my job. Please keep judging me for my career choice in something that I am passionate about.

5. "I mean all we as Early Childhood and Childhood teachers do is just play ring-around-the-rosie and color so..."

Almost all education majors feel like they have to justify everything they do because it seems as though our major isn't as lucrative as music performance degree. Both are difficult, but the amount of lesson planning for a 20 minute activity is roughly four pages including education theorists, learning objectives, bloom's taxonomy, lesson antecedent, procedure, lesson closure, assessments... Education is all play I guess. (Rolls eyes.)