If you were to ask a classroom of kindergarteners how many of them dreamt of becoming teachers one day, you would most likely see a sea of eager hands shoot up from the innocent crowd. Yet, flash forward another eleven or twelve years, if you were to ask that same crowd the same question you would be lucky to see a couple of hesitant hands slowly rise. How come? Why does it seem like the more we mature in our education the more the education career is looked upon in a negative light? When I announced that my dream was to become a Special Education teacher, I first felt this harsh reality. The opinions of the world knocked the wind out of me with every harsh misconception.

“Do you not think that you’re capable of more?”

"Good luck with that.. you must have A LOT of patience."

"But honey, you're so smart."

"Oh college is going to be a breeze, all SPED majors do is color."

I was swarmed by pondering questions and assumptions accompanied by the raise of an disapproving eyebrow. Not to mention my absolutely favorite question, “ But, why?” Why would I choose to enter the education field?

Through the sea of misguided assumption my answer remains the same, 'passion.'

Being an educator is easy by no means, I realized this during my field experience for my Teacher Cadet class. I dreamt it would be a classroom of eager eyes begging for the knowledge I was willing to share. I though that little smiles would be waiting to see me each and every morning. It thought it would be a pleasant breeze.

Boy, was I wrong.

Over that eight week period I witnessed the constant battle of a special education classroom. The constant need for patience, the need for attention. Never had I felt so unconfident in myself and my abilities. For once in my life, I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. Rather than my sweet, imaginary students who believed whatever wisdom that poured from my mouth, I had students with personality (never the less sweet) who loved to challenge each and every lesson. No, this was reality. I chose the group of students who most would think of as less than or that they weren’t capable. I had a group of students who the world looked at and thought, “ You can’t,” or “You’re not smart enough.”

From the outside, I guess it would be easier to assume so, but in my cooperating teacher's classroom… they could and they will. Day to day I walked into my cooperating teacher’s classroom and I witnessed her control what seemed to be the uncontrollable bunch. I watched their little grins as she encouraged them when they had given up on themselves. I saw the patience in her eyes as she read with them. But most importantly, over those eight weeks of field experience, I saw extraordinary improvement from each student.

Witnessing the magic of my first classroom revealed to me how powerful the passion of an educator is. A teacher goes above and beyond because of their passion for their career, classroom and her students. Not only do they educate their students, but they encourage them, love them and believe in them. In a teacher's eyes, their students can succeed in anything and everything they set their minds to. With that kind of support radiating from their teacher, a student is able to believe in themselves also.

How powerful is that? And it all stems back to passion.

So, to the misguided crowd who does not understand the passion of an educator, who assumes that I’m settling in this choice of career, and may wonder why, here is my answer: I desire to become an educator because I long to be the type of teacher my cooperating teacher is.

Knowing that one day I will get to wake up every single morning and do the things she does seems like a dream. I want to be the reason for my students’ little grins. I want to be the encouragement they need when the world tries to tear them down. I want to show them they can and that they will. But most importantly, I want the satisfaction of spending the rest of my life in a profession that brings me utter joy.

Isn’t that what we all strive for, the pursuit of happiness? With my choice of becoming a Special Education Major, my choice of passion, I’m happy to say I’m halfway there.