Dear Future Teachers,
If you’re anything like me, you probably can’t wait for the day you have a classroom of your own. You get overly excited to buy classroom decorations and love it when you find new games and activities you can use with your future students.
But during all your excitement, hard work and dedication, I’m sure there are a ton of people telling you that your dream isn’t worth it, that you’re “too smart for teaching”, or “you will never make any money”, and my favorite, “I don’t know why anyone would want to be a teacher."
So let me be the first to tell you, your dream is worth it. What you’ve chosen to do is so worth every negative comment you get. It is worth the less-than-amazing pay and the difficult students. But mostly it is worth the impact you will make on the students you’ll encounter in your classroom. Here are a few things you should know as you finish school and enter into your teaching career.
1. You Are So Important
You are the reason our society works, the foundation for all other careers. No other profession would be possible without the love and dedication of hard working teachers like you will one day be. Even the smartest scientist, most talented actress and the President himself were in some way influenced by their teachers. Your hard work will pay off.
2. It’s OK that you’re nervous
Every day that I sit in my Ed courses, I feel mostly excited, but also a bit scared that I might mess up. From what I’ve heard and seen, teaching is one of the most stressful and demanding careers. So much weight is on your shoulders, you are literally shaping the future. This all can be nerve racking! Take each class at a time and remember how you felt called to teach. If you’re truly meant to do this, everything will work itself out.
3. Your Pay Is Not All Monetary
If you ask mostly any teacher, they would agree that they are not in the profession for the money. Teachers are willing to sacrifice having the newest fancy car, or the biggest mansion to have an impact on students and their community. For that I find them highly commendable. So, the next time someone tells you “You won’t make any money teaching!” Just smile and know the gain from your chosen career is greater than they’ll ever know.
4. Enjoy This Time
As our time in college flies by, it reminds me that the daunting (yet very exciting) first year of teaching is quickly approaching. All those papers, homework assignments, and lectures we’ve endured will finally come to life. So let’s soak up every bit of information being thrown our way. I truly believe that each professor (no matter how boring), may have something to say that will help us teach and interact better with students one day, rather that be the information they are teaching, or the methods they use to teach us.
I can’t wait to see what the future of your career hold for you.
You are going to rock this teaching thing.
Much Love,
Your fellow Future Teacher
