When you're little, people always ask what you want to be when you grow up. Your response could be a doctor, firefighter or even a zookeeper. My response? A teacher, and that has never changed, ever. I always enjoyed school, and I had so many teachers that had such an influential mark on me that inspired me even more to be a teacher just like them someday.
Now, when I tell people I'm an education major they constantly try to change my mind like that's the worst possible job you could ever have. I just shrug it off and ignore them and this is why:
1. The Pay
I mean yeah, the pay isn't that good, especially in Oklahoma, and I appreciate the concern but that isn't really anyone else's business. The way I see it, I'd rather enjoy not getting paid your ideal salary and actually love waking up everyday to see your students, than have a job that pays really well, but you don't enjoy. (Thanks Coach Warden for teaching me this.)
2. "Why would you want to be a teacher anyway?"
Well, I get this one a lot. Because I want to, because I want to go to school and help them learn. I want to be a good teacher just like all of the teachers I had. I want to help them succeed and be excited about school. There are so many children that don't like going to school and hate learning — I want to change that. Why wouldn't you want me to be a teacher? Someone needs to teach the next generation.
3. My life, my dream.
Like I said, I've always wanted to be a teacher and once I finally have my own classroom and my own students, my life goal ever since I was a little girl will be completed. My goal is for my students to learn, and be happy in my classroom. I want them to be excited to come to class and be with their friends and learn together. I am patient, I had a hard time with certain subjects in school so I am understanding and will help the best I can.
4. Child at heart.
What can I say? When you're an education major, you're truly a child at heart. I mean who wouldn't want to color and make crafts while learning? How cool is that?
5. Planning ahead.
I'll be honest, I've got a Pinterest board dedicated to classroom that I don't even have yet. I have these little scenarios in my head about how my classroom will look and all of the cool stuff I will teach my students. I'm collecting children's books, and it's making me super excited.
Just remember that this is your life, and if you can make your own choices, including which page you want to color in the coloring book (see what I did there). All jokes aside, I won't let anyone talk me out of changing my major, because if they had all of the awesome teachers I had, they'd want to be an education major too.
