Before deciding to apply to law school at Duquesne, I spent two years as a high school teacher.
Within those two years, whenever I would run into someone I knew when I was in high school or college and they would ask what I was doing with my life now, I would respond along the lines of, "I teach high school: 11th grade English, creative writing, earth and space science, and AP biology."
Almost always, the responses were something like, "Awe, how nice."
Now that I am in law school, my answer is different: "I teach high school during the day and attend law school at Duquesne part-time in the evenings."
As soon as law school is mentioned, the person to whom I am talking usually perks up, "Law school? How impressive! Congratulations!" The person rarely ever mentions anything about me being an educator.
I am sick and tired of these types of reactions. Teachers are not respected and having a solid career as an educator is simply seen as "nice," whereas working to become a lawyer is "impressive." I have news for society: you have no idea what you are talking about.
Being a good teacher has been the most challenging, rewarding experience I have ever had in my life. With my BA in English and MA in secondary education, I was well-prepared to enter into the profession. However, I was not prepared for the many roles I would play in that position. On any given day, I play the part of a mother, an entertainer, a provider, a confidant, a protector, a facilitator, a punching bag, and a dispenser of knowledge. Juggling these identities takes finesse, responsibility and dedication.
Sure, a teacher can make the job easy by not caring for one reason or another. However, being a good teacher takes more skills and hard work than many other professions. The teaching profession has accumulated a bad reputation due to its historical implications as a "woman's job," along with many, many lazy individuals who view the career as a "backup plan." However, for those of us who entered the vocation because it is our passion, our calling, we are fed up with the lack of respect we get from society.
I chose to become an educator because I loved it. I chose to apply to law school because I can. In my book, being a teacher is much more difficult, emotionally taxing and generally draining than studying and practicing law. I decided to apply to law school because being a good teacher became too difficult.
So this is my call to action. Sure, we all know teachers who do not deserve this type of appreciation and regard. However, we all know teachers who do. If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you were able to pass the ACT or SAT and earn scholarships for college, thank a teacher. If your life has been positively affected in any way by an educator who cared about you, thank him or her. It's about time we start showing respect where respect is due.
"A good teacher is like a candle--it consumes itself to light the way for others" -Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
