In high school, I struggled with figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I wanted to go to college. That had always been a goal I had set for myself since I was old enough to know what college was. I had many different options picked out for a major. I thought about becoming a fashion designer, an accountant, an inventory auditor, a graphic designer, a cosmetologist (which I actually have completed 500 hours in), an event planner, an architect, or a teacher. As it neared time to sign up for college and decide on a major, I chose to become an education major. I'm so glad that I made that decision. I know it is my calling.
How to Know That You've Found Your Calling, Also:
1. You have fun doing your job.
This is the most important part to having a job. I have had three jobs in my life, and I know that if you don't enjoy it, it sucks. I also know that if you do enjoy it, you'll do better and you won't want to go hide in the bathroom all day. As I've gone through different jobs throughout high school, I told myself that I would find a career that I knew I would enjoy so that I wouldn't be doing something I hated for the rest of my life.
2. You don't care about the money.
I am going to be a teacher. Let's be real. Teachers are definitely underpaid. I have people telling me all the time, "You're not going to make any money doing that. You should've picked something else." I don't care about the money. I want to educate the next generation of Americans. Although, if there is anyone reading this who has the authority to raise teacher's pay, I won't try to stop you.
3. Time flies by when you're working.
Every time that I go to a classroom and observe a teacher or teach a lesson, I feel like I've run out of time. The only time I look at the clock, is when I know it's almost time for me to leave the class. You don't want to have a job where you're constantly staring at the clock all day.
4. Your job is the majority of what you talk about.
At the end of the day, I probably talk my roommates' heads off, because I share with them what I learned in my classes, or what I did in field experience. I text my mom after every field experience and probably annoy her with everything I learned. Every weekend when I see my boyfriend, I always tell him something I learned in class or field experience, or I tell him something that I'm ready for about becoming a teacher, I'm just so excited about becoming a teacher, I can't stop talking about it.
5. You feel like you're making a difference through your job.
They always say, "Teachers make all other professions possible." I believe that an education is one of the best gifts you can give someone. I hope to be a blessing to students and make sure that they get the best possible education, so that they can succeed in life. I want to know that I am making an impact on the lives of others through doing my job.
6. You feel at home when doing your job, even if you're in an unfamiliar place.
Every time that I go to a school for field work, I'm usually in a classroom that I've never been in before, but I never feel out of place or nervous when I'm teaching or even just observing.
7. You're constantly thinking of new ways to make yourself better at your job.
This may just be because I'm still in college, but I always try to think of new, better ways to teach and present ideas to students. I always want each student to benefit from the lesson, so I try to think of different ways to teach different students who may have difficulties learning the material.
8. You spend hours preparing for your job, even when you're not working.
Maybe this is only a teacher thing, but I spend hours working on projects, visual aids, and activities.
9. You don't wanna brag, but you know you're great at what you do.
Every time that I have a friend, a peer, my mom, or especially a professor tell me that they know I'm going to be a great teacher, I am reassured that this is exactly what I am meant to do.
