I know it is tough when people ask you what career you are pursuing and as soon as the words, “I plan to be a teacher” come out of your mouth, people are so quick to give you disheartening feedback. I know that a typical answer for me once I inform others of my major are statements such as, “bless your sweetheart” or “I give you credit, considering you won’t be making any money!”
As I take these comments in, I am also sure to keep in mind that I choose to teach the same reason an individual who loves to make investments chooses to pursue a career in accounting, or the same reason a biology major decides to become a forensic scientist- that is the PASSION we hold in our hearts related to the specific career path we are taking.
Knowing that I have the opportunity to spend the next phase of my life inspiring future generations and having the potential to be the teacher that makes a difference in just a few — or even just one child's life makes my decision to pursue this career feel even more right.
Bottom line is, we as individuals usually choose the career paths and majors that we do because they mean something to us. Having the ability to teach future generations to come about not only how to multiply fractions, or what the chemical composition of an atom consists of, but also getting to educate and guide them about how much power they truly hold within our future society genuinely lights a fire beneath my soul.
My personal reminder to myself — my future "teacher" self, would be to remember how much this choice means to me personally and to always continue to take that passion that I have and use it as my way of making my classroom have a sense of home- as in a sense of comfort for these children.
To My Future Self,
When you are a teacher, despite the challenges that this career path may entail and as in the difficulties of certain students, fear of uncontrollable acts that have occurred in the past, and internal struggles that you will face; always keep in mind that the reward and feeling of genuine euphoria will beat out your doubts to no end.
These children are now being guided by you, solely, within the hours that they spend with you in the classroom. You are not only teaching them about whatever the scheduled lesson plan of the day may be, but you are teaching them about how to be the best possible versions of themselves and guide them towards the right paths in this life.
Being a teacher is a lot more to take on then what it may initially seem as, but with a greater responsibility comes a greater sense of reward and self-fulfillment. Although this career path may not be one of the highest paying jobs, and in fact, quite the opposite, success is defined by infinite other means, such as the feeling you will obtain when a child comes to you for guidance, or finally grasps the understanding of a topic that they had been struggling with.
You will feel this sense of elation once you are the one in the front of the room and lucky enough to be able to teach and to guide those pure, youthful and innocent faces that are essentially the future of our world.
