Dear Future Teacher,
No matter where you are in your education these words are meant for you. Do you ever have those thoughts about "Why did I choose this career? I guess there is nothing else I am good at in the world. Why does everyone always feel sorry for me when I say I am going to be a teacher?" Well my dear friend I have some words to share with you.
This career path was meant for you. Think to yourself why are you here? You must love working with children. Something just clicks between you and a child and there is automatic chemistry. Are you the person who plays with the children at a social event? Exactly. For some of you, you knew you wanted to be a teacher since you were little and it has been your path since you can remember. For others, you had that one experience that changed your life forever. Either way--this is the job for you. You may not do it for the pay, but you do it to make a positive difference in the world.
Only a select amount of people can actually do what you are going to do. You have the skills to make a difference in someone's life. You have the willpower to sculpt the next generation. Think back to when you were in grade school. Think about that one teacher who just understood you and was your "favorite". You can be that for so many students. You have the opportunity to educate children on the world around us. Who else has that opportunity?
I know times may get hard. Four years of college seems like a lot. They will drill you again and again the importance of Piaget and having effective classroom management. Sometimes you think "Wow! Am I really ready for this?" Student teaching may kick your butt and some of the projects the professors have you do may seem preposterous but they are preparing you to turn from a student to a teacher. There will be late nights studying different research and theory to add last minute to your edTPA but it will all be worth it. Don't worry, you will make it through.
Why did you pick this career? You did not pick this career because of the financial benefits (or lack of)--you did not pick this career because it is easy to just "play with kids all day". No. You chose this career path to be that role model in someone's life. You chose this career to work hard on a student assuring they understood a lesson and to finally have them say "I get it." Sure you may be criticized on your career choice, but odds are they are just jealous that YOU get the opportunity to shape the minds of young people. You make the difference in the world, one child at a time.
Sincerely,
Another future teacher
