As a future educator, one is used to hearing, "Teachers don't make enough money so why would you want to teach for a living?" or "I could never wake up early to teach children." These are common phrases said by those who don't understand our want to be teachers. What these people don't know is that being a teacher is one of the most rewarding professions. We give our heart and soul to teach our youth and to build them into who they are going to be in the world, what can be better than that?
Sure, we have to wake up early every morning and pretend like we actually got enough sleep the night before, but the smiling faces of those children can change your mood in an instant. There is nothing greater than a child who is excited to learn. It takes numerous amounts of patience as all children do not learn at the same level but watching them succeed may be one of the greatest feelings in the world.
Not all of our students will go on to do great things or make a lot of money and we understand that. Yet, some of our students may become doctors, scientists, lawyers and even teachers. Knowing that they were once influenced by your lessons is very rewarding. You know that you not only taught that child basic math or how to spell, but also valuable life lessons and conduct.
Yes, teachers are there to educate their students, but they aim to teach a deeper lesson. They want to inspire the students to be the best THEY can be, not what everyone else wants them to be. They want the shy girl who never raises her hand to know she can raise her voice and she will be heard and the boy who wears old clothes to know that he can overcome any challenge and have a bright future. All children deserve to believe they can do anything they want as long as they set their mind to it. It's our job to make sure they know that.
As future educators, we promise to come to class every morning with a smile on our face and an open mind. We will teach but will also learn from our students and what they have to offer. We will protect and care for all our students and push them to reach their goals. Yes, we may not get paid the best and have to deal with young children for eight hours, but knowing we are making a difference in their lives is worth way more than any salary.
