I remember the first time it happened. One of my parent's friends asked me what I had decided to major in at my high school graduation party and I responded that I was an Education major. "But you're so smart!" she said with a half smile on her face and a slightly disappointed tone in her voice. It was as if I had decided to live at home for the rest of my life and never wanted to attempt to pursue a career, like I was wasting my potential on something that didn't even matter.
Since then, I have had countless people ask me in a slightly condescending ways "just why" I want to be a teacher. I've heard everything from "You do realize that teachers make no money, right?" and "But you have so much to offer.." to "It's going to be hard to stay happy making that small of a salary."
Sorry, I forgot. It is both physically impossible and a crime for me to be happy unless I am making a six-figure salary. Although, there is absolutely nothing wrong with making a six-figure salary, there is equally nothing wrong with making less than that.
Alright, I am done ranting about money-- onto the point of this article.
I cannot tell you the amount of times that I have heard parents boasting about how wonderful their children's teachers are and what an incredible impact the are having.
Imagine that: Teachers are actually doing something worthwhile.
Here's the thing- we aren't Education majors because we think it'll be fun to not make any money. We aren't Education majors because we couldn't think of anything else to do. Most importantly, we aren't Education Majors because we don't care.
We know that if there aren't educators out there to motivate and inspire students to excel in their academics, that they might not go to college. We know that if we aren't there to encourage a student who has a terrible home life, they might not make it through the week. We know that if we help a student discover their passion, countless doors can be opened for them. We know that our job will go far beyond 3:30 afternoon on weekdays, and we know that it is so much more than teaching material to students. Robert Frost said it best when he said, "I am not a teacher, but an awakener."
So here's to you, past, present, and future educators. If it weren't for you, some of the world's greatest leader's wouldn't have been created, disease-curing research wouldn't have been successful, and students around the world wouldn't realize what they're capable of.
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."- William Butler Yeast
