“Oh, you want to be a teacher?” “You know they don’t make that much money, right?” “How in the world are you going to deal with kids that long?” “I mean at least your classes are probably easy.”
Well, first of all, I’m obviously not in it for the money, or I would have chosen a different major. And I don’t really have time to address all of your concerns because I really don’t care.
But, what I would like you to know is yes, I want to be a teacher.
Yes, maybe I won’t make that much money, but I am going to make a lot more than just money.
You see, the opportunity to impact a child’s life is so fascinating to me. This is something that money cannot buy. I will get to spend eight hours a day with my students — more time than their parents.
So, no matter how bad their home life is, I am going to make sure that the eight hours a day they spend with me, in my classroom, is special. I am going to make sure that this is a time where they are comfortable, safe and feel loved because maybe they don’t have a home like that to go home to.
I am excited to teach them math, but I am more excited to teach them life lessons.
Maybe 2 + 2 isn’t just 4 — maybe it's the first time they have ever felt accomplished. Maybe 2 + 2 is the first time they have ever felt worth it. Maybe it’s the first time that they have ever felt like they were good enough.
And I am even more excited for them to teach me life lessons. There is so much I am going to learn from those little brains and I cannot wait.
I am excited to teach them that life will be difficult; it won’t always be rainbows and butterflies. But, life is still beautiful. And we are all still living on this beautiful earth. We should all have equal opportunity in this life, and I will encourage them to fight for this right.
I am going to watch them fall so many times, but I cannot wait to watch them get up so many more.
And maybe the fact that they can get up so many times, will encourage me to get up when I am kicked to the ground.
So yes, I want to be a teacher. I'm not saying that this is the most glamorous job in the world because it isn’t.
I know there will be rough days, but every single night will be one where I am able to go to bed knowing that I will get to go to a job that I love the next day.
