OK, so maybe I strayed from this dream for a few years in college, but being a teacher really has always been my dream job.

When I was in middle school, I dreamt of being a Math Teacher...until I realized that I was not gifted in math, like at all. Seriously, numbers and I are NOT friends.

In college, I took a little bit of a detour. You know, switched my major, transferred colleges, played the whole "what do I want to do game."

I stepped away from my dream of teaching for silly reasons. I asked myself questions like, "Do I want to go to law school?" (Spoiler: that became a big, fat NO.)

I thought I wouldn't be good enough.

I thought I wasn't gifted enough.

Quite simply, I thought I couldn't do it.

See, there's a lot of pressure in teaching. It's hard. A child's success rests on your shoulders.

You're trying to meet the standards presented to you by the state while simultaneously acknowledging that not all children learn or comprehend in the same way.

And, let's face it, teachers are grossly underpaid. (And, no, it's not just my opinion, it's been proven through factual studies.)

I wake up every morning for my class, for the students and for the lives I can impact.

I don't wake up for test scores.

I don't wake up to fail a student, contrary to popular belief.

I wake up and continue to drive to be my best, to improve myself so my students can be better.

I really wouldn't have it any other way, though. Teaching is my passion.

Watching a child finally "get it" is so rewarding.

It means more than any test score ever will to me.

See, I'm not a teacher because of this or that, I'm a teacher because it is my dream to let others see the beautiful thing that education can be when you dive into it.

I grew up loving school, but I know not everyone has that experience. I want to ensure that school is an environment where even if a student doesn't love it, they know it's a safe place, they know I genuinely care about them and their success and they know that despite what the scores say, they are valued.

Books aren't everyone's strong point, and that's OK. I entered education because it was my dream to show every child they matter, no matter what.