Teachers don’t work for the income, teachers work for the outcome. A question I’ve been asked at least a hundred times, why do you want to be a teacher? They don’t make that much? How are you going to survive on a salary, while all of those snot nose kids turn your hair to shades of grey? People like to think I’m crazy for wanting to become a teacher, but what they fail to realize is that I’m not doing it for me. Becoming a teacher is one of the most selfless careers I can think of, because your students' success comes first. Everything else in your life takes a backseat. I'm becoming a teacher for the money- if I wanted money I wouldn't be a teacher. However, I do want to become a teacher so that I can help educate and teach our next generation.
My english professor once asked my class to think of a past english teacher that inspired and motivated us to become teachers. While I couldn't think of an english teacher that inspired me to choose secondary education, it was easy to think of the reasons why I wanted to become a teacher. School was fun and exciting for me. I've always been intrigued with reading, writing, history and the way literature has evolved is over time. The good teachers helped me pursue those interests with passion and encouragement, truly those are the best kinds of teachers.
With the good and great teachers, also comes the bad ones. Teachers that take an actual interest in their students lives are the ones students become inspired by. Those who make it a point to teach with passion end up looking less robotic, and more authentic. Bad teachers are those that show little interest in the subjects they are teaching, doing little to go beyond the textbook to even notice the students in the room. Classrooms that were engaging are the ones I stayed awake, eager and excited to learn. Most kids in high school have a hard enough time trying to figure out who they are, so why should they have to hate going to school too? I do not particularly like the way the current generation of students are showing a natural dislike for school- seeming to put less passion and effort into their education. This is one reason I want to be a teacher, I want to change what is becoming the norm. I want my students to leave my classroom, telling their younger siblings how great of a teacher I am. But more importantly I want them walking away, remember that school and learning can be so much fun.
It doesn't take much more than a Google search to find out that teacher's are extremely underpaid- that's no secret. So why would anyone want to enter a career in which you may or may not have to get a side job to survive? Because for teachers, Its not about the money, holidays or summers off, it’s about making a difference in at least one child’s life. It’s about teaching kids how to be confident, encouraging good morals and how not to be apart of the problem. I couldn't care care less about the money, but I know that I will be able to sleep at night simply knowing that maybe, just maybe, I changed a student's life and perspective on learning.
