Ever since I was little, I have always thought about becoming exactly what my kindergarten teacher was: a teacher and a mom. Now that I'm older I know that my future revolves around more than just those two things, but teaching has always stayed a constant priority in my life. With that being said, I've developed a strong passion for everything surrounding the profession, from racial achievement gaps to Common Core, and I've noticed that this thankless job is more complicated than I once thought.

I have only been a college student for about six weeks, but I've come to find that they really weren't kidding when they said you'll meet people that don't seem fit at all for their major. Now, I don't say that to diminish anyone's goals, but rather to enforce a larger statement. All of my education professors and mentors have been emphasizing necessary traits to have in order to become a successful teacher, but one has really stuck with me: You need to 100%, without a single doubt, believe that every child can learn no matter their situation.

Hearing that gave me great assurance that I am pursuing the right career, but it was interesting to find out applying that mindset is harder than it seems. I have had many conversations recently with current teachers about how education has changed since I was in elementary school. Nearly every teacher referenced the issues kids are coming to school with nowadays. Teachers are no longer making kids more knowledgeable for the future; they are shaping their lives and helping them develop skills that fall way outside the box when you think of what being a teacher actually means.

Last week in my education seminar, my professor told us a story of an elementary student she had met a few years back. She told us that the 2nd grader had to wake up at 3 a.m. every morning in order to be dropped off with his babysitter and would then stay awake until the school day started by eating a box full of donuts. Understandably, by 10:00 a.m. the kid was ready to go to bed, but he always opted to throw a tantrum since he wasn't "allowed" to take a nap in school.

Do you still believe that this child can learn the same material as the student that eats a healthy breakfast and has a stable home life? Any teacher should, yet some do not or at least fail to effectively, put that belief into action. After hearing that story, my classmates and I had to talk about whether what she said excited us or scared us away from ever becoming a teacher. I'm sure there were people around me who wanted to run away after hearing that, but that story had the complete opposite effect on me.

We are at a time in our society that teachers are needed more than ever, but a lot of people are lacking the ability to stay with the profession as they realize that it is more than teaching 2 + 2 and walking students to lunch. You can no longer shut your door to the world during your 8-3 day. Teachers have to be involved or else their students will suffer. You have to care for the whole child, not just the one that shows up to school. However, many prospective teachers aren't taught that.

Understanding that experiences don't determine children's futures can easily be learned, but putting it into action is something some teachers don't have the patience to practice in their classrooms, so they ignore it. This in no way means there are no amazing teachers out there because there are so many that make this world go around. Rather, this just shows that teachers are no longer paid to solely educate: they have to support, encourage, feed, help, care, and, of course, teach.

Current and future teachers that love what they do and know that their job extends outside of the classroom encourage me to keep spreading the passion and importance of knowledge. Passion is important no matter your profession, and sometimes it is okay to have to be taught how to have it. With that said, to the next person that warns me that teaching isn't what it used to be: don't you worry. I am ready.