I have waited my whole life to go to school to be a teacher. For a long time, I have known there is much more to teaching than what most people think. A lot goes on in the classroom, but the job doesn't stop there. I think it is important for people to know that. Those who are meant to be educators won't let the daunting parts of life as a teacher scare them out of this career choice. However, there are definitely fun and exciting "perks" that come with the job. I, for one, am excited to face and conquer all aspects of this career path as best as I can.

I'd say one goal that is probably the main priority of teachers across the globe is the opportunity to change kids' lives and prepare them for the future. This sounds cute and hopeful, but it's actually quite a large goal.

So let's begin by touching on just a few fun aspects of the teaching profession. One is that we get to be a positive light in students' lives. When students need someone to listen to their thoughts or issues, it is our responsibility to be a person outside of their home environment who can help them or guide them to someone who can. Another thing is that teachers have the pleasure of seeing smiles on their students' faces every day. A smile can brighten up anyone's day. And how lucky we are that many kids love to smile (often with a few missing teeth!) We also get to expose children to learning through means that they never would have imagined. I am currently taking a theater class focused on bringing the arts into the classroom. I am learning so much about implementing things in the classroom that are not just typed and printed on a piece of paper. If I'm blown away by creative ways of learning, I'm sure my future students will be as well.

Then there's the more difficult side of teaching. Along with being someone who students feel comfortable talking to, you often have to hear about unfortunate things that go on in kids' lives. This can be difficult for teachers to deal with because we don't want our students to suffer in any way. Another thing that teachers go through is constant reflection. Teachers are always criticizing their lessons and striving to do better for the sake of their students. This can be mentally draining, but I'd say it's worth it.

Being challenged with the highs and lows of teaching doesn't deter me from following my dream. If anything, it makes me more excited to tackle them!