Let me be the first to tell you, our major is not the easiest major. You may think all we do is cut papers and color, but that doesn't even scratch the surface. We are being taught how to teach. Sounds weird right? That's the truth. We aren't mini adults coloring in the library like you all think.
Education majors are responsible for a lot during their first year at the university level. You have to choose the age group you want to teach, early childhood, elementary or secondary. After that, you decide if you want to teach general education or special education. If you choose general education you have to pick a content area to major in. If you choose special education, you have to choose your certification, learning disabilities, cognitive impairment or anything else your school offers. On top of your certification you declare a second major, elementary or secondary education.
When we are in the classroom, we are learning how to teach every content area necessary for our degree and are required to spend countless hours observing. We have standards to learn, requiring hours of lesson planning. This major, and all the work we put in, is nothing close to easy or simple. We take anywhere from four to ten classes a semester, averaging eighteen to twenty one credits. We study for thirty plus hours a week, on top of attending our classes, working, eating and sleeping. There is no free time.
EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE HARDEST MAJORS.
Ask an education major the last time they were able to spend a day without worrying about planning a lesson, studying or going to an observation. Many won't have an answer. We are pushed beyond our limits, but we love it.
I love being an education major. I work my tail off every semester to keep myself on track for graduation. In the end, all the blood, sweat and tears will be worth it. All the late nights cramming the ABC's of Special Education and the Trinity, will always be worth it. After all, we go to school to teach. We could only wish it were as simple as everyone assumes it was.
