Undeniably, the question college students are asked the most often is, “What’s your major?” After excitedly responding to this tremendously beloved question with “education” somewhere in the answer, we receive an immense outpour of support and praise. Just kidding; unfortunately, this is not the case for aspiring educators. A once considered noble career now has a monstrous stigma surrounding it, and it seems to be amplifying by the day. Many people—friends, family, strangers, and even teachers themselves will ask, “Why?” Some might even attempt to steer us naïve college students away from this undesired career choice.
More often than not, I do truly consider the things being said to me. It's pretty damn hard not to; the way teachers are demoralized and degraded by the public and our own government exceeds disturbing. There are clearly many unfair matters occurring in the teaching world—and although I can’t say I know what it feels like to actually be affected by them, I definitely acknowledge and am aware of them. In addition, we are warned of how poor we will be and of the fact that we are never ever going to find a job. Yes, teachers are not swimming around in pools of one hundred dollar bills at their over the top mansions; and yes, finding a job won’t be easy. None of it will be easy, and for me, that’s okay.
Aside from making sure students do not graduate high school without knowing the difference between “you're” and “your” (which is incredibly important), I want to be able to have an even more meaningful impact on people’s lives. Educators have the ability to change the world. Of course all teachers have days where they seriously contemplate flipping their desks and storming out of their classrooms in fits of rage, but I believe the nonmaterial rewards teachers get to take home at the end of the day makes the internal (or external) screaming worth it.
I think it’s important for my future students to be able to come to me with any questions or problems they have, whether they are English class related or not. During their high school years especially, it’s immensely imperative for students to know they have someone to go to if they feel like they are stuck in a dark and bottomless ditch deep in the realms of hell. (High school is a rough time, okay? Gosh.) I hope to be able to lead them into discovering what they think is important and teach them how to be passionate. Above all, I strive to get them to think. More specifically, think for themselves.
Until my last couple years of high school, I had not realized how much of an impact a pretty large handful of my teachers I had since my shy, problematic preschool days actually made without even knowing it. Sometimes, the littlest, seemingly insignificant things leave the most significant handprints on a student’s life. Likewise, students can change teachers for the better; as a teacher, I will not only be teaching students, but learning from them as well.
I aspire to live a fulfilling life, and being an educator is how I plan to do so. If you think negatively of this decision, think about a teacher who made positive impacts on your life. You are probably thinking of someone hardworking, intelligent, and maybe even inspiring. That is why I want to be a teacher. If no one comes to mind for you, I’m so sorry. That is also why I want to be a teacher.
