People have debated for years and years what the most difficult job to have is. People have said being a doctor or becoming a lawyer is one of the hardest tasks, but I beg to differ.
In the four years it takes to become a teacher individuals will have endless hours of research, projects and many, many, many hours observing a classroom setting. In my case, my days in college consisted of going to class, spending four hours in a second-grade classroom and then going to work. It wasn't just about going to class and writing a paper. Going to school to become a teacher is a lot of school work and learning how to work with kids so they can learn and grow in a safe and loving environment.
Once you graduate, take all the tests required, fill out all the forms and become a certified teacher, you then get to live the dream. You spend all summer getting your classroom ready -- you spend your own money to get what your students deserve. The first day of school rolls around and you get to meet your class, greet parents and start your day. The school year is now underway!
Unlike most jobs, being a teacher is something you can't do in a 9 to 5 work day. It's not something you clock in and out for. Being a teacher is an all day, everyday type of job. You spend your nights thinking about and reviewing the day you just had, and then you spend your morning thinking about what you are going to do that day. When half days come around, you spend your afternoon brainstorming and figuring out new ways to help kids learn fractions and the solar system. Weekends are full of shopping for inexpensive snacks and school supplies because you have two little kiddos whose parents can't afford those things. They are also spent typing up newsletters and cutting out shapes and letters for your next unit.
Being a teacher is way more than just a 9 to 5 job. Becoming a teacher is way more than just going to college. Having a heart for kids and being able to help them thrive isn't something a textbook can teach you. Being a teacher isn't all play-doh and coloring.
The next time you go thinking being a teacher is easy, rethink your whole life. Think about who shaped you, think about who taught you the basics. Think about who taught you to skip, who taught you to count and who taught you to write. Being an educator is the hardest job you will ever come across; luckily for you, teachers will never complain that it is the hardest job on the planet. They will never play the pity card or spend Thanksgiving complaining about how much they hate their job. They will spend Thanksgiving talking about how cute their kids are and how much they love helping them every day.
