Why Teaching? The Never-Ending Question Everyone Asks Me

Why do I want to teach? It is a question I get asked all the time, yet it never constitutes a simple answer. As I am about to embark on student teaching in a few weeks, perhaps it is necessary to reflect on this question fully. After all, it is essential to understand my motivations if I wish to fully succeed at the task at hand. My interest in teaching began many years ago, back in my junior year of high school.

One evening, I was up very late taking notes for my AP World History class -- WHAP for short. The way the class was set up, our readings were divided among class-organized study groups, so that nobody had to do the massively long readings by themselves. As such, it was important that each member of the group pull their weight and put together the best notes possible. Sadly, I cannot even remember what exactly I was reading about; however, I recall suddenly realizing that what I was doing was fun. I actually enjoyed what I was reading and putting together the best notes possible for my group.

With this realization, I began to put all sorts of effort into my notes, incorporating maps, pictures, graphics, and all sorts of extra stuff. I prided myself on putting together the best notes possible, especially because I enjoyed doing it. I looked forward to my history readings. I had always enjoyed the subject, but this was a new first for me. Later in the year, I can remember my interest evolving further. As I sat in class one day, I realized that I could see myself doing what my teacher does. I owe a lot to my WHAP teacher, Mrs. Mannino, for helping me discover my passion for both history and education.

As such, it is my goal as a teacher to help inspire others to find their passion, whatever it may be. I want to help the world become a better place. When teaching the social studies, I can help students understand the world that they will inherit when they grow up. While they may not fall in love with history as I did, I can help them become politically and culturally aware citizens, ready to take on the problems of the future in whatever manner they will have the capacity to do so.

I suppose teaching is in my blood. My grandmother was an ESOL teacher for a number of years, and my mother was a kindergarten teacher for a while before becoming incredibly involved in the PTA. I even gather some of it from my grandfather and my dad. The former is a fantastic manager of three softball teams, while the latter is one of the most respected coaches in my brother’s basketball league. Both love their jobs and take great enjoyment out of it. Helping others is in my heritage.

As I enter student teaching, it is important that I take time out of my busy schedule and reflect on my everyday activities. As such, I will continue writing about my student teaching experience as I see fit. I guess that makes this journal entry number one; who knows how many I will write -- but there will certainly be many adventures to talk about!