So of course, when you are graduating high school and going into college, everyone wants to know what you are majoring in. People usually will say “Wow, that’s great” and obviously, “Congratulations!”. When people first ask me what I am majoring in at school and I say Special Education, usually the first thing that comes out of their mouth after that is either, “Wow, you must have a lot of patience”, or even, “That’s a really tough job, good for you.” It is so much more than that.
Ask any of us why we are doing this or why we want to become a Special Ed teacher. It is not because we think we have patience. We want to do this because it is for the students. We want to watch them learn and succeed when others think they can’t. I, in particular, wanted to become a special education teacher because I want to make a difference in the lives of children that otherwise would not have the chance. I want to help them reach their full potential when others have given up on them, and especially when they have given up on themselves.
One of the main reason I want to work in Special Ed is because for so many of the students that need it, many teachers or adults do not want to work with them because they don’t want the problem. Some will give up on them when they need the support the most. Why though? They are people just like any other students. We want to work with these kids because they have so much more to offer the word than just a possible disability that they might have. So many of them have amazing talents and skills or are even brilliant, but you just have to figure out how to get through to them in the best way possible and not let them down.
Although there are many different aspects that go into teaching in general, it is so much more than all the paper work and frustrations. Even talking to teachers now, many say it’s a lot of work and that it it frustrating- but that’s the point! You go through all of these troubles to make it all better for the kids. Not only to difference in their lives, but your own too. We know what we are getting ourselves into, and that is what draws so many of us to become teachers.
Think of it this way. All kids go to school and have teachers. Other than parents, we are the ones that nurture the students and teach them to help them be whatever we want to be. Teachers teach the presidents, doctors, nurses, policeman, and even teach future teachers. Teachers are a part of everyone’s lives no matter what they are doing. It is their job to help make a difference in their student's lives. You are in school from pre-school, to high school and even college. Everyone has a lot of teachers in their lives that help them along the way. Plus, if you really think about it, they are the ones that teach you how to do what you want to do in life. I can tell you that if you ask anyone that is an education student in college or an actual teacher, they will tell you that they wanted to become a teacher because they had one in their lives that inspired them to be the difference in someone else. I sure did.
So, if you are ever on the fence about becoming a teacher or not, think "why not?". You are the one that can make a difference in so many kid's lives, and you are the one that teaches the future leaders of America everything that is needed. What’s stopping you from making a difference in their life and your own? I have already gotten so much more out of it than I ever imagined and so can you.
