I’ve wanted to be a teacher ever since I realized my dream of being the fifth Cheetah Girl was unpractical. There is something so special about watching a child’s eyes light up when they finally understand a math concept they’ve been struggling with or when they learn something new. I am a firm believer that kid’s education is the hope for our future. Kids are capable of so much more than we think. And to all my fellow education majors out there, thank you for believing that too. Thanks for being awesome. But, it seems I get mixed reviews when I tell people what I am planning on doing with my life. Any time I run into an old friend or acquaintance, they want to know what my major is. I always excitedly tell them, “Elementary Education!” The responses I receive fall into a wide variety from thankfulness to disgust. For the other education majors who understand, you rock and you’re not alone. Here are just a few of the comments and questions I know we education majors are all tired of hearing.

1. "You’re not going to make much money." Umm, yeah. We know. You don’t have to remind us that a teacher’s salary isn’t the same as a neurosurgeon’s salary.
2. "Kids are brats. I’m so sorry. I would hate that." It always surprises how often I hear this. It’s insulting that people apologize to me about the profession I have chosen. Yes, some kids are brats. I would take dealing with bratty kids over dealing with bratty adults any day.
3. "Isn't your homework, like coloring?" I'm not sure why anyone would actually think this.
4. '"You know what they all say. 'Those who can, do, and those who can't do, teach.'" No. Just no.
5. "I was a babysitter once. So I understand." When did being an education major become a joke?
6. "Wow, your course load must be so easy!" You have to plan every single thing when you teach a lesson. You have to strategically think about simple things like passing out materials or giving away information to avoid chaos.
7. "I had a terrible fifth grade teacher!" Not all teachers are monsters, contrary to popular belief. In fact, very very few are.
8. "You're going to get burned out in a few years and hate it. I had a cousin that happened to." Education majors are organized and focused. We've got this figured out. That was just an anomaly.
9. "You get to give kids homework, but never have any yourself!" If only that was true. According to a 2012 Washington Post article, teachers, on average, work 53 hours a week.
10. "Do you really think kids will remember you?" Don't you remember your best teachers? That's what I thought.
11. "What a sweet job. You get all the summers off!" This is probably the most insulting comment I get. I can overlook someone not liking kids or not understanding what teachers do, but there’s nothing worse than someone thinking I’m in this for the wrong reasons. The benefits of teaching are emotional benefits, not salary or vacation days. There is nothing more rewarding than changing a child’s life for the better.

So here’s to all the education majors who keep getting backhanded insults and being under appreciated for all we do. Never forget how much what you do matters, even if other people do.