I am a teacher.

I have long days and long nights.

Summers are not off (as you may think).

I teach children values and manners.

I make children say "I'm sorry," and mean it.

I teach them math skills and discipline.

I will teach them to be empathetic, and how to spell it, too.

I will prepare children for the future by teaching them the past.

I push children to do their very best and make them work harder than they thought possible.

I make B+ feel like a battle wound, and a C- feel like a Nobel Prize.

I can make parents tremble in fear with a note from me.

"Mr. and Mrs. Jones, You child walked up to a peer that was standing alone and asked him to play today. That was very brave, and I am very proud."

I make parents see their children for who they really are.

My students are not just students but my children, too.

I wipe tears away and fix boo-boos.

I make the classroom a safe haven.

I am a teacher, but I am also:

A listener.

A nurse.

A part-time mom.

A supporter.

An actress.

A clown.

A puppeteer.

A friend.

I change lives and mold minds.

I make a difference.

Yes, I am a teacher. What are you?

As a teacher, often times we are under appreciated and so underpaid. I have been told my major is so easy. The favorite comment that I receive is "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." But if you look it up, the actual phrase comes from Aristotle, and it says "Those who can, do. Those who understand, teach." So what does that say of those who do?

As much as teachers are criticized for the work we do, people don't understand any aspect but that which they see. They don't see the long nights grading papers, tutoring and specialized learning instructions. No one ever realizes that the things in our classrooms often are paid for out of pocket. People don't understand that we don't teach for money, we teach for the love of seeing children learn and grow. The career of teaching is emotionally draining and rewarding at the same time.

You have the ability to read this article, to write comments and papers. You have the ability to add and subtract numbers, to do difficult equations. You can understand literature and know what happened in the Battle of 1812. You know that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. You know that certain chemicals can kill you, and others are needed to survive. You learn this all by sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher. You know how to say "please" and "thank you." You know when the appropriate time to talk is. You know manage your time and prioritize your work. You know how to share and how to socialize with others. You learned this by following a teacher's instruction.

I am a teacher, what are you?