What Do I Want To Be A Teacher?

On the first day of class we went around the room and told why we wanted to be a teacher. Whenever anyone asks me that question I immediately know the answer. I want to change the world. It’s that simple, or is it? After I say it I always feel sort of silly. How am I going to change the world by being an elementary school teacher? What can I really do and why do I think being a teacher will help me do it?

Well I always thought my passion for teaching came from my love of kids and my lack of ability to be good at any other job. But now, the further along I get in my ‘becoming a teacher’ process, I realize to be a true teacher, my inspiration has to come from something more than that. So I started digging deeper. I started asking myself what would make me happy for the rest of my life? What would I be proud to tell others I do? I realized I’ve always had this silly idea that if I’m not actively helping someone else then I’m not happy with myself. I only get this one life and I have to make it worth remembering.

So it may be silly and kind of childish, but my dream is to change the world. And I believe all change starts with knowledge. I’ve been told many times of the dangers of this degree. My sister asks me all the time why I’d want to be a poor school teacher will little respect for the rest of my life. My dad continually tells me I’m too smart to be a teacher. Can’t I see that although it’s a noble job, it’s also a worrisome one? He’s constantly afraid my life will always be a struggle if I become a teacher.

So I tell them what I know. I tell them that I think being a teacher is a job I could be proud of. I know it’s not the most fruitful job as far as perks and fancy things come, but I just couldn’t stand myself if I received a paycheck at the end of every month and didn’t earn it by helping another person. And I don’t want my life to be about money. I want it to be about what I can do for others. I want my life to be a contribution. I want people to know me for the things I made possible, for the positive changes I created in someone else’s life. Being a teacher gives me the opportunity to be this kind of person. Maybe one day I say the littlest thing to a child and later on when they’re fifty, that thing helps them overcome a great obstacle. Maybe one day I educate a future congress man/woman who later votes on a bill that impacts the world. Maybe one day I look at a child or listen to a child that has never been looked at or listened to and it saves their life. I know these are big outrageous ideas, but I think being a teacher is about all the possibilities. It has so many opportunities for amazing things to happen. Sure I’ll never be at the top of the food chain as far as dollar bills go, but I’ll be at the top as far as changing the world goes, and that I can live with.