Tomorrow I begin my 13th "First Day of School" as a teacher and I am excited. I have students to get to know and new technology to implement. When tomorrow comes I will head off to school all wound up and energized to have a great year. People often ask me how I can get so excited to go back to school and why I teach. I never have time to tell them all the reasons teaching is so rewarding, but below is my explanation of why I teach.
Why Teach? I remember a friend asking me this very question. At the time, I was working in the banking industry by day and pursuing my degree in education by night. He couldn’t figure out why I was shifting from the business world to the education world. As clear as day, I remember the exact words that he said next. “You won’t become a millionaire!” I wasn’t sure what to say so I simply responded with, “Most likely, neither will you!” This was over a decade ago and in the meantime, I have earned a masters degree in education, am currently in my tenth year of teaching, and am not a millionaire (monetarily speaking). If I had known what I know now about teaching back during the night my friend was asking why, I would have responded much differently.
My response would have sounded something like this. I teach because I make a difference. I make a difference to hundreds of students who ask hundreds of questions a day. Questions about current events, the past and the future, problem solving, friendship, family, and countless other topics. In addition to answering student questions, I help them learn. Learn about required state curriculum and “real world” curriculum. Together, we solve problems, create problems, laugh, get angry, and develop relationships. How do I know that I make a difference and accomplish everything I just mentioned? The proof is in the handshakes, hugs, smiles, cookies, gifts, graduation parties, wedding invitations, family pictures, Christmas and thank you cards I receive. There isn’t a year gone by that I regret entering the world of teaching. I truly feel the difference I make is far greater than any million dollar goal I could have set for myself.
I believe that is why I teach. I cannot speak for other teachers but I guarantee that despite the frustrations involved with education, most would provide an answer similar to mine in respect to the optimism and good feelings I speak about. If one cannot respond this way, they should change professions. Maybe alter their career to the business world. The only advice I can give is to be careful what business career one turns to, because my friend, he isn’t a millionaire yet either!
E.T.C.
