I am excited about becoming a teacher because…
Woah. That sentence is simultaneously so easy and so difficult to put an answer on. I could tie it up in a little bow and say “I am excited about becoming a teacher because I want to make a difference.” But that answer feels vague and common. So I could be more specific and say that “I am excited about becoming a teacher because I want to share my love for English and language with the next generation.” While that’s entirely true, it isn’t all encompassing.
There are too many reasons for why I am excited about becoming a teacher.
The common answer of “helping others” is certainly up there. However, I think it’s more than helping students succeed in whatever grade and subject I teach. Helping others as a teacher looks like helping students fall in love with learning. It means teaching them resilience and social skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Helping students looks like keeping them safe– physically and emotionally.
I am excited about the sleepless nights I will have as a teacher, spent wondering if my lesson was effective or if my students had enough to eat for dinner. I am excited to spend my own money on classroom decorations and supplies in order to create a welcoming classroom.
In terms of subject area, I am so excited to teach students how to read and write: skills that I find absolutely essential in every corner of life. I already think about ways that I can convince even the most reluctant student to care about commas. The ideas intoxicate me with excitement.
But. I’m concerned about teaching because… Well honestly? I don’t often let myself ponder these reasons because they pale in comparison to the ones above (thankfully!). However, as I get older and make-slash-spend money, I come closer to worrying about my future salary. I grew up very comfortable, and I want to give that to my future kids as well. Maybe I can have another job. Maybe I won’t need to be the main breadwinner for my family.
The one worry that I can’t explain away? Safety.
School shootings are so commonplace that I’ve almost accepted it as part of the job description. My solution? Not to think about it. It deeply saddens me that I will likely be trained to protect my students in the instance of an intruder or other safety threat. Although, I anticipate that I will love my students so deeply that I would do anything for them. Including practicing, and God forbid needing to use, these safety measures.
At the end of the day, I am so excited to love my future students. I hope that they will easily imagine me as a freshman in college typing away at my computer with a smile, already obsessed with the education field. Because hi, that’s me, and I’m your teacher!
