Why Teach?

When I tell people that I am attending University to become a teacher, not all of them understand.  Countless times I have been asked, "Out of all the careers you could have, why would you pick that?  Why teach?"  I pondered this question a lot, but eventually developed a response.

To everyone that has wondered "Why teach?" all I can say is

Why not...

• make the difference in the life of child?
• contribute to my community and the rest of society in the best way I am able?
• help a child fall in love with learning?
• have a career that I am so passionate about that I forget all about the paycheque?
• go to work where everyday is unpredictable and full of surprises - good and bad?
• make 20 new best friends every September?
• pay it forward for all the great teachers I had growing up?
• work for the goal that one day no child will hate going to school?
• create a better future for our world?
• have July and August, weekends and spring break to recharge and rejuvenate?
• take a child out of their unfair world and take them to a place where they can be safe and happy from 9:00 until 3:30 every day?
• work in a place where you can fingerpaint, read stories, go critter dipping, and have a teddy bear picnic all before noon?
• have a hand in creating the doctors, athletes, authors, musicians, parents, and teachers of tomorrow?
• have a profession where nothing is impossible and all dreams have the potential to come true?

I believe the career of a teacher is the path best suited for myself although I am aware of the challenges I will face.  There will be medical issues, technology problems, lack of resources, job stresses, days where I have to try hard to be energetic, and all the challenges that come from living and teaching in the same rural community.  These challenges are what will push me to continue learning and striving to become the best teacher I can be.