How did you know teaching was for you?
I’m currently going to school for a bachelors in political science, but for the past few years I’ve worked with kids during the summer (oldest 15 youngest 5, always in big groups no less than 15 children).
I love what I’m learning in school currently, and there’s different careers I can go into for it.
But I’ve realized that I love teaching my kids. There’s something special when you’re the person they go to with questions or concerns, when they want to tell you about their weekend or favorite food. When they put trust in you.
Even the more difficult kids I can’t help but care for. They get on my nerves, sure, but just like the rest, I love seeing the way their eyes light up when they understand what I’m teaching them.
And it’s like that for every kid I’ve had, the youngest to the oldest, the ones I’ve seen age out of where I work and the ones who are new.
But none of this means I’d be a good teacher. And kids deserve good teachers, no matter their age or personality, they deserve someone who will root for them.
And just because I know I can enjoy it, how do I know if I can truly make it? I’ve heard about the burnout, the low pay, the disrespect from students, parents and admin. When did you know that despite all of that, teaching was still for you? And how did you realize it was for you in the first place?