A Teacher.

From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I can remember each time my mom brought home a new box of Crayola chalk, as I couldn’t wait to see if they were colored, thin, big, or simply white. To this day, I can still feel the chalk box opening, along with a circle of dust that would so lightly settle upon my nose in a perfect white cloud. I set my chalk up so perfectly, according to color and size, along my little green chalkboard. I brought the chalkboard outside every day after school. Many kids from my neighborhood would rush ever so quickly to get a seat in my class, which was held on our tiny apartment porch. As small as the porch was, we always managed to get everyone a viewing seat.

A Teacher is born every day from various circumstances.

Although teaching seemed to be an innate and/or natural occurrence, there was one particular external factor that played a key role in my big college decision to go into education (at 10 years old): experiencing and observing immediate family members struggle in various ways due to lack of education (which impacted me personally in every way). Yes, hard times hit home. However, I wouldn’t change my life, or my decision to go into education.

As I became older, I noticed how much I greatly enjoyed giving. I didn’t feel as if I were giving, but rather, receiving. Today, the students from my first fourth grade class (1997) have graduated college. Many of my former students have found me online, and what a gift it has been to see and share in their successes.

Why did you choose to become a teacher?

Was it an innate calling? Do you come from a family of teachers? Do you still feel the passion for the role? Did you ever feel the passion? Are you in the wrong profession (ouch)? Do you regret it (ouch, ouch)?

Being a teacher today is not an easy ride, as even finding a teaching position is extremely difficult. With all of the politics involved, the lack of state funding, the competition, and meeting the needs of greatly diverse students, I often wonder why there are so many people moving toward this field.

For more teaching articles, please visit: https://www.ednewsdaily.com/?p=1516