My Teaching "Why"

I never wanted to be a teacher. My goal in life from when I was a child until I graduated from college was to be a lawyer or an FBI agent. For my birthday in eighth grade, my parents bought me a book about how to get into the FBI. However, I elected to defer my law school enrollment after I graduated because I was having a moment of just wanting to be free and read books that I chose and enjoy my newlywed life. And as life goes, sometimes, I realized I wanted to do something different. I went back to school within six months and began an alternative path to becoming an educator. I started teaching while still doing my coursework, and I couldn't believe that I got to read books with kids and solve math problems all day and that was a job. It was fun. Even when it was hard (and there were many days as a new teacher that I cried, and I messed up, and I need a LOT of help), I still couldn't imagine what my life would have been like if I had become a lawyer (or an FBI agent).

I am an eternal student, and I think that's why I love teaching so much. I returned to school on many occasions to earn endorsements and honestly, just because there was something out there I needed to know. I love learning from teachers who are doing it better than me— and then I steal (with their permission) their ideas. I love having students who challenge me to be better because they need something different than what I'm doing. I love the moments of "Oh, that wasn't actually that hard. I thought it was until you explained it that way." That is what I LIVE FOR in my classroom. I tear up when I get emails from students I taught ten years ago when they say I was a part of their journey. I get goose bumps when a student sees my "All Are Welcome Here" sign with a pride symbol and says "I like your poster" very quietly on the way out of the room on the first day.

Being a teacher is my jam. It's who I am. So that is why I continue to do this through the really hard days, through the teacher strikes, through COVID-19 (although now all of this looks different, and I'm learning to adapt to that!).

If you're a fellow teacher, I'd love to hear your "why." If you're not, I'd love to hear about a teacher who made a difference for you or your child. <3

#teaching #why #inspiration