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Why I Want to Be a Teacher

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Published: Mar 18, 2021

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why i love being a teacher essay

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19 Top Ideas for a “Why I want to be a Teacher” Essay

Here are the 19 best reasons you would want to be a teacher that you can include in your essay:

  • To help children learn more effectively.
  • To ensure children have positive mentors.
  • To improve children’s lives.
  • To help future generations solve the problems of today.
  • To help the future generations become good citizens.
  • To inspire future generations to create a more equal world.
  • To give back to the community I grew up in.
  • To be a part of helping my community thrive.
  • To be a part of my community’s decision-making processes.
  • Because you have the patience for working with children.
  • Because you have compassion for children.
  • Because you want to learn from children.
  • Because you’re enthusiastic about learning.
  • Because you are a generous person.
  • Because you’re interested in learning how to teach difficult students.
  • Because you’re interested in learning how to work with difficult parents.
  • Because you’re interested in learning diverse strategies for teaching,
  • Because you’re interested in learning to master classroom management.
  • Because you’re interested in learning what works and what doesn’t in teaching.

The ‘Why I want to be a teacher’ essay is all about showing you have thought in-depth about what a teacher does and what their role is in society. It’s also about showing you think you’d be a good person to conduct that role.

The 9 Tips are split into five categories. You can scan this whole post or browse through the categories here:

This essay is hard to get right.

Most students write the exact same thing as one another with the same old cliché statements like “because I love kids” (ugh, wrong answer!). If you do this, your teacher will just give you an average grade (or worse).

You need your essay on “why you want to be a teacher” to be different – indeed excellent – so it stands out for your teacher.

I’ll show you how.

Why should you listen to me? Well, I’ve been teaching university students in education departments for 8 years. In that time I’ve marked several thousand essays by people aiming to become teachers. I know what essays get top marks and which ones are average. I also know exactly what mistakes students make that make their essays seem … dull.

So, let me get you started out by introducing 19 points that you should make in your essay on why you want to be a teacher. I’ll break these 19 points down into 5 separate categories. Check them out below.

Read Also: Is Being a Teacher Worth It? (Why I Quit a Good Job)

1. Definitely do not say “because kids are fun”. Do this instead.

The word ‘fun’ is a big red flag for markers. Too many people want to become teachers because they think it would be a fun profession. Or, they might think that they want to help children have fun . No, no, no.

This is an incorrect answer in your essay about why you want to become a teacher.

Yes, teaching is fun a lot of the time. And it is really nice to see students having fun based on activities you’ve set for them.

But society isn’t paying you to have fun, or even to make children have fun. You’re not going to be a child minder, aunt, uncle or clown. You’re going to be a professional who has a bigger social purpose than having fun.

Now, a lot of students say to me “But, students learn more when they’re having fun.” Sure, that might be true – but it’s not a central reason for teaching.

If making learning more fun is genuinely a reason why you decided to become a teacher, then you need to frame it in a way that shows the importance of teaching for the good of students. Here’s three better ways to say ‘because kids are fun’; for each on, we can start with “I want to become a teacher because…”:

  • I want to help children learn more effectively. You could say something like: …When I was in school, learning was hard and I therefore hated teaching. There were a lot of teachers who seemed uninspired and uninterested in whether their children are learning. I was inspired to become a teacher so I could help children like myself to learn in ways that are engaging, motivating and inspiring.
  • I want to ensure children have positive mentors. You could say something like: …Many children in the world don’t have positive mentors at home. A teacher is often the one person in a child’s life who is a stable mentor that the child can lean upon. I chose to become a teacher because I believe all children need a positive mentor that instils in them an interest in the world and a belief that they can make something of themselves.
  • I want to improve children’s lives. You could say something like: …Being a teacher will give me the power to make children’s lives better. Learning opens doors to new opportunities, ways of thinking and paths in life that children wouldn’t have had before me. I am inspired by the idea of helping a child who is sad, uncertain and lacks confidence to see their own potential for creating a fulfilling life for themselves.

All three of those ideas still skirt around the idea that helping children have fun is something you want to see happen, but they also point out that there’s something deeper here than the idea that children should have fun: they should have fun for a reason. That reason could be so they learn more, develop an interest in the world, or see that their lives are full of potential.

Note that in my three examples above, I never used the word ‘fun’: it’s too much of a red flag for your markers.

2. Explain how teaching helps the world! Here’s how.

Have you ever heard someone say that ‘Teaching is a noble profession’? Well, it is. And this is something you really should be talking about in your essay on why you want to become a teacher.

Your teacher will be impressed by your understanding that teaching is a profession that keeps the world turning. Without teachers, where would we be? Probably back in the dark ages where people couldn’t read or write, technology wasn’t advancing very quickly at all, and people mostly lived in ignorance of their world.

So, being a teacher is has a bigger social purpose. As a teacher, you’ll be an important piece of society. You’ll be one of the army of tens – no, hundreds – of thousands of people helping future generations to propel our world towards better days. Below are some ways teaching helps the world. You can start these off with “I want to become a teacher because…”

  • I want to help future generations solve the problems of today. Being a teacher gives you the opportunity to propel students to greater heights. The children in your classrooms will be the people who solve climate change (oh, goodness, I hope so!), create the technologies to make our lives more comfortable, and get us out of the ecological, economic and political messes we seem to have gotten ourselves into!
  • I want to help the future generations become good citizens. There’s a concept called the ‘ hidden curriculum ’. This concept points to the fact that children learn more at school than what’s in the tests. They also learn how to get along, manners, democratic values and the importance of sharing. These soft skills are more than just a by-product of education. They’re incredibly important for showing our students how to get along in our society.
  • I want to inspire future generations to create a more equal world. A lot of what we talk about at school are moral issues: what’s the right and wrong thing to do? How do our actions ensure or hinder equality of races, genders and social classes? As a teacher, you will be instilling in children the idea that the decisions they make will lead to a more or less equal world. And of course, we all want a more equal world for our children.

These points are some higher-order points that will help you teacher see that you’re becoming a teacher for more than ‘fun’. You’re becoming a teacher because you see the noble purpose in teaching. If you do this right, you’ll surely impress your teacher.

3. Discuss your commitment to community. Here’s how.

Teachers are at the center of communities. Parents take their children to school, drop them off, then go to work. They busily get on with their jobs: architect, shop assistant, nurse, builder, and so on… Then, they all come back at the end of the day to collect their children from school.

School is one of the few things that brings all of these different members of a community together. Parents gather around the pick up location to gather their kids, and there they stand around and chat about sports and politics and community issues.

School is at the heart of community.

And you, as a teacher, will be one of the respected members of that community: there to serve all the members of the community by helping to raise their children with the values of the community in which you live.

You can talk about this as a central reason why you want to be a teacher. How about you start off with: “I want to become a teacher because…”

  • I want to give back to the community I grew up in. You could say …I grew up in a close-knit community where we all looked out for one another. Being a teacher will give me the opportunity to give back to my friends and mentors in the town who need someone to raise their children who they trust will do a great job.
  • I want to be a part of helping my community thrive. You could talk about how you are from a growing community that needs good quality, respectable people who will educate future members of your community. As a teacher, you will be at the heart of ensuring your local town remains a great place to live.
  • I want to be a part of my community’s decision-making processes. Teachers hold a certain authority: they know how students learn, and they usually have a very deep understanding of what is best for children in order to ensure they thrive. You can talk about how you want to become a person with deep knowledge about the children in your community so you can help guide you community’s decisions around how to raise their young people.

Note that in this group of ideas, ‘community’ represents the close-knit town in which you live, whereas in point 2, I talked about ‘society’, which was the bigger picture of the future of our nation or world rather than just your town.

4. Discuss the personality traits you think you can bring to the role. Here’s how.

You should show how you have reflected on the requirements of the role of teaching and thought about whether you have the personality traits that are required.

Why? Well, you need to be able to show that you know what being a teacher is all about… and that you think you’d be good at it.

So, let’s dive in to 5 personality traits that teachers have, and how you can show you have those traits:

  • Patience. Patience is an enormously popular skill for teachers to have. You’ll have kids who just don’t understand concepts one iota, and you’ve got to sit there and work with them until they get it. It’s tedious, let me tell you!
  • Compassion. Patience and compassion go hand-in-hand. If you don’t feel empathy for the kid who’s struggling super hard at learning, you’ll get pretty mad and just give up. You might also say some mean things to the kid! So, compassion is really necessary if you want to become a good teacher.
  • Open minded. Teachers always need to be learning new things. We often talk about the importance of learning with students more than directly teaching If you set a student a task, you’ll be sending them out to gather as much information on the topic as possible. They’ll often come back with new knowledge and you will want to praise them for teaching you something new.
  • Enthusiasm. Let me tell you, when it’s Wednesday afternoon in the middle of a hot school week and everyone’s depressed and flat there’s one person to rally the troops: you! Teachers need to wake up every morning, put their happy face on, and march into the classroom with boundless enthusiasm. It’ll motivate your students and make them feel welcome in the learning environment.
  • Generosity. You need to be generous with your time and praise. You need to be constantly thinking about the students in your care and doing anything you can to help them learn, instil in them a love of learning, and give them the confidence to try anything. Teachers need to be very generous people.

There’s a ton more traits that make a good teacher that you can talk about. These are just a few. Go forth and learn more, and add them to your essay!

5. Conclude with the things you still need to learn. Here’s how.

One more thing: good teachers are constantly learning. As someone studying to be a teacher, you need to remember that there’s a long way to go before you have all the answers. Heck, I’ve been a teacher for nearly a decade and I’m not even half way towards knowing everything about being a good teacher.

So, conclude your essay by highlighting that you understand what the role of a teacher is in society and the key competencies required of a teacher; but then go further and mention your enthusiasm to learn more about the profession over the coming years.

Here’s 5 things you can mention that you still need to learn:

  • How to teach difficult students. Some students hate school – mostly because of their terrible experiences in the past. You need to learn to get through to difficult students, and this takes time and patience to learn the art of inspiring the uninspired.
  • How to work with difficult parents. Oh boy, you’ll have a lot of these. You can highlight this as one of the key things you want to work on in the coming years: again, you’ll need to draw on that skill of patience (as well as the skill of diplomacy ) when it comes time to deal with an angry parent.
  • Diverse strategies for teaching. There are a lot of different ways to go about teaching. Over the years you’ll pick up on the various strategies and tricks different teachers have to help children learn.
  • Classroom management. This is one of the hardest things young teachers need to learn. And really, it just takes time. Discuss how this is something you want to focus on, and how you’ll use mentors to really work on this skill.
  • What works and what doesn’t. Great teachers have this intuitive knowledge about what works and what doesn’t, all based upon their deep experience and trial-and-error. The only way to learn to teach is to do it. Over the coming years, you’ll be learning about this. A lot.

You’ll only need one or two paragraphs on this final point, but it’s a great way to end your essay on why you want to become a teacher. It’ll show your humility and eagerness to take on one of the noblest professions in the world.

If you want to learn to write a top notch conclusion, you might also like my post on the 5 C’s Conclusion method .

Before you finish up your essay, you might want to check out my awesome posts on how to improve your essays, like these ones:

  • How to write a killer Introduction
  • My perfect paragraph formula , and
  • How to edit your essay like a pro .

I promised 19 thoughtful points to make in your essay about why you want to be a teacher. Here they are, all summed up in one final list:

  • Say you want to help children learn more effectively.
  • Say you want to ensure children have positive mentors.
  • Say you want to improve children’s lives.
  • Say you want to help future generations solve the problems of today.
  • Say you want to help the future generations become good citizens.
  • Say you want to inspire future generations to create a more equal world.
  • Say you want to give back to the community you grew up in.
  • Say you want to be a part of helping your community thrive.
  • Say you want to be a part of your community’s decision-making processes.
  • Say you want to share your patience with your students.
  • Say you want to share your compassion with your students.
  • Say you want to learn from your students (be ‘open minded’)
  • Say you want to share your enthusiasm for learning with your students.
  • Say you want to share your generosity with your students.
  • Say you’re interested in learning how to teach difficult students.
  • Say you’re interested in learning how to work with difficult parents.
  • Say you’re interested in learning diverse strategies for teaching,
  • Say you’re interested in learning to master classroom management.
  • Say you’re interested in learning what works and what doesn’t in teaching.

Why I want to be a teacher essay

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
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Top 10 Reasons Why I Love Being a Teacher

teacher

Being a teacher isn’t going to make anyone rich—but it is one of the most rewarding careers on the planet. A teacher can have a huge impact on a child’s life, and to see a child progress and grow is something that brings great joy to teachers.

So why teach? Here’s why I do it:

1. I make a difference – As a teacher, I can positively influence a child’s way of thinking or doing. Essentially, I can be the positive influence in their lives.

2. I can inspire – I can help students build self-esteem and believe in themselves and their ability to learn, no matter their background or abilities.

3. I can mentor a child – Children sometimes need someone to look up to and to aspire to be like. A teacher can help guide a child down the right path in life—one that will lead to the greatest successes.

4. I experience a diverse world – Students can come to school from various socio-economic statuses, ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and abilities. This keeps me grounded and helps me to develop empathy for all children.

5. I can care for those less fortunate – There are many children who come to school unfed and poor. It’s up to us teachers to let them know that someone cares for their education as well as for their health and well-being.

As a teacher I can be a life-long learner

6. I can be a life-long learner – Teachers are required to take professional development courses in order to renew their certificate periodically. Being an educator allows me to keep learning and growing in knowledge.

7. I can encourage children to dream – Dreams lead to big ideas—which can lead to innovations and changes for the future. A teacher can inspire kids to think beyond their comfort zones and challenge them to reach their fullest potential.

8. I live with a deep sense of purpose – As a teacher, I believe I have a reason for doing what I’m doing. It helps bring value and meaning to my life.

9. I want to ignite the spark of learning – There are many students who say they hate school because it’s boring. I want to spark their interest and help them understand that they are smart and capable of learning, no matter their ability.

10. To prove that one person can make a difference – I can’t teach every child in the world—but I can make a difference for the ones that I do teach. The impact I have on their lives can stay with them throughout their years of schooling and beyond.

I’ve realized that I want to change the educational system completely

When I first began teaching, I only thought about teaching my students and what impact I could have on them. As I’ve grown older and more experienced, I’ve realized that I want to change the educational system completely. I hope to influence other teachers to be as passionate about teaching as I am, and I want to influence lawmakers to make policy that will be in the best interest of teachers and children. As teachers, we are on the front lines and have the greatest effect on children. It’s an awesome responsibility—one that I will always be willing to accept.

Read more:  ELLs: Connecting What Students Know to What They Need to Learn

By- Angela Padrón

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Essay About Being a Teacher: Top 5 Examples and Prompts

If you are writing an essay about being a teacher, here are some examples to give you inspiration.

Without a doubt, teaching is one of the most important professions one can have. Teachers give children the lessons they must learn to face the future and contribute positively to society. They can be considered the gateway to success stories such as Oprah Winfrey , Adele , and John Legend , all of whom have cited their teachers as major inspirations to their careers. 

Many educators would say that “teaching is its own reward.” However, it may be difficult to see how this is the case, especially considering the fact that being an educator entails massive amounts of stress and pressure. Teaching has actually been reported to be one of the most underpaid jobs , yet many teachers still love what they do. Why is this?

If you want to write an essay about being a teacher, whether you are one or not, you can get started by reading the 5 examples featured here. 

1. Reflections on being a teacher … by Darren Koh

2. teaching in the pandemic: ‘this is not sustainable’ by natasha singer, 3. why i got rid of my teacher’s desk by matthew r. morris, 4. stress is pushing many teachers out of the profession by daphne gomez, 5. doubt and dreams by katheryn england, top writing prompts on essay about being a teacher, 1. what makes teaching so fulfilling, 2. what can you learn from being a teacher, 3. why do people become teachers, 4. should you become a teacher, 5. how have teachers helped you become who you are today.

“Although strictly speaking, based on the appointments I hold, I really do not have time to do much of it. I say teach, not lecturing. The lecturer steps up to the lectern and declaims her knowledge. She points out the difficulties in the area, she talks about solutions to problems, and she makes suggestions for reform. The focus is on the subject – the students follow. The teacher, however, needs to meet the students where they are in order to bring them to where they have to be. The focus is on the student’s ability.”

Koh writes about how he teaches, the difficulties of teaching, and what it means to be a teacher. He helps his students hone their skills and use them critically. He also discusses the difficulty of connecting with each student and focusing their attention on application rather than mere knowledge. Koh wants students to achieve their full potential; teaching to him is engaging, inspirational, and transparent. He wants readers to know that being a teacher is rewarding yet difficult, and is something he holds close to his heart.

“‘I work until midnight each night trying to lock and load all my links, lessons, etc. I never get ahead,” one anonymous educator wrote. ‘Emails, endless email. Parents blaming me because their kids chose to stay in bed, on phones, on video games instead of doing work.’”

Singer writes about the difficult life of teachers trying to balance in-person and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of the standard class routine, being a teacher during the pandemic has entailed the burden of handling students who opt for remote learning. They are faced with additional struggles, including connection issues, complaining parents, and being overworked in general- it’s as if they teach twice the number of classes as normal. This is exhausting and may prove detrimental to the American education system, according to the sources Singer cites. 

“What it means to me is that I am checking (or acknowledging) my privilege as a teacher in the space of the classroom and in order to facilitate a more equitable classroom community for my students, erasing one of the pillars of that inequity is a step in the right direction. I am comfortable in my role as the head member in my classroom, and I don’t need a teacher’s desk anymore to signify that.”

Morris, an educator, writes about what teaching means to him, highlighted by his decision to remove his teacher’s desk from his classroom. Being a teacher for him is about leading the discussion or being the “lead learner,” as he puts it, rather than being an instructor. His removal of the teacher’s desk was decided upon based on his desire to help his students feel more equal and at home in class. He believes that being a teacher means being able to foster authentic connections both for and with his students.

“Teachers want to help all students achieve, and the feeling of leaving any student behind is devastating. The pressure that they put on themselves to ensure that they serve all students can also contribute to the stress.”

Gomez writes about the stress that comes with being a teacher, largely due to time constraints, lack of resources, and the number of students they must instruct. As much as they want to help their students, their environment does not allow them to touch the lives of all students equally. They are extremely pressured to uphold certain standards of work, and while they try as hard as they can, they do not always succeed. As a result, many teachers have left the profession altogether. Gomez ends her piece with an invitation for teachers to read about other job opportunities. 

“Then I re-evaluate what I want for myself, and what it is that keeps me working towards my dreams. Through the goals I’ve set for myself, I can maintain focus, move past my self-doubt and succeed. By focusing on my goals, I can make a difference in the world directly around me.”

Taken from a collection of short essays, England’s essay is about why she so desperately wishes to become a teacher. She was previously able to work as a teaching assistant to her former elementary school teacher, and enjoyed imparting new knowledge unto children. Even in moments of self-doubt, she reminds herself to be confident in her dreams and hopes to be able to make a difference in the world with her future profession.

Essay about being a teacher: What makes teaching so fulfilling?

When it comes to teachers, we often hear about either “the joy of teaching” or the immense stress that comes with it. You can explore the gratitude and satisfaction that teachers feel toward their jobs, even with all the struggles they face. Read or watch the news and interviews with teachers themselves.

Research on the skills and qualifications people need to be teachers, as well as any qualities they may need to do their job well. What skills can you get from teaching? What traits can you develop? What lessons can you learn? 

Despite the seemingly endless barrage of stories about the difficulties that teachers face, many people still want to teach. You can explore the reasoning behind their decisions, and perhaps get some personal insight on being a teacher as well. 

Based on what you know, would you recommend teaching as a job? If you aren’t too knowledgeable on this topic, you can use the essay examples provided as guides- they present both the positive and negative aspects of being a teacher. Be sure to support your argument with ample evidence- interviews, anecdotes, statistics, and the like.  

Teachers, whether in a school setting or not, have almost certainly helped make you into the person you are now. You can discuss the impact that your teachers have had on your life, for better or for worse, and the importance of their roles as teachers in forming students for the future.

Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .

If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

why i love being a teacher essay

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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  •   Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Future Educators

Future Educators

Helping America's Future Teachers

I Want to Become a Teacher Because | My Dream Job Essay

My dream is to become a teacher . If you have this dream, you’re not alone. Here’s a collection of short essays by aspiring teachers. Current and future education students were asked to describe their motivation; what inspires them to succeed at their teacher training studies.

In these 31 student essays, future educators answer the question “I want to become a teacher because …” or “I want to become a teacher to …”. The short student essays are grouped thematically, forming the top reasons to become a teacher.

1. Giving Brings Its Own Rewards

Early childhood teacher

Helping people is the unifying theme as to why students are inspired and motivated to become teachers. Education is a field where you can help young people directly in a personal way; potentially changing their lives for the better. Teaching is more than just a job.

For a significant percentage of education students, the opportunity to be of service provides plenty of motivation to pursue a teaching career. In each Why I Want to Become a Teacher essay here, a future educator explains why teaching is an opportunity to do something meaningful and beneficial.

by Hanna Halliar

If I can make an impact in just one child’s life, I will be able to consider myself successful. That is my motivation. As a future educator, what else would it be?

Every day that is spent in class, the late nights at the library, the endless hours of studying are all just steps getting me closer to the goal. When I am still up at 1 a.m. struggling to keep my eyes open, but only half way through my 6 page paper I remember how excited I am to work with my own students one day.

To me, being a teacher is so much more than the typical response most people have towards education majors. “Oh, you’re going to be a teacher. You know how much you will make?” Yes, I’m aware that I will be making an average of $50,000 a year in Indiana.

To me being a teacher means that I get the opportunity to not only teach my students math, English, and science but to teach life lessons that will stick with them as well.  It means walking into school every day being the reason my students look forward to coming to school. It means being surrounded by crafts, books, and music and not being stuck in an office. It means educating our future generation. And if somebody has to do it, it should be somebody who is passionate about it.

So what motivates me to study? It is so simple, it is the kids.

by Savannah Stamates

I lay awake at night and practice my first morning message to my first round of students whom I will not meet for more than a year.

I wonder if I will have hungry children, happy children, or broken children. I wonder if I will be good enough or strong enough to reach those most in need.  I wonder if my students will trust me enough to tell me that they are hungry, happy, or scared.

I worry that I will not be strong enough to share their burden or provide a place for peace and learning. I worry that I will misread their actions or their words or miss them reaching out.

So I study, even when I am tired from working two jobs or sick of not being where I want to be. When my time comes to walk into that classroom, my worries and doubts will be silenced by the knowledge I have mastered and the dream I have finally achieved.

by Charity Latchman

Dreams for the future are subjective. They can be based on what we desire. But visionary dreams are not only for us. Imagine asking some of the greatest revolutionaries and pioneers about their dreams. They generally had others in mind. In the famous “I have a Dream” speech, Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr said “we” more than thirty times. Dreams are not for our benefit alone, but to encourage, inspire and benefit others.

Recently I graduated from California Baptist University with a degree in English literature. During my studies, I was cared for my disabled mother. She was a religious studies professor who inculcated me with a diligent and steadfast approach to schoolwork. Managing the role of caregiver with university studies was challenging. But the goal to become a teacher kept me going. Approaching graduation, my mother was diagnosed with throat cancer. She didn’t worry about herself as much as you might expect but kept pushing me to finish the final paper in the program.

With her encouragement, my faith, and a burning desire to teach English literature, I graduated. My motivation comes from wanting to help, to encourage, and to inspire others.  Teaching is an act of giving that has its own rewards.  Life’s trials bring ups and downs. But we must always strive to attain our dreams, especially when others are central to them.

by Katheryn England

As a high school senior, many people assume I’m prepared for college and know what I want to study after graduation. These assumptions cause me to experience moments of self-doubt. Then I re-evaluate what I want for myself, and what it is that keeps me working towards my dreams. Through the goals I’ve set for myself, I can maintain focus, move past my self-doubt and succeed. By focusing on my goals, I can make a difference in the world directly around me.

A goal I have in my life is to be an elementary teacher, also known as an early childhood teacher. As a teacher,  I can share the knowledge I’ve gained to leave behind a better future for our world .

Last year, I had the opportunity to work alongside a previous elementary teacher and mentor of mine. I’d visit her classroom daily, and taught lessons alongside her or independently. Uniquely, they were the opening act in my high school’s original winter play. They read first-hand from our scripts and learned what happens behind the scenes. Showing a new part of the world to the youth of my community has motivated me to pursue my dreams.

Remembering this experience and the positive influence I had on those students helps me overcome self-doubt and stay focused on my goals. Thanks to the goals I’ve set for my life, I not only can find purpose for my efforts, but find the will to be confident in whatever choices I make.

by Emma Lillard-Geiser

I have always known that I would become two things: a mother and a teacher. What I didn’t know is that I would become the mother before the teacher. Having a child that depends on me is what fuels my desire to succeed in life. When I get frustrated with my studies I take a deep breath, look at my daughter, and know that I have reason to persevere. I know that one hour of studying will give me hours with my daughter as soon as I am done.

My mother is a teacher and growing up I cherished learning from her. She had knowledge that I admired and I quickly realized that I had to spend my whole life learning. I love to learn, to have that light go off in my head when it all just clicks.

I cannot wait to see that light in the eyes of my daughter and my future students.  For every thing that I learn, is another thing I can teach someone else.  It isn’t easy to study when you have a small child to take care of but I know that my education will provide me with the ability to take care of her for the rest of our lives.

2. Help Disadvantaged Students

Teacher helping disadvantaged student

Students are disadvantaged for many reasons, whether it’s because of a handicap, where they live, economic disadvantage or a language barrier.

Future educators may want to become teachers so they can make a difference in the lives of students who face extra learning challenges. This special interest often comes from the future teacher’s own experience, either personally or involving people they’ve known.

by Ian T Thomason

While attending the University of Minnesota-Mankato, I have aspirations of becoming a Special Education Teacher. Becoming a Special Education Teacher and helping students who have a need for extra help and students who are having troubles with everyday life are things that I dream of doing.  I was in their shoes once and know how difficult it is to deal with everyday life and how nice it was have a teacher to talk to.

Becoming a Special Education Teacher is my ultimate goal and, when difficult times arise, I have to remind myself of the children out there who have it potentially worse than I. When I remember this, I also think back to all of the support that I had from my parents, family members, and teachers. I also know that there are lots of children who don’t have this type of support and, if I can be there for them, that would make my career choice all the more worth it.

My Special Education degree is something more than just a degree for me. It is a degree that allows me to help children improve their education. I realize that children are our future and that their minds are terrible things to waste. So, instead of wasting their minds, why not put our best foot forward to educate them? My dream is to help kids realize their full potential, promote education and a brighter future for every child.

by Katherine

Motivation allows you to persist through difficult circumstances. Mine comes from a desire to grow into an instructor who is able to make a difference to many children’s lives.

In elementary school, I actually was a special education student. I’ve had to work hard most days of my life to achieve anything. I could not have succeeded without the support of some absolutely amazing teachers. Now I desire to take on that supporting role for as many students as I can reach.

When a class or an assignment I don’t want to do come up, I think of what motivates me. And the motivation is children. Many students feel powerless about their education, just like I did.  I could be a teacher who turns their education around, providing vital support and motivation to succeed at their studies.  Ultimately, everyone motivates themselves by one way or another. My motivation comes from the pure desire to help future students.

by Robbie Watson

My road to graduate school has been a long one. I studied religion and culture in undergrad, interested in the material, yet not sure how I would apply it later. Yet I found places, got involved in community and international development, engaged with different cultures, and now feel I use my degree every day.

For over two years I worked alongside Congolese refugees in Rwanda, developing educational opportunities for youths who could not finish secondary school in the underfunded camps. It is these refugees, young and old, the students, the teachers, their passion and vision for a better future that has driven me to seek out more education for myself. I remember how they would pay from their families’ meager funds to attend classes led by volunteer teachers. When finances were against them, or time, or family obligations, or the dire depression of the camp life itself, or even government officials were against them, still those students attended, still those teachers taught.

It is their example of perseverance towards a goal against all odds that inspires me now. I think of them often, think of the friends they were, are still. And I think of how that passion is in me now, to better understand education so that I might better educate, and thus equip such downtrodden communities to work for transformation themselves. I work not only for myself, and am motivated by the potential in those students and educators, which is also in me, and in others like them.

by Natalie Pelayo

I’m a young Latino woman working towards the goal of earning a bachelor degree in bilingual education. On occasions, I feel a slowing in my motivation. But, every time it happens, I think about the goal and that pushes me to move forward.

Looking back to a middle school class I attended, there was a boy who never really participated. He sat in his hoodie, looking down to his desk. Only after trying to talk with him, I discovered he spoke with broken English and a thick Spanish accent. It seemed as if no-one in our class actually knew that he struggled to understand what was being taught because it was presented in English.

By his manner, it was apparent that he had already accepted a dismal fate. Past teachers may have been unable to communicate with him. Eventually, he’d become demoralized.  Thinking about the disadvantages he had to endure provides ongoing motivation to study hard.

I aim to become a bilingual elementary school teacher to support young Spanish-speaking children. As a teacher, I’ll be able to show them that they can succeed. Children need not grow up thinking they’re incapable of learning due to a language barrier. I’ll keep working towards my goal to help ensure teaching is inclusive of all children, no matter their first language.

by Abigail Young

I am an American citizen, but my whole life I have lived in Cameroon, Africa. I have been blessed with an enormous amount of opportunities and a great education at a private international school.

Every day I have seen children and teenagers around me who do not get the same education or have the same possibilities of a “bright” future. I see schools that are forced to have three children share a small table, paper, and pens. I have seen a badly lit room with poor roofs and walls made from bricks. Even in my school there are numerous Cameroonians, my friends, and classmates that do not have the same chances at a higher level education, although they work just as hard.

When I study, I study hard because I do not want to let this chance and opportunity go to waste. I study because I have been undeservedly blessed to be able to go the United States for a high education with better chances at getting scholarship money. I study my hardest because  it is my dream that I may come back and make a difference in countries like Africa with poor education systems . It should be a right for children to be able to learn like I have. Therefore, because of this mindset, I am driven to study not just out of thankfulness for my circumstances, but also in hope that I may be able to give other children a better chance, and a greater reason to study.

3. Helping Many People Is Achievable in Teaching

Crowded classroom with many hands up

A powerful source of motivation for some education students is the potential to touch and positively impact the lives of many people. Education is a field of consequence and that’s a good reason for wanting to join the teaching profession.

Over the course of a long career, a classroom teacher may help shape the learning experience of hundreds or even thousands of students. In policy roles, educators can affect millions of people.

by Rachel Bayly

Through high school I worked as a teacher at a daycare. When I left for college I said goodbye to a lot of people, including my students. All summer I had woken up at five in the morning to go to work and wait for them to arrive and put a smile on my face. Those kids motivated me to keep waking up and working hard, and leaving them was not easy.

The thing that made that goodbye worth it, the reason that I keep pushing through this tying chapter of my life is that  I am determined to improve early childhood education in the United States .

I want to be a positive force in the lives of as many children as I possibly can, and I plan on doing that by improving standards and policies for early childhood education and making it more affordable.

Every week I write in my planner, “I will make a difference” and one way that I will change the lives of children and families. On days that I find myself asking, “why am I here?” “why am I going into debt, paying to be stressed out all the time?” I think of my students. I read my “I will make a difference” statements.

I remember that some children out there are stuck in low quality child care centers, they will never reach their full potential, and they need help. I keep working hard everyday so that I can help those children.

by Megan Burns

My ultimate goal is to change the lives of people. Studying to be a teacher is hard. All of the classes that are required, all of the practicums, and all of the time spent just to become a teacher is stressful, but the thought of being able to help just one person changes everything.

It takes one person to be a light in someone’s life. It take one person to be a helping hand. It takes one person to change an unmotivated, broken life, and make it brand new. Qualified teachers are those people.  We motivate students to do their best, we guide students to success when no one else will, and we are always available to listen.  One teacher can change the lives of thousands of students. That is my motivation.

I know that after college, I will be a teacher, a guider, a counselor, and a friend to so many students. No matter how many bad days I have or how many times I want to quit, I just think of what is to come in the future. I can be that change this world needs, even if its in a small high school classroom. It just takes one person.

by Victoria Shoemkaer

My dream is to make a difference in the life of children.

  • To make them excited about learning.
  • To make it fun the way it used to be when they were younger.
  • To show them that someone cares about them and wants to see them succeed.
  • To show that they are much more that a test score or a number.
  • To believe in them so much, that I do not let them get discouraged from chasing their dreams.
  • To showing them that everyone fails and it’s your recovery that determines what happens next.
  • To sacrifice myself to gives them more opportunities for success.
  • To encourage students to succeed in and out of the classroom for the betterment of themselves and the community.
  • To inspire them to change the world, because they can.
  • To help them transform into caring and compassionate adults who are ready to conquer the word, but remember where they came from.
  • To teach them to do good in the world because anyone can accomplish doing well.

Most importantly, my dream is to make children feel like their voice is important and valued and that they are loved more than they know.

4. Lives Can Be Improved by Dedicated Instructors

African boy showing a computer tablet

Teaching a subject such as Math or English is the everyday task of a teacher. But our prospective teachers see a greater purpose in their training and career path.

The daily motivation to teach doesn’t come from the superficial advantages of a teaching career, such as great job security or extra vacation time. Here are stories by future educators who want to go beyond the curriculum and improve people’s lives all round.

by Savannah Luree Weverka

Teachers are the ones who ignited my love for learning and there is not a day that goes by when I do not challenge myself to a personal goal of lifelong learning.

My mother is a teacher, so I was a student educated in an institution filled with support and a home that also supported education. I recall many teacher “get-togethers” and Husker parties where an informal invitation led to my presence.

Due to all of this support and interaction received throughout my elementary and high school career, Elementary Education continues to be at the top of my career choices. And now, as a senior looking forward to graduating from high school,  teachers remain my role models .

In considering a focus in Elementary Education, I now realize that many teachers not only teach children eight hours of the day, but become doctors for scraped knees, dictionaries for challenging words, mediators between students, and parents away from home.

Now, as I am taking the steps to make my dream come true I hope to make school an escape to free their minds and expand their knowledge. I want to share my love of learning with my students.

by Aaron Banta

Since I was younger, I have had the dream of becoming a history teacher at the high school level. The reason I am striving for this career is thanks to a teacher I had.  They held such a passion for history and taught it so well that it made me want to keep learning everything I could about it.

In college, I have had to work multiple jobs and attend school full-time. I would wake up early in the morning and not get home until late at night. The one thing that kept me on top of my studying and work was the dream I have; to be able to teach history and express my love for it by teaching the next generation. I strive to impact their lives for the better just like mine was.

Being able to pass my courses and get a degree and teaching credentials is the first main goal I am striving for. But being able to have a positive impact on students I have will be an even greater goal that I want to accomplish. I am hoping to guide them through their study of my favorite subject so I can teach them about the world and help them just like my teacher had helped me.

by Chelsea Rogers

At USC Upstate, I am studying to be a Secondary Education Mathematics teacher. The math courses are not easy and the education courses pushes you to challenge yourself. The thought of being a future teacher is what motivates me to keep pushing.

Although I do not know any of my students, they are precious to me and I believe it is my job to change their lives for the better.  Teaching math is my job, but looking beyond my content and into the wellbeing of my students is my passion.

The question I always ask myself is how can I teach students who may not trust me? I have to establish a connection with each student so that they will see I care about them academically, physically, and emotionally. Once students see that you care about them in these areas, it becomes easier to teach them and they are willing to perform to the best of their ability because they know their teacher supports them 100 percent. Being a great teacher is what motivates me to continue striving for my degree.

by Micayla Watroba

One plus one is two. Phone is pronounced with an F sound. 60 divided by 15 is 4. An essay typically has five paragraphs. I know all these things because I went to school. I also had teachers that helped me understand it even when I didn’t get the same opportunities as everyone else.

See, when I was in first grade I was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia. This made school very hard. I was either out of school so often that I missed entire chapters or I was bullied so badly that I couldn’t focus because I was so scared. Having cancer also made it hard for my mom and dad to pay for food and rent much less after school activities and tutoring. I grew up knowing that there were some things that were just not in reach for us. 

For as bad as I had it, I can’t imagine having to live on the streets, going hungry, or even being taught in a language I don’t know.

My dream is to be the teacher that makes sure that every student gets an education that helps them succeed.  I want to make sure that my students not only enjoy being at school but feel safe while there.  My students will know that it doesn’t matter where they came from or what background they came from. I am going to be there and I will not leave them behind. This is my dream.

5. Promote Lifelong Learning in Young People

Curriculum delivery in the classroom

What inspires some people to become teachers is the power to set young people on the right education path. Helping children to have good early experiences and embrace the learning process can profoundly enhance someone’s life. The potential for transformative early development applies to handicapped and disadvantaged kids as much as anyone.

by Lesley Martinez-Silva

I aspire to make a difference in others’ lives through education. I’m studying to be an elementary school teacher because I believe that children can achieve so much more if they learn early of their potential.

Education has always been my priority. My parents always stressed the importance of obtaining an education, having missed that opportunity themselves. My parents taught me as a child that schooling was vital to success in life. Truly, that lesson has been the most important in my path to college. I don’t think I would’ve made it this far had I not taken my education seriously.

I want to teach others about the importance of education so they too can prosper.  Everything I’m learning at university is important for my future career and, if I don’t study it, I’m failing my future students. Every child deserves the best education available and I should strive to be the best educator possible to provide that for them. When balancing academics, work, and my social life, it can get challenging to keep going. But, with the future of children’s education in my hands, I always get back on track.

by Brianna Rivers

One of my goals is to become a teacher and work in an public elementary school within the greater Boston area (possibly my own elementary school). I want to be a teacher because I enjoy working with children and I know how important teachers are in children’s lives. I plan on receiving my Bachelor’s degree for Early Childhood Education and my Master’s degree in Special Education.

I want to major in Early Childhood Education because  early education is significant for children and is a building block for their future in learning . I also want to major in Special Education because I believe all children should receive equal learning opportunities as well as equal treatment (meaning an inclusive environment, etc).

I think all of my experiences have a positive impact on myself because I am learning more about what it takes to be a teacher and what it takes to be a good teacher. My experiences also have a positive impact on the children and adults I work with. I offer a helping hand to the teachers and a friendly face to the children.

I plan to continue to work hard and take advantage of learning opportunities to achieve both of my goals. Being a teacher is my desire and I will stop at nothing to be a great teacher one day.

by Jennamarie Moody

When I close my eyes, I picture myself in a school located in an urban setting, teaching a classroom of diverse yet alike students. These students are in the second grade, meaning that they are impressionable yet vulnerable to their environment whether this means at home, at school, or in their greater community.

Some of these students don’t speak English as their first language, and some come from low-income households that can limit their educational experiences outside of the classroom. And yet, no matter what differences these students bring to the table, their uniqueness flows throughout the classroom in such a positive energy that embraces, respects, and promotes learning. This is the goal I am working towards; the goal  to inspire our youth to become self-advocates for their learning .

Opportunities for equal educational experiences may not exist, however the beauty lies in the growth of love young students can develop as they are challenged in the classroom to question their surroundings. I plan to make a difference in the lives of the children I meet along the way, and to create a safe learning environment.

Although the tests for certification and studies can be difficult, my passion for education and dedication to shaping the lives of my students is what keeps me going. The end goal is to nurture the development of my students to become active and engaged participants in society, and that is what I intend to do completely.

by Julie Anderson

My long-time goal has been to become a teacher, and this year I’m in a class called Teachers for Tomorrow, where I get to shadow a kindergarten teacher. Working with her and the students has increased my interest in children with special needs.

From here on out, I want to support my students in academics and other parts of their lives so I can help them learn, grow, and succeed. I know that children need a strong start to their school career because the first few years of school are crucial; this is when students begin to love or hate learning itself. Whether or not children enjoy school, they deserve to appreciate learning. Students who love learning will always want to improve themselves.

I will make an effort to provide a loving environment where each child can prosper. However, for students with special needs, this task becomes even harder to accomplish because traditional classrooms are usually set up for non-disabled students.  While I know I can’t “save” every student I teach, and some of them will still hate learning, at least I can start them off right.

When I’m swamped with schoolwork, I will imagine my future students and how I could influence their lives. Even though not all of my college classes will relate to my major, forming a habit of working hard in college will help me to succeed as a future teacher.

6. Teachers Are Excellent Role Models

Enthralled student in classroom

The experience of being helped and transformed by a good teacher leaves a lasting impression. Teaching is considered a noble profession for good reasons.

Some education students are motivated to become a teacher to emulate their own role models. They want to provide the same kind of service they once received. An added reason for pursuing a teaching career is to be a role model to younger people outside the classroom, including one’s own children.

by Teresa Pillifant

My first day – well, more like first semester- of my freshman year in high school was the hardest semester of my whole school career. Usually the kind of student who loves school, I found myself getting stomach aches in the morning and dreading school with my whole being. I was new to the school, and the number of students was overwhelming.

It seemed like there was no relief, except for my first hour Spanish class. Having no friends, I would always arrive at my first hour class early. As this pattern continued, my Spanish teacher and I developed a relationship. My teacher started giving me books to read, asking my opinion on what we should do in class and just talked to me in general about life. Through my teacher’s support, I grew to find my place in the school and became more confident.

Her kind words and actions inspired me to become a teacher myself.  Now, whenever school or life gets difficult, I think of my freshmen year Spanish teacher and how she inspired me. I want to do what she did for me for my future students. Whether it be a difficult test or a challenging class, my goal of making a difference in a student’s life keeps me going.

by Mo Cabiles

The world we live in is hard, unsteady and ruthless. We see this everyday in the harshness of homelessness, to social media screaming for justice. What motivates me to continue on is that I have felt the bitter cold bite of homelessness. I know what it’s like to not have enough to eat and to be scared of what will happen next.

I am fortunate to no longer be in those situations but that, by no means, is an indicator that it will all now come easy. As an adult learner and your “non-traditional” student, there are other obstacles I must overcome. From transportation to childcare or education application mastery to APA formatting, the many roadblocks I tackle both large and small are what I consider to be my victories.

I’ve seen what having a higher education can do for someone and I want that for myself and that of my daughters.  I strive to be a good example for them , to show them that, regardless of social standing and unforeseeable circumstances, if they work hard and put their best effort forward, they can achieve their dreams.

My dream is to obtain my Masters in Education with an emphasis in counseling. I want to be an academic advisor or guidance counselor. I’ve seen so many youths attempt community college and fail because they fell through the cracks. These students need to realize their potential and I want to help them achieve that and to be their cheerleader.

by Gia Sophia Sarris

In every school I’ve ever attended, experienced teachers were there to support and inspire me. I have looked up to these people ever since I was in elementary school, and they have had an immense and positive impact on my life and my view of the world.  My fondness for these people [educators] has led me to aspire to become a teacher.

I want to “pay it forward” and improve the lives of children and teenagers who grow up struggling as I did, or in any way for that matter. I want to make a difference in their lives and let them know that they are not alone with their problems.

This is what motivates me to study hard. Becoming a teacher, I believe, will help me fulfill my purpose in life, which I think is to create happiness and ease the burdens of others. I feel that children and teenagers need this especially, because they are struggling to understand the world and their place in it. I study hard for their sake.

by Jennifer Wolfert

From elementary school to my first year at college, I struggled to establish a dream for myself. Trying to figure out what career I wanted to pursue as successful adult always filled me with anxiety. I had spent multiple years in special education and left with a low academic self-esteem. So, after high school I attended Bucks County Community College in search for more time. Still I made no progress. Then I decided to change my outlook. I stopped asking “what do I want to do?” and started asking “who do I want to be?”. That’s when my dream took shape.

The educators that I met during my time at community college were my inspiration.  They are brilliant, hardworking people with a passion for their specialty that I had never seen before. Their belief in hard work was infectious. School began to fill me with excited anticipation and my grades improved. I started to believe that if I worked hard enough then I could be like them and inspire others like they had inspired me.

At the end of my second year attending community college, I accomplished a task that had previously racked me with fear. I applied to Temple University as a Secondary English Education major. I have now completed my second semester at Temple and earned my first 4.0 GPA. In time, I am confident that I will be able to accomplish my dream. I will become the passionate and inspiring educator that my younger self never had.

by Jenyfer Pegg

My entire life has been filled with discouragement. I grew up in a household where I was constantly told “No”. I was told my ideas were stupid and would not work. In my junior year of high school, my teachers and counselors started talking about college and sending in applications to different places. At that point, I knew I was not going. I came from a poor family and I knew we could never have money for something like college.

But I went on college visits, I listened to people speak about their college, and I was set. I had a lot of things pushing me, except the one thing I really wanted, my family. No one in my family has gone to college, and when I told my mother, she was shocked. She told me she just wanted me out of the house.

When I came to school, I realized I wanted to teach high school. I want to make an actual difference in someone else’s life. My family has taken the same road for years, and I’m not going down that road. I won’t live paycheck to paycheck like my mom, I will be a person that others will look up to.

I’m going to do something worthwhile, and I will work harder than anyone else if it gets me there.  I’ve seen what my life will be like without school and motivation and there is absolutely no way I’m going down that road. I’ve got bigger plans.

7. Unlock the Success Potential of Students

College student holding books

Educators want to help students in every way they can but, for some future teachers, the focus is on helping students soar. That child in front of you in the classroom might grow up to do great things for society, raise a strong family, or just be happy and fulfilled.

Whatever the potential of a pupil, a teacher’s job is to help unlock talents and remove any barriers to future success.

by Tamara Vega

The thing that motivates me the most is the thought of having my own classroom someday. I want to be the teacher that changes a child’s life, inspires them to set high goals for themselves and encourages them to reach it.

College can be so hard at times and I get really anxious and scared. I worry about not passing my classes and exams, I worry about not getting my degree. Despite that I do not give up because I have to do this and I want to do this.

I cannot see myself doing anything else besides teaching, I have never been this passionate about something. I want to graduate and get my degree. I’d love to look at it and say, “I worked hard for this and I earned it”.

The idea that the students in my classroom could grow up to cure cancer, or become president, pretty much anything they want, brings me so much excitement.   I want to be the teacher that they remember, the one who helped them realize their dream and who gave them the knowledge needed to reach it.

Be the teacher that I needed as a child but unfortunately never had. That is what gets me through all the stress and anxiety, I know in my heart that all the studying I’m doing right now will be worth it in the end.

by Nicole Gongora

The dream of success motivates me to study – not my success, my future students’ success. I push myself through the rough spots for them.

I was a lost child in high school; I didn’t know how to apply to college, let alone afford it. No child should have to experience that. As a future educator, I am committed to helping my students succeed, achieve more, and continue onto higher education.  Every child should be given the opportunity to showcase their strengths and follow their dreams.

College was never a dream for me; it was a far off, unattainable fantasy. I met some inspiring teachers in high school who encouraged me to change my life and who helped me to thrive. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

I plan to work at a low-income school similar to the one I attended. These types of schools are the ones who lack resources. I will serve as a resource to my students and I hope to be an inspiration to them. In turn, I hope they become kind, respectful adults. I want them to see the virtue in helping others and I hope they will serve others in their future careers. I want to be the teacher they remember. I want to be the teacher that helped them succeed.

I’ll feel successful as a teacher if my students are successful in attaining their goals. If one student decides to achieve more then I will have lived out my dream.

by Madison Sherrill

I’ve decided to become a teacher because I want to show the value of compassion and diversity.

As I begin college this upcoming fall, my main motivation is the students. While I haven’t even met them yet, they inspire me to persist in my classes and stay optimistic.  My classroom will support innovative thinking and celebrate each student’s individuality.

As a classroom teacher, I want to encourage and positively influence the next generation. They should know that they can be successful and achieve what they aspire to become while making the world better. By teaching the value of inclusiveness and the power of kindness, my students may turn out to be visionary thinkers and leading members of society.

by Alicia Costin

I am returning to school after taking a few years off. After graduating from California Lutheran University with my BS in Mathematics, I wanted to land a job with benefits and begin my “adult life”.

While it took me a few months to find my current job, is it just that; a job. I have benefits, a full-time schedule, weekends and holidays off, but am I happy? Is this what I want to do as a career for the rest of my life? I have asked myself this question a few times and the answer is always the same; no.

My dream is to become a teacher and help motivate and encourage students to do their best in their studies and in life.  It is my dream to do what I was meant to do; shape young minds and help future generations.

When things become difficult during my graduate program, I know to keep pushing, thriving, and studying hard so that, when I do become a teacher, I can use this as a positive story to shape their way of life. I landed a job outside of college, however now it is time for me to land my career.

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Why I Want to Be a Teacher, Essay Sample

Teaching is a noble job that requires passion, dedication, and commitment. It’s a challenging yet rewarding career with many rewards and opportunities. Thinking about becoming a teacher? Well, this essay, written with the help of custom paper writing service , will explore why I want to be a teacher, what inspired my interest in teaching, and the different roles teachers play in the lives of students. 

I Want to Become a Teacher Because It Inspires Me

I have always been passionate about education and helping other people learn. Ever since I was in high school, I enjoyed attending classes as well as helping out my peers with their studies. As an adult, I realized how much of an impact teachers can have on students’ lives. Seeing the positive influence that educators had on their students made me want to become part of it too. 

I had some truly incredible teachers who encouraged me to pursue my dreams and gave me the confidence that I could do anything if I put my mind to it. They inspired me with how much effort they put into making sure their students were engaged and learning in an enjoyable way. Their enthusiasm for teaching was contagious, and it made me want to become a teacher myself one day.

Being a Teacher is Very Responsible

Teachers are more than just instructors; they are mentors and role models for their students. They take on multiple roles such as educator, counselor, advisor, confidant, friend, and even parent figure at times. In addition to teaching academic content knowledge and skills necessary for success in life after school, teachers also need to be able to build meaningful relationships with their students, so they can help them develop emotionally and socially while also providing guidance when needed.  

Teaching is an Important Social Role

Besides, teachers play a principal role in society because they help young people develop their minds and learn new skills. They teach students things such as reading, writing, and math, but also how to be responsible citizens of the country.

Teaching Makes it Easy to Meet Different People

I also want to be a teacher because it will allow me to work with people from all walks of life. There are many different types of people in the world, and having the opportunity to work with all of them would be amazing!

The Power of Education

Another reason I want to become a teacher is that I believe in the power of education. Education can open doors that would otherwise remain closed; it can give people opportunities they never would have had before; it can be life-changing. As a teacher, I will have the chance to help instill these values into my students while providing them with valuable knowledge that will stay with them for years to come. 

Teaching Helps to Make Changes

In addition to it, teaching gives me the chance to make a difference in someone else’s life — and that’s something that money just can’t buy! When you are able to inspire someone else and watch them grow as an individual, it is incredibly rewarding. 

Moreover, teaching provides you with plenty of opportunities for growth and development yourself: you get to work alongside other inspiring professionals and learn new skills every day! 

Being a teacher is not just about imparting knowledge from textbooks but it’s about inspiring others to reach for greatness and supporting them through it all. It’s a complex job that requires great responsibility, but one that can be immensely rewarding when you see your students succeed because of your efforts. 

That’s why I want to be a teacher – so I can make an impact on future generations by helping them reach their full potential while making sure they have fun while learning!

Tips on Writing Why I Want to be a Teacher Essay

A teacher is one of the most important professionals in any society. They are responsible for teaching students various subjects including math, science, English, and many more. If you want to become a teacher, then you should write an essay on why you want to be a teacher. To start with, you can read personal statement essay example . The essay will show your passion for education and how much you want this job. Here are some tips that will help you write an amazing essay

Give a Clear Answer to Yourself

Make sure you have an answer. The most important thing about this essay is that it has a very clear and concise point. This means that you need to be able to clearly explain why you want to become a teacher and why it’s important for you. If you can’t do this, then your essay will not be successful at all. 

So make sure that before you begin writing, you know exactly what your answer will be (and how it will relate to the question). This way, when someone reads it, they will understand exactly what your intentions are with becoming a teacher and why it’s important for them too.

Use an Appropriate Tone

Choose a friendly tone for your essay so that your reader can easily understand what you are trying to say without having any confusion or difficulty in understanding. Use active voice instead of passive voice whenever possible, since it makes your writing more engaging and readable.

Narrow Your Focus

Another important step in writing your “Why I Want to Be a Teacher” Essay is to narrow your focus. You do not have to write about all the reasons why you want to teach; rather, focus on one specific reason that is important to you.

By following these tips, you can create a compelling and persuasive essay that demonstrates your commitment to becoming a teacher.

Key Reasons Why Someone Might Want to Become a Teacher

Teaching is a profession that involves shaping the minds and lives of the next generation. It can be a challenging yet rewarding career that offers many opportunities for personal and professional growth. Here are some of the key reasons why someone might want to become a teacher:

Note that these are just some of the reasons why someone might want to become a teacher. Teaching can be a fulfilling and rewarding profession for those who have a passion for education and a desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

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why i love being a teacher essay

Why I Want to Be a Teacher Essay

Introduction, help and inspiration for victims.

I have a Bachelors’s Degree in Psychology and will be soon completing my Masters Degree in Psychology. I love working with young people and help them discover things both socially and academically. I have once worked as a mental health counselor and hence able to deal with almost any kind of individual and help them cope with their problems. In high school, there are students who are young adults and some of them are not even sure about what they want in life, so I want to use my experience and passion to help these students realize their potential and work hard to achieve their dreams. It is only through school that I will be able to guide and counsel these youth on the importance of morality and why they should be well-behaved.

The other strong factor that makes me want to teach is my high school history teacher who made me love the teaching profession. There is nothing that I value as helping the country mold the young people develop into responsible citizens because it is these students that will take over the leadership of this country in the coming years. I always feel sad seeing many young people drop out of school because of not knowing the value of education. My friends and I therefore decided to launch a campaign of returning these children to school. We organized different interactive forums where all types of children would come and interact. So we could have time to talk to them about the importance of education and schooling. I find the school environment a very ideal place to handle the problem of students dropping out of school and truancy among our youth and as a teacher I find myself with the responsibility of doing exactly this. As a trained psychologist I am able to handle all the social issues among the students. The students at this level experience many sorts of bad treatment from their colleagues and I feel that I can help fight this out of school.

I have volunteered my time as domestic violence and rape crisis counselor and I always feel proud whenever I give hope to a victim of domestic violence or rape. These are the two groups of people I sympathize with most. They have gone through very dehumanizing experiences and are now very hopeless. Making them come back to the normal life and go on with schooling makes me a very happy person and I am sure that there are such students in high school.

I am very proud of having successfully gone through the schooling system and graduating with a bachelor’s degree. I was able to do this because of my teachers, they were always encouraging and gave me the impetus to always work hard and be what I want to be. By being a high school teacher, I will also be able to inspire students because I am also a beneficiary of the scheme.

I am now dreaming of very big things and it makes me feel very energized and gives me a reason to also help others be like me or even better than I am. In the classroom, I will be able to effectively guide the students in the best possible ways to help them learn and be better persons. I know that using my life as an example I will be able to inspire many students to rise to high levels of leadership both here and in all the other parts of the world.

Lastly, I would one day like to be the headteacher of a school so I can put in place good policies to help root out all cases of moral decadence which has taken root in some of our schools. To the poor students who cannot afford school fees, I will help them get scholarships as right now I am already sponsoring two girls through school.

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IvyPanda. (2024, March 7). Why I Want to Be a Teacher. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-i-want-to-be-a-teacher/

"Why I Want to Be a Teacher." IvyPanda , 7 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/why-i-want-to-be-a-teacher/.

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IvyPanda . 2024. "Why I Want to Be a Teacher." March 7, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-i-want-to-be-a-teacher/.

1. IvyPanda . "Why I Want to Be a Teacher." March 7, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-i-want-to-be-a-teacher/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Why I Want to Be a Teacher." March 7, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-i-want-to-be-a-teacher/.

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The Heart of Teaching: What It Means to Be a Great Teacher

Kindness, empathy, and a focus on building community are among the qualities of a great teacher.

Heart made with hands

What does it mean to be a great teacher? Of course credentials, knowledge, critical thinking, and all other faculties of intelligence are important. However, a great teacher should be much more than credentials, experience, and intelligence.

What lies in the heart of a great teacher?

You are kind:  A great teacher shows kindness to students, colleagues, parents, and those around her or him. My favorite saying is “kindness makes the world go around.” It truly changes the environment in the classroom and school. Being a kind teacher helps students feel welcomed, cared for, and loved.

You are compassionate:  Teaching is a very humanistic profession, and compassion is the utmost feeling of understanding and showing others you are concerned about them. A compassionate teacher models that characteristic to the students with her or his actions, and as a result students will be more open to understanding the world around them.

You are empathetic:  Empathy is an important trait to have and to try to develop in ourselves and our students. Being able to put yourself in someone’s shoes and see things from their perspective can have a powerful impact on our decisions and actions.

You are positive:  Being a positive person is not an easy task. Being a positive teacher is even harder when we’re always met with problems with very limited solutions. However, staying positive when it’s tough can have a tremendous positive impact on the students and everyone around us. Looking on the bright side always seems to help make things better.

You are a builder:  A great teacher bridges gaps and builds relationships, friendships, and a community. Teachers always look to make things better and improve things in and outside of the classroom. Building a community is something a great teacher seeks to do in the classroom and extends that to the entire school and its community.

You inspire:  Everyone looks at a great teacher and wants to be a better teacher, a better student, and even a better person. A great teacher uncovers hidden treasures, possibilities, and magic right before everyone’s eyes.

This piece was originally submitted to our community forums by a reader. Due to audience interest, we’ve preserved it. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own.

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Blog Home / Reasons Why I Love Teachers (and Teaching)

Reasons Why I Love Teachers (and Teaching)

why i love being a teacher essay

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

Today, and this entire week, we are celebrating teachers and educators. Just over four years ago, I left the classroom to join SparkFun as the Education Engineer. Leaving the classroom was probably one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. I felt completely in my element in the classroom. Schools have a distinct rhythm, sound and vibe. I always liked to get there at least an hour before school started, and just feel and hear the school awaken as students started arriving. Now I miss that feeling on a daily basis.

students working on robotics project

This is one of the last photos I took in my classroom at Overland High School. I was the robotics coach for FIRST Team 3871, and you can see some of my students working on cutting out cardboard gears for our annual back-to-school parade. Our space was open, creative and encouraging for students. I had the good fortune of working in a school and in a district that had recently added a new Institute of Science and Technology (IST) building.

It goes without saying that teachers are the unsung heroes of professions. There are so many things that teachers do each day, and I implore you to reach out to the educators in your lives and say "Thank You." They deserve as much as anyone!

Before I was a teacher, I was an electrical engineer. Don't get me wrong; I loved engineering. In fact, I loved engineering so much that I was surprised everyone didn't! When I think back to why I became a teacher and how I fell in love with teaching, here's what comes to mind:

Teachers get more done before sunrise than most do in a single day.

"Carpe Noctum: Engineers do more after midnight than most people do all day."

When I was in college, I attended and organized a student leadership conference where we used the tagline: "Carpe Noctum: Engineers do more after midnight than most people do all day." It couldn't have been closer to the truth. I rarely started my homework until after 10 p.m., and I very often worked well until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning! We used to joke that it was when true inspiration would strike us!

As a teacher, my first class started at 7:10 a.m. I liked getting to the school at least an hour before class, and I lived about an hour from the school. So, this meant I was waking up around 4:30 a.m. Excepting bakers, morning radio hosts and coffee shop baristas, I can't think of anyone else who gets up this early on a regular basis. I love early mornings and getting a crack at my day before anyone else is awake.

As much of the world is waking up, most teachers have already taught a class, shared amazing and insightful messages about the nature of the universe, and moved the needle for our society up another notch. Early bird gets the...

True Role Models

I originally went into teaching because I loved math, science and engineering — and I was really good at it. What I learned early on was that teaching is so much more than just the content. It's about being there for the students. It's about being a role model and building supportive relationships. Being a teacher is probably the most grown-up thing I've ever had to do in my life. We have the opportunity to influence and shape the way students move through this world. In many cases, our students see their teachers more than they see their own parents. While this is a hefty weight to bear, it is often overlooked. Teachers are so important, and — beyond the grammar, reading, writing, mathematics and science that they teach — they are role models for students and have a distinct impact on each and every young person who passes through their doors each day.

Born to Teach

Christopher McDougall wrote a book called " Born to Run " about how we, as humans, were built and born to be runners. I'd like to challenge this and suggest that we are actually Born to Teach . Whether it's teaching someone to catch a football, throw a Frisbee or ride a bike, teaching is in our nature as humans. I've seen this countless times. Kids will run up to me wanting to show me what they've built and teach   me about how it works. We are born to teach. It is a fundamental part of what makes us human and what enables us to have a civilization.  

Making a Life-long Impact

My final reason is one that all teachers who have been teaching for a few years eventually experience. Amongst the hundreds of students you teach each year, a few often stroll back in several years later only to tell you about how much of a difference you've made in their lives. I've run into former students on city buses between Denver and Boulder,  walking around the farmer's market, and now here at SparkFun. It's often times the most subtle things that we do in class each day that make the most lasting impressions. It's unlikely that our students will remember how you taught them Newton's Laws or how to solve an equation for x. What they do remember is that you took the time to help them through difficult problems, you encouraged them to persevere through tough times, or you were just there to listen. We each make a BIG difference and a huge impact on every student that we come in contact with. This is perhaps my biggest reason for why I love teaching.  

One thing I ask is that we encourage and foster this love of teaching. While, yes, I agree that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) is important, and it's important that we help patch and fill the leaky pipeline for STEM careers, what about the lack of qualified and passionate teachers? My story for each and every one of my classes has been that I loved science, math and engineering, and I couldn't think of a better career than sharing that love with others.

If you're a teacher, or considering becoming a teacher, please think about ways that you can encourage your best and brightest students to not only go off to study science and engineering, but also to consider taking that love and becoming a teacher. There are many programs, such as the UTeach model , that allow students at various universities who are studying math, science or engineering to also pursue a secondary track in secondary STEM education. UTeach is currently implemented in more than 25 college campuses across the United States. It's a tremendous program that I would have taken advantage of had it been available to me during my undergraduate studies.

Are you a teacher? Educator? Community member? What do you love about teachers and teaching? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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Why Do You Want To Be a Teacher Essay And Paragraphs?

TeacMy aspiration to become a teacher stems from my desire to have a positive impact on the future of children. Encouraging the next generation’s intellectual growth is both rewarding and stimulating for me.

I credit my retired teacher mother for instilling valuable principles in me. Which is why I feel obligated to share my knowledge and expertise gained over time.

Table of Contents

Why I Want to be a Teacher 10 Lines Essay

I want to be a teacher because:

  • I have a passion for imparting knowledge and inspiring young minds.
  • Teaching allows me to make a positive impact and shape the future of my students.
  • I believe in the transformative power of education and its ability to uplift individuals.
  • I want to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment for my students.
  • Being a teacher enables me to foster a love for learning and promote critical thinking.
  • I enjoy the opportunity to be a mentor and guide for my students.
  • Teaching provides me with the chance to cultivate strong interpersonal relationships .
  • I am driven by the desire to empower students to reach their full potential.
  • The joy of witnessing students’ growth and achievements motivates me to become a teacher.
  • Being a teacher fulfills my calling to serve and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Why do you want to be a teacher essay? (850 words)

Education is the cornerstone of progress, and teachers are the architects who shape the future.

Introduction

Throughout history, great teachers have left an indelible mark on society, nurturing young minds, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.

As I reflect on my journey, I find myself irresistibly drawn to the noble profession of teaching. Do I want to be a teacher ? I will elucidate the reasons why I am passionate about becoming a teacher and the unique impact I aspire to make on the lives of my future students.

Passion for Lifelong Learning

One of the primary reasons I yearn to be a teacher is my unquenchable thirst for knowledge and my commitment to lifelong learning. Teaching allows me to indulge in my passion for continuous intellectual growth.

By sharing my knowledge and experiences, I can inspire students to become enthusiastic learners themselves.

Witnessing the spark of curiosity ignite within their minds, and watching them transform into independent thinkers would be a source of immense satisfaction.

Making a Difference

The desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others propels my aspiration to become a teacher. Education has the transformative power to uplift individuals and communities, and teachers serve as catalysts for this change.

I envision creating an inclusive and nurturing environment where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered to achieve their full potential.

Basically, I want to instill confidence, inspire dreams, and provide support to students who may be facing challenging circumstances. I believe I can make a lasting impact on their lives, nurturing not only their minds but also their spirits.

Influencing Future Generations

Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future generations of our society. I am drawn to this responsibility because it offers a unique opportunity to mold young minds and instill values that promote empathy, critical thinking, and social responsibility.

Creativity, and open-mindedness, I aim to equip students with the skills necessary to navigate an ever-changing world. I want to empower them to become active contributors to society, compassionate citizens, and future leaders who can effect positive change.

Teacher means serving as a mentor

Being a teacher means serving as a mentor and role model for my students. I understand the importance of establishing strong relationships based on trust, and open communication.

By being a compassionate listener and support, I will create a safe space where students can express themselves freely. I will encourage them to embrace there to develop a strong sense of self. By setting high expectations for the necessary tools and resources, I will empower my students to reach their full potential.

Creating a Supportive Community

Beyond the academic realm, teaching allows me to create a supportive community within the classroom. By fostering an environment built on trust, and respect, I can help students develop social-emotional skills and cultivate strong interpersonal relationships.

I aspire to be more than just an instructor; I want to be a mentor, a guide, and a source of encouragement for my students. Through my role as a teacher, I can offer a haven where students feel heard, and empowered to express themselves freely.

Becoming a teacher is not merely a career choice for me; it is a vocation driven by passion, a deep-rooted desire to make a positive impact, and a commitment to shaping the future.

I am drawn to the profession’s transformative classroom environment, the opportunity to influence young minds, and the ability to create a supportive learning community. By dedicating myself to the noble art of teaching,

I aim to inspire a love for learning, foster personal growth, and empower my students to become lifelong learners and compassionate contributors to society.

Why do I want to be a teacher essay? (500 words)

Becoming a teacher is a lifelong aspiration that stems from my deep-rooted passion for education and my unwavering belief in its transformative power. Throughout my academic journey, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact teachers can have on students’ lives. It is this profound impact that motivates me to pursue a career in teaching and to make a difference in the lives of young minds.

Reasons to Become a Teacher

One of the main reasons I want to be a teacher is my burning desire to inspire and empower others. I believe that education is the key to unlocking one’s full potential and creating a brighter future.

  • By imparting knowledge, fostering critical thinking, and nurturing a love for learning, I aim to ignite the spark of curiosity within my students.
  • I want to instill in them the belief that they can achieve anything they set their minds to and empower them to pursue their dreams.
  • Moreover, I am driven by the opportunity to shape the future of my students.
  • As a teacher, I have the privilege to mold young minds and nurture their growth. I envision creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student feels valued and respected.
  • I will empower them to become confident individuals who are capable of making positive contributions to society.
  • Being a teacher means guiding students on their educational journey, helping them navigate challenges, and instilling in them the values of resilience, and empathy.

Furthermore, I am passionate about fostering a love for lifelong learning. Education is not limited to the confines of a classroom; it is a lifelong pursuit. I want to cultivate in my students a thirst for knowledge that extends beyond the curriculum.

By incorporating interactive teaching methods, real-world applications, and hands-on experiences, I will make learning meaningful and engaging.

I aim to equip my students with the skills and mindset necessary to adapt to an ever-changing world, to think critically, and to become lifelong learners who continuously seek knowledge and personal growth.

Teachers have dedication, passion, and commitment to excellence

My decision to become a teacher is fueled by my desire to serve and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. I firmly believe that education is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all.

I want to be an advocate for quality education and work towards creating equitable opportunities for every student. Through my dedication, and commitment to excellence, I aim to inspire, empower, and uplift the next generation of leaders, and change-makers.

In conclusion

My desire to be a teacher is driven by my passion for education, my aspiration to inspire and empower young minds, and my belief in the power of lifelong learning. I want to create a positive impact , shape the future, and serve as a mentor and role model for my students.

AI hopes to make a lasting difference in the lives of my students and contribute to building a better and brighter tomorrow.

I want to be a teacher because paragraph

The paragraph on the topics is given here with questions.

  • How can I inspire and empower young minds to become lifelong learners?
  • How can I make a positive impact and shape the future of my students?
  • How can I create a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students?
  • How can I foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in my students?
  • How can I serve as a mentor and guide for my students?

As a teacher, I want to ignite the spark of curiosity within my students and foster a love for learning. By encouraging critical thinking, I aim to inspire a thirst for knowledge that extends beyond learning in the classroom .

I believe that by empowering students to take ownership of their education and develop a growth mindset, I can equip them with the tools they need to become lifelong learners.

Teaching is an opportunity to shape the future by investing in students’ lives. I create a space where every student feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

By setting high expectations , I instill confidence, and purpose in my students, preparing them to make a positive impact on the world.

I value diversity and strive to create an inclusive atmosphere where every student is seen, and respected. I promote empathy and address biases and stereotypes to help all students thrive academically, and emotionally, regardless of their background or interests.

In today’s world, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are crucial for success. I strive to provide my students with opportunities to develop these skills through inquiry-based learning, collaborative projects, and real-world applications.

I can help them become independent thinkers who are prepared for challenges and can contribute meaningfully to society.

My role is to mentor and guide students on their educational journey by building strong relationships based on trust, respect, and open communication skills . I offer guidance and support to help them overcome academic challenges, and achieve their goals.

As a positive role model, I instill values such as perseverance, and empathy that will shape their character beyond the classroom.

Can You Be A Teacher With An Associate Degree?

Does someone want to know if Can You Be a Teacher with an Associate Degree ? Yes, it is possible to become a teacher with an associate degree, but additional education is typically required for eligibility in teaching positions.

Obtaining relevant teaching credentials is crucial for pursuing a teaching career. These credentials often involve completing additional coursework and passing required exams.

Requirements for teaching certifications vary by state, so it is essential to research the specific requirements in your area.

Opportunities may exist in preschools , tutoring programs, or as teaching assistants. These positions can offer valuable hands-on experience in an educational setting, allowing you to gain practical knowledge while working towards further education.

Why do you want to be an English teacher answer?

There are a few possible answers, such as: My goal is to assist my students in expanding their options, whether it’s by progressing in their professions or achieving academic excellence, by teaching them English .

I aim to have a constructive influence on the motivate them to cultivate a passion for continuous learning.

I want to be a teacher paragraph (300 words)

My desire to be a teacher isn’t born from a singular spark, but rather a constellation of experiences. It’s the twinkle of understanding in a student’s eyes when a complex concept clicks, the quiet hum of curiosity ignited by a well-crafted question, and the reverberating laughter that fills a classroom transformed into a world of possibility.

Imagine a time machine. I’d hop in and revisit my younger self, eyes wide with wonder, soaking up stories from my own passionate teachers. They weren’t just dispensers of facts; they were architects of knowledge, weaving tapestries of history, science, and language that ignited my imagination. They saw potential where I saw limitations, nudged me out of my comfort zone, and celebrated every “a-ha!” moment. In that crucible of learning, I discovered a love for exploration, a thirst for knowledge, and the profound joy of sharing it with others.

Teaching, for me, isn’t just a job; it’s a calling. It’s the chance to be a mentor, a guide, and a cheerleader, all rolled into one.  The teaching is about planting seeds of curiosity, nurturing critical thinking, and helping young minds blossom into their full potential. It’s about breaking down barriers, not building them, and fostering a love for learning that transcends textbooks and tests.

So, to answer your question, “Why do I want to be a teacher?” I don’t simply want to teach; I want to inspire. I want to be a catalyst for change, a builder of bridges, and a weaver of dreams. I want to create a classroom where every student feels seen, heard, and valued, where curiosity is celebrated, and where the only limit is the vast expanse of human potential. That’s why I want to be a teacher – to light the spark that ignites a lifetime of learning.

Why I want to be a teacher Top 10 Examples

1. to ignite the love for learning.

I want to be a teacher to inspire a passion for learning in young minds, foster curiosity, and empower students to explore the world of knowledge with enthusiasm.

2. To make a positive impact

Becoming a teacher allows me to make a positive difference in the lives of my students, shaping their future and helping them realize their full potential.

3. To be a role model and mentor

Being a teacher means being a source of guidance and support, helping students navigate challenges, develop critical life skills, and become responsible, compassionate individuals.

4. To promote inclusivity and diversity

I aspire to create an inclusive classroom Culture environment where every student feels valued, respected, and celebrated for their unique background.

5. To cultivate critical thinking

I want to be a teacher who challenges students to think critically and develop independent thoughts, empowering them to become informed citizens.

6. To foster creativity and innovation

As a teacher, I aim to create a space that encourages creativity, where students can freely express their ideas, take risks, and think outside the box, fostering a spirit of innovation.

7. To be a lifelong learner

Teaching offers continuous opportunities for personal growth and learning. I want to be a teacher to constantly expand my knowledge, and stay intellectually engaged.

8. To be part of shaping the future

By educating, I want to contribute to shaping a better future for individuals, and society as a whole.

9. To create a supportive community

I want to be a teacher to foster a sense of belonging and create a supportive community within the classroom, where students feel safe, connected, and motivated to succeed.

10. To experience the joy of seeing students thrive

There is immense joy in witnessing the growth, and transformations of students. As they progress academically, develop new skills, and gain confidence. Being a teacher allows me to be part of that journey.

How much do elementary teachers make a month?

The monthly salary of elementary teachers can vary depending on several factors such as the location, and the school district. On average, elementary teachers earn a monthly salary ranging from around $2,500 to $4,500. If you want to be an elementary teacher, then try to know elementary teachers’ interview questions and answers .

Salaries can be influenced by collective bargaining agreements and local government policies.

Who is a good teacher?

A good teacher is someone who possesses a genuine passion for teaching. It has excellent subject knowledge and inspires and motivates students to learn.

They are patient, and adaptable, to diverse learning styles and individual needs.

A good teacher fosters a positive and inclusive classroom environment and supports the growth and development of their students both personally.

They serve as mentors and role models, demonstrating empathy, effective communication , and a dedication to continuous learning.

Teachers aspire to assist their students in every possible manner. However, a few upcoming educators aim to aid their pupils in achieving great heights.

I have added already two Essays and one paragraph on why you want to be a teacher. I think these will help you to make an essay and details.

The responsibility of a teacher is to unleash the potential of every student by identifying any obstacles. It may hinder their future success.

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why i love being a teacher essay

Despite Everything Going on, Here’s Why I Still Love Being a Teacher

by Laura Hudgens

Teaching is so hard. Some days I feel discouraged and overwhelmed. The days can be exhausting, and sometimes it feels like all my hard work goes unappreciated. On my worst days, I question whether or not I’m making a difference…Still, I have encouraged many of my high school students and all of my own children to consider a career in education. Because, despite everything, I still believe that teaching is a valid and valuable career choice and a deeply meaningful investment of my time and talents. I’m in my fifties now and nearing the end of my career, but if I had it to do over, I would still be a teacher. These are some of the reasons.

1. Working with kids is fun.

Yes, it is also exhausting, frustrating, and sometimes infuriating, but at every age, be it kindergarten or 12th grade, kids are fun. Young ones are silly, playful, often happy, and full of energy and curiosity. Bigger kids can be clever, insightful, and hilarious.

Of course, not everyone who enjoys kids is cut out to be a teacher, and not every teacher enjoys working with every age. But as an educator, when you find that sweet spot, that grade level, those people–those adorable little people, awkward middle people, or not-quite-grown big people–that you were meant to teach, it is fun (admittedly not every minute) spending your days with them and helping them learn and grow.

2. Teachers shape the future.

Nearly every other profession depends on teachers. Next to the family, education is the cornerstone of our society. There’s no question that our educational system is far from perfect, but having intelligent, compassionate, dedicated teachers is crucial for the future of our country and for the future of the young people who spend their days inside our classrooms. As a teacher, I feel like I’m contributing to society in a worthwhile way.

3. Teachers can change lives.

This has been said so often that it’s almost a cliché. The idea has also sometimes been weaponized against teachers , using the nobleness of the profession to downplay the real struggles teachers face. Still, there is no denying that it’s true. And some of the very things that make our jobs hard–students with difficult home lives, mental health struggles , and learning and behavioral issues–are also the reasons that what we do is so important.

Teachers engage and inspire young learners. We pique their curiosity about new ideas. Through our example, we demonstrate the importance of a good character and a strong work ethic. For some kids, we are the only person to set boundaries or the only adult who is a warm and caring presence in their lives. It is a truly awesome responsibility and not always easy, but for all its struggles, teaching is a deeply meaningful career choice.

4. A teacher’s schedule is conducive to raising a family.

Admittedly, this is tricky because a teacher’s workday can last well into the evening, and planning and grading papers can take up much of our weekends. I sometimes have to make tough decisions about work in order to prioritize my family and my own mental well-being.

It can be a difficult balancing act. But as a teacher, I always had roughly the same hours as my children. Once they were in school, I never had to worry about what to do with my kids on a snow day or who would watch them over the holiday break. I loved being home with my kids in the summer. When my children were growing up, being a teacher allowed me to have time with them that I might not have had if I had taken another career path.

5. I get to talk about what I love all day.

Whether it is phonics, art, science, literature, history, or math, most teachers are passionate about what they teach. As a literacy teacher, one of my favorite things about my job is reading children’s literature and talking about books with kids. I know math teachers who get a real thrill out of helping kids learn new math concepts and social studies teachers who never tire of discussing the events in history that have shaped our lives. And because teachers never stop learning, being a teacher means getting to take your favorite subject or re-do your favorite grade over and over–but you get to be in charge and help other people love it too.

6. There’s room to change and grow.

Some people say that teaching is a stagnant profession since teachers don’t get promoted or earn higher salaries and bonuses based on their performance. But I find that teaching offers a variety of opportunities. Over the course of my career, I have earned a master’s degree, thus increasing my salary. I’ve also changed schools, grade levels, and subjects, which has kept teaching challenging and interesting. And while I’ve never aspired to be an administrator or to become an educational facilitator or specialist, for some teachers, that is a rewarding career move that still offers many of the fulfilling benefits of teaching. 

7. Teachers have job security and flexibility.

I’ve lived most of my adult life in my home state, but had my family ever moved, I could have been a teacher in any state in the union or even overseas. Of course, depending on the state or job, this would likely have required additional certifications and licensures. Still, being a teacher is job security–especially now.

Teaching is also a profession one can leave for a time and still return to. I stayed home with my children when they were young, but even after over a decade at home, I was able to return to teaching–albeit I had to learn some new technology and lingo . I can’t think of many other professions I would have wanted or been able to return to after so much time away.

8. Teachers can effect change in the system.

While I have not conducted a formal survey, I suspect the number one reason teachers leave the profession isn’t the kids or even the pay. I suspect most teachers leave because of the system. The American educational system is a mess, and most efforts to fix it involve piling more work and greater responsibilities on teachers. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Change can and should come at all levels of education, and one of the biggest changes we need is more support (financial and otherwise) for teachers.

Admittedly, ‘fixing the system” has never been a primary motivator for me to stay in education. And it’s unlikely that in the years I have remaining as a teacher I will be able to make a huge impact in that regard–except for this: through my writing, through conversations with young adults, and my influence as an educator, I am encouraging the next generation to become teachers, to see the joy in the profession, to impact the lives of kids, and to advocate for meaningful changes in education.

Now more than ever, teachers are struggling. That’s why it’s important to reflect on all that is good and noble and even fun about being an educator–not to gloss over the problems we face, but to remind ourselves and others that being a teacher is worth it and kids and educators are worth advocating for.

As I head into my last few years in the classroom, I can honestly say that I love being a teacher, and I want other people to love it too. I can think of few other professions that are more important.

If I had to do it over again, I'd still be a teacher

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Classroom Q&A

With larry ferlazzo.

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

Our Favorite Teachers & Why We Remember Them

why i love being a teacher essay

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Editor’s Note: As I wrote in Part One, our minds are obviously on COVID-19, not on our favorite teachers. I’ve curated many useful resources about coping with school closures at The Best Advice On Teaching K-12 Online (If We Have To Because Of The Coronavirus) - Please Make More Suggestions! and will soon be publishing a series of posts here where teachers will be sharing their experiences in this new environment (see Do You Want to Write About Your Experience Teaching Online After School Closures? ). Please consider contributing your thoughts.

In this time of crisis, reading and thinking about non-coronavirus topics can be a welcome diversion now and then. I put thinking about and reading about our favorite teachers into that “welcome diversion” category.

Today, Antoinette Perez, Cindy Garcia, Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski , Shaeley Santiago , Rita Platt , Jen Schwanke, and Barry Saide offer their memories of their favorite teachers.

“Words of affirmation”

Antoinette Perez is currently a high school ELA and ELD teacher at Buena High School in Ventura, Calif. She also works as a language and cultural instructor to adult ELLs. She enjoys cooking, watching baseball, and traveling around the world to visit her former international students:

As educators, we tend to think back and reflect on the teachers who made a difference in our lives. Some of those teachers pushed us to do our best and some of them were powerful enough to make us believe we could do anything. I can remember quite a few teachers who had a gift for teaching and continue to influence my instruction today.

My favorite teacher and one who made all the difference in both my personal life and in my career was my 7th grade reading-intervention teacher. Like many adolescents, I wasn’t fond of reading, mostly because I couldn’t relate to the stories we read or understand many of the concepts we read about. I struggled and I fell behind grade level in reading. Much to my dismay, I was pulled out of my English class a few days each week to complete a reading-intervention program with Mrs. Gustafson. I remember her classroom being comfortable, welcoming, and safe. And Mrs. Gustafson was all of those things, too. She created engaging lessons that helped me access complex concepts and make connections. She created a learning environment where taking risks was encouraged. No matter how wrong I was at times, she gave me credit for trying. Her words of affirmation showed me that she believed in me. She rewarded what I did well. I learned to love my small-group instruction because it catered to my individual needs. Mrs. Gustafson saw me as an individual rather than as a number. She cared, and it showed. I knew that I wanted to be like her and one day make a difference in students’ lives.

It’s not too often we get to thank our favorite teachers for what they’ve taught us, but it’s less often that we get to learn from them for longer than one school year. I consider myself fortunate to have had the chance to be a student of Mrs. Gustafson’s once again more than 10 years after she first opened my eyes to the true gift of teaching. In the final semester of my teacher-credential program, I went out on a limb and registered for a course instructed by a familiar name: Shelley Gustafson. I thought it could just be a coincidence that two people in Long Beach, Calif. had the same name, but I was hopeful. And when I walked into that classroom to a familiar face, I knew I was getting in to the right profession. Fighting back the tears, I began to tell her who I was when she interrupted, “Nettie, I remember you!” I thanked her for believing in me, for inspiring me to continue learning, and for showing me that teaching is a gift that keeps on giving. Much of who I am as a teacher today stems from both what I learned from Mrs. Gustafson 20 years ago as a middle schooler and almost a decade ago as a teacher-in-the-making.

Making connections

Cindy Garcia has been a bilingual educator for 14 years and is currently the district instructional specialist for P-6 bilingual/ESL mathematics in the Pasadena Independent school district (Texas). She is active on Twitter @CindyGarciaTX and on her blog:

When I think about Ms. Anita Moore, I always smile and think about how fortunate I was that she was my 4th and 5th grade teacher. It was evident even to a 9-year-old that Ms. Moore loved being a teacher. She had high structures in her classroom, but it was a safe place where we were encouraged to share, think, and express ourselves. All of her students knew that she cared about us learning and our well-being. Ms. Moore never let us give up if we were stuck, and she worked with us until we figured out a solution.

One of the memories that always stuck with me was Ms. Moore conducting a read-aloud and starting to cry because the main character in the story reminded her of her grandmother. She paused to share about her relationship with her grandmother and made the connection as to how that relationship was helping understand the main messages in the story.

Ms. Moore tried her best to make a connection with each student in her classroom. She knew what are interests were and about our families. She used that information to bring our interests into the classroom. One of the biggest reasons that Ms. Moore will always be my favorite teacher is because she helped my love of reading grow. She made books of various genres available in our classroom and to take home. She suggested books that she thought we would enjoy, and today I realize that it was books that she hoped would get us hooked!

Ms. Moore also went beyond classroom instruction. She decided that our school should have a choir and that all of her students should audition. If not for her initiative, I would never have participated in this type of extracurricular activity. She was known to drive alongside students as they walked home if they were walking home alone and their homes were a bit too far from school. When it was time for the annual 5th grade weekend camping trip, my parents refused to let me attend the trip. Ms. Moore came to my home to talk to my parents to persuade them to let me attend. I was still not allowed to go, but it was amazing to me that a teacher would visit my home in order to help me be part of a school tradition and take part in the experience with my classmates. Ms. Moore was a wonderful example of a caring teacher who worked very hard to help her students learn and feel successful.

“He made me see things about myself that I never realized”

Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski is a 3rd grade teacher in Farmingdale, N.Y. She previously taught 6th grade and kindergarten. Kathleen is one of the co-authors of the Two Writing Teachers and the co-director of the Long Island Writing Project. She blogs at Courage Doesn’t Always Roar:

I’ve had so many wonderful teachers through the years that have helped shape my life. One teacher who especially stands out in my memory was Mr. Patrick Gallagher. Mr. Gallagher was my AP U.S. History teacher in high school, and he was also one of the advisers of Key Club, a service club in which I was a member and an officer.

Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Though Mr. Gallagher was my teacher over 20 years ago, I remember that he made me feel like I was special. He made me see things about myself that I never realized. He encouraged me as a student leader and told me that he saw me as an inclusive person who always tried to welcome others into a situation. He showed that he believed in me, and I wanted to live up to his good opinion of me.

On days when I feel a little lost or low, I still pull out the letter of recommendation he wrote on my behalf for a scholarship for which I applied. It’s been so many years, but those words have the power to make me once again feel worthy and capable.

From Mr. Gallagher, I learned to shine a light on students’ strengths and help them see the special qualities they might not know they have. I look for ways to tell students all the good I see in them, in writing, so they, too, can look back someday and remember that a teacher saw in them a bright student with so much potential.

Encouraging creativity

Shaeley Santiago is an English-learner strategist for the Ames Community school district in Ames, Iowa. She has also served as an ESL instructional coach and a secondary ESL teacher in both Ames and Perry, Iowa. She is a big fan of social media for teachers; you can follow her on Twitter at @HSeslteacher :

My favorite teacher was my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Judith Best. From the first day of class, it was clear she incorporated new ideas and instructional strategies to improve her practice. She was an engaging teacher who provided choice in her lessons, advocated for her students, and cared about us as young people.

At the beginning of the school year, Mrs. Best asked us to decorate the name tags for our desks. She provided the parameters for the assignment but left the specifics up to us. Unlike most of my classmates, I decided on an elaborate pattern where each letter of my name was colored differently from the next. I wasn’t discouraged from this unusual approach or forced to rush to complete my work. Instead, Mrs. Best encouraged my creativity on a type of task that today might be viewed as a waste of valuable classroom time. In any case, the project allowed me to explore an idea I had while helping Mrs. Best get to know me better.

One of my all-time favorite units in school was a multiweek social studies simulation in Mrs. Best’s class about settlers moving to the Midwest. We drew a card to be assigned our “family” and its circumstances. Then each day in class, someone would roll the dice to determine the weather and other daily events in the simulation. We had to make choices ranging from buying food to upgrading our property. My family was the deJongs, and we farmed a small acreage just outside of town. While I knew a little about farming because my grandparents were wheat farmers, the responsibility of making choices for my “family” and then experiencing the simulated consequences of those decisions over time taught me some valuable life lessons. We also learned about how a community might work together to support each other through difficulties such as natural disasters.

I also still vividly remember Mrs. Best incorporating drawing as a method for helping us develop the lesser-used hemisphere of our brains. She had taken a course where she’d learned about the technique, so she explained some of the research behind it to us. Then she asked us to draw with our nondominant hand. We did activities like this several times during the school year. Looking back now through my own lens as a teacher, I admire that she was applying what she had learned from her course. As her student, I knew from her own efforts to improve and her explanation about why we were doing what we were that she had my best interests at heart.

Mrs. Best also advocated for me to be evaluated for the gifted program. She had seen qualities in me that suggested I would benefit from opportunities for extended learning. Although my standardized-test scores weren’t high enough to automatically qualify me for the program, she still argued that I should participate with another student from my class. Her belief in me and my abilities was a boost for my self-confidence at a time when adolescence and all its awkwardness was fast approaching.

Although I had no plans at that point in my life to be an educator, Mrs. Best’s approach to teaching has had an impact on my beliefs about quality instruction. I believe strongly that engaging students through creative, real-world activities and choice in assignments is essential for maximizing learning. I also strive to stay current in my teaching practice by applying the techniques and research I learn about through professional development. Finally, my path in middle and high school was directly impacted because Mrs. Best advocated on my behalf for access to the gifted program. As her name so aptly conveys, she was my best teacher.

Being “nonjudgmental”

Rita Platt (@ritaplatt) is a national-board-certified teacher and a proud #EduDork! Her experience includes teaching learners of all levels from kindergartner to graduate student. She is currently the principal of St. Croix Falls and Dresser Elementary Schools in Wisconsin, teaches graduate courses for the Professional Development Institute, and writes for MiddleWeb:

My 10th grade driver’s education teacher wore her hair in a curly puff. She wore bright pink lipstick, colorful scarves, mini skirts with rainboots, and was never without a smile. At the start of class, she stood by the door and welcomed her students. When the hour was up, she stood by the door and said goodbye with this line, “Have a great day! If you ever want to hang out, stop by! I always have hot tea and oranges ready for a visit!” My 10th grade driver’s education teacher’s name was Rita Refner. Mrs. Refner was (is?) wonderful.

Over the years, I have often reflected on why I loved Mrs. Refner so much and why her class (driver’s ed, of all things!) inspired me to become an educator. In the end, I think it boils down to how she carried herself and how she treated me.

Mrs. Refner embodied some the character traits that I now recognize as aligned with my own core values . She was nonjudgmental, friendly, funny, encouraging, and completely and totally comfortable with herself.

When I met her, I was what we called, an “Ash Streeter.” It was 1983, and at that time, students were allowed to smoke outside of the school, and I was often found on the front steps of the Ash Street entrance of the high school with a cigarette in hand. In those days (and now, if I’m honest), I marched to the beat of my own drum. I dressed different from other kids (think June Cleaver but with neon pink pumps and punkish blond streaks in black hair.) I skipped classes as frequently as I attended them, and my grades were low. But, I was kind to others, reasonably smart, and liked to laugh. Mrs. Refner saw that. She treated me with a respect that I wasn’t used to from teachers, and I reveled in it.

Mrs. Refner wasn’t joking about the tea and oranges. I know because I often stayed after class to hang out with her over a cup of chamomile and half an orange. We chatted about all kinds of things and found out we had much in common. Chief among them was that we had both suffered from the behavior of people who were alcoholics. Mrs. Refner had lost her husband when a drunk driver crashed into his car, and I was raised by alcohol- and drug-addicted parents who often fell short in the good-parenting department. The combination of her friendly, kind, and nonjudgmental manner allowed me to open up to her in a way I had never opened up before.

Once I opened up, Mrs. Refner encouraged me to use my experiences to reach out and make a difference for others. She encouraged me to attend Alateen , a support group for teenagers who are affected by alcoholism. When that didn’t feel like a good fit for me, together we devised a plan to develop and coordinate a Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) club in the high school. Being a part of that club helped me learn that I was a capable leader and my efforts could help others.

When I think of Mrs. Refner, what stands out most clearly was her willingness to be unapologetically herself. Mrs. Refner put on no airs, showed no pretense, had no need to be “normal.” She, like me, was different and she wore her differences like a name tag that said, “I’m ME! And, you will like me!” What a powerful example she was.

More than 30 years after I met her, I still think of her often and am grateful for the gifts she gave me. I don’t smoke anymore, and there is no Ash Street entrance at the school where I am the principal. But I do wear that invisible name tag that says, “I am ME!” and I work daily to be as nonjudgmental, kind, funny, encouraging, and completely comfortable in my own skin. Thank you, Mrs. Refner.

Trauma should not be a “lonely” thing

Ms. Jen Schwanke has served as a teacher and administrator at the elementary and middle school levels for 20 years. She has established her voice in school leadership by contributing frequently to literacy and leadership publications and has presented at multiple conferences at the state and national level. She is the author of the book, You’re the Principal! Now What? Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders , published by ASCD:

The year I entered 3rd grade, my parents’ farm was in the grips of a drought that dried up the entire Midwest. My father’s hay crop withered and died. With no hay to sell, there was no money. With no money, there was no food. We were a family of six. I was very hungry for quite some time.

My father grew sullen and silent, my mother sad and defiant. Though it would be many painful years before they would finally divorce, the drought years were the worst because the farmhouse seemed to be waiting for something—thunder, lightning, heavy rain, a big fight, something to happen.

As kids do, I soldiered on, not having words or systems to manage anything otherwise. My sisters reacted similarly. We did not discuss it. At the dinner table, we gulped at my mother’s home-canned green beans, supplemented with fruit cocktail from Dollar General. We dipped saltines in water, better to swallow with our choked throats. When school started, I packed three apples for lunch every day, because there were plenty in the cellar: towers of bushel boxes full of Macintosh, bought at the Bargain Bin for a song. Kids made fun of me in the cafeteria, and I hissed at them: “Shut up. It’s just that I love apples.”

Early in November, Miss Troutman pulled me aside. She gave me two gifts. The first was a ham sandwich. The second was a journal.

I don’t know how she knew. Perhaps it was my bony legs and dirty, too-short jeans. Perhaps she saw the apples. Maybe she just guessed. Regardless, she found a way to help without humiliating me or making me talk about my breaking heart. She offered dignity and kindness that still makes me swoon with gratitude. “Silly me,” she said. “I accidentally made an extra sandwich this morning.”

With it, she handed me a beautiful black leather journal, thick with pages of unlined white paper. “You don’t need to show it to me as you write. It can be private. Your very own.” I’d long wanted to journal but didn’t have a special place to do it. When there is no money for ground beef, there is certainly no money for journals. I took it home and began experimenting as a poet, a writer, an artist, a dreamer—a little person who could imagine a better ending to the story.

Miss Troutman made many accidental sandwiches that year, fluffy white Wonder Bread stuffed with chipped ham and slathered with delicious, oily mayonnaise. She would slip it into my lunch box when no one was looking.

These days, we are discussing children and trauma more openly and honestly. We are legitimizing how it feels to be a very young person who is scared, sad, sorry, and ashamed, a young person who still has to get up and wash her face and get on the school bus. We recognize trauma takes many forms—hunger, abandonment, physical pain, loneliness, fear, racism, and all sorts of other horrible, painful things—and kids all feel it and react, differently. Trauma is not, and should not be, a lonely and secretive thing. People—kids—often want to deal with it alone, but they may need someone to notice, and teachers are often the ones to do just that.

Facebook recently reconnected Miss Troutman and I; in a private message, I thanked her for her kindness. She was gracious, humble, and gentle, just as I remembered her. “It’s rare that I can still see the 10-year-old in the face of one of my students,” she wrote, “But I can see your young self in your pictures. Except I see peace and confidence now. I’m glad about that.”

I told her my young face is still there, in me, because she helped me preserve it.

“A daily structure”

Barry Saide is the proud principal of Roosevelt School, in Manville, N.J. Prior to becoming principal, Barry was a director of curriculum & instruction, supervisor of curriculum & instruction, and elementary classroom teacher. This is his 20th year in education:

My favorite teacher when attending school was my elementary school teacher Mrs. Pace. She looped with us from 3 rd through 5 th grades. Her consistent presence and approach each day provided comfort for me. I was an anxious learner, uncomfortable with change, and quiet in disposition. Rarely did I raise my hand, offer a suggestion, or ask a question. I didn’t want to stand out in any way possible. I would rather sit there, potentially soak all the learning in, and hope that if I didn’t understand something that one of my peers would ask that question. If one didn’t, I would go home and count on my mother or father to assist me. If that didn’t happen, I didn’t learn it.

Though I was quiet and painfully shy (on a 1 to 10 scale I was an 11), because Mrs. Pace provided a daily structure, reviewed the classroom expectations each day, solicited input from us to build future lessons and units, and got to know us individually, I was able to grow beyond my own self-imposed limitations. Mrs. Pace spent a portion of each day with each of us, reviewing what our accomplishments were and setting our goals for the following day. She knew I was a strong writer, avid reader, and struggling mathematician. She built opportunities within lessons for me to read aloud my free-writes and favorite reading passages and others to share their strengths, too. When I became a teacher, I realized she did this to foster a community of learners—students who would feel comfortable knowing their peers were a resource they could go to when they needed support, suggestion, or guidance on a topic. That communal, inclusive feeling was the overarching goal I created each year in the classroom when I became a teacher.

My formative years with Mrs. Pace as my teacher taught me many of the concepts within my philosophical approach to human-centered education I used as a teacher. Now as an administrator: getting to know each individual, coaching people from their strengths, continually raising expectations slightly based on prior accomplishments (and providing the support to achieve those expectations), and accepting every person for who they are by seeing who they could be with support and guidance is who I strive to be. Without my 3 rd through 5 th grade years, that doesn’t happen.

Thanks to Antoinette, Cindy, Kathleen, Shaeley, Rita, Jen, and Barry for their contributions!

(This is the second post in a multipart series. You can see Part One here .)

The new question-of-the-week is:

Who was your favorite teacher when you were attending school, and why was she/he your favorite?

Part One shared responses from Elizabeth Villanueva, Jessica Levine, Betty Cárdenas, and Jenny Vo. You can listen to a 10-minute conversation I had with the four of them on my BAM! Radio Show . You can also find a list of, and links to, previous shows here.

Please feel free to leave a comment with your reactions to the topic or directly to anything that has been said in this post.

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Education Week has published a collection of posts from this blog, along with new material, in an e-book form. It’s titled Classroom Management Q&As: Expert Strategies for Teaching .

Just a reminder; you can subscribe and receive updates from this blog via email or RSS Reader. And if you missed any of the highlights from the first eight years of this blog, you can see a categorized list below. The list doesn’t include ones from this current year, but you can find those by clicking on the “answers” category found in the sidebar.

This Year’s Most Popular Q&A Posts

Race & Gender Challenges

Classroom-Management Advice

Best Ways to Begin the School Year

Best Ways to End the School Year

Implementing the Common Core

Student Motivation & Social-Emotional Learning

Teaching Social Studies

Cooperative & Collaborative Learning

Using Tech in the Classroom

Parent Engagement in Schools

Teaching English-Language Learners

Reading Instruction

Writing Instruction

Education Policy Issues

Differentiating Instruction

Math Instruction

Science Instruction

Advice for New Teachers

Author Interviews

Entering the Teaching Profession

The Inclusive Classroom

Learning & the Brain

Administrator Leadership

Teacher Leadership

Relationships in Schools

Professional Development

Instructional Strategies

Best of Classroom Q&A

Professional Collaboration

Classroom Organization

Mistakes in Education

Project-Based Learning

I am also creating a Twitter list including all contributors to this column .

Look for Part Three in a few days....

The opinions expressed in Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

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Essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher

Students are often asked to write an essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher

Passion for knowledge.

I chose to become a teacher because I love learning. I enjoy gaining new information and sharing it with others. Being a teacher lets me keep learning and pass my knowledge to my students.

Inspiring Young Minds

I believe that children are our future. As a teacher, I can inspire them to do their best. I can help them find their passions and guide them towards their goals.

Creating a Positive Impact

Teachers can change lives. They can help students grow and become better people. I wanted to have that kind of positive impact on the world.

Job Satisfaction

Teaching is a job that brings me joy. Seeing my students learn and succeed is very rewarding. It makes me feel happy and satisfied with my work.

The Joy of Teaching

Lastly, I simply love teaching. I enjoy the process of planning lessons, interacting with students, and seeing them understand new concepts. It is a job that I find fulfilling and meaningful.

250 Words Essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher

Love for learning.

I chose to become a teacher because I love learning. Ever since I was a child, I have been curious. I always wanted to know more about the world around me. I thought, what better way to keep learning than to become a teacher? As a teacher, I learn new things every day, and it keeps my mind active and excited.

Sharing Knowledge

Another reason is my passion for sharing knowledge. I believe that knowledge is a gift that grows when shared. As a teacher, I can share what I know with my students and see them grow in understanding. It’s a great feeling when a student understands a concept I’ve taught.

Making a Difference

I also chose this profession because I wanted to make a difference in the world. Teachers play a big role in shaping the future. We guide young minds and help them become responsible adults. I wanted to be part of that journey.

Creating a Positive Environment

Lastly, I wanted to create a positive learning environment. I remember how my teachers made learning fun and exciting. I wanted to do the same for my students. I believe that a positive environment helps students learn better.

In conclusion, my love for learning, sharing knowledge, making a difference, and creating a positive environment led me to become a teacher. It’s a choice I’m glad I made. I get to make a difference every day, and that’s a wonderful feeling.

500 Words Essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher

Introduction.

The decision to become a teacher is not one that is made lightly. It’s a choice that comes from the heart, driven by a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. For me, choosing to be a teacher was a calling, a passion that grew from my love for learning and my wish to share that love with others.

As a student, I was always fascinated by how much there was to learn about the world. Every new fact, every new idea was like a tiny treasure, waiting to be discovered. I loved the feeling of understanding something new, of seeing the world in a different way. I wanted to share this joy with others, to help them discover the wonder of learning. This is what led me to choose teaching as a profession.

Desire to Make a Difference

Teachers have a unique chance to shape the future. They guide students, helping them grow into responsible, thoughtful adults. I wanted to be part of this process. I wanted to help students understand their potential, to believe in themselves, and to strive for their dreams. The thought of being able to make such a difference in a young person’s life was a major factor in my decision to become a teacher.

Passion for Sharing Knowledge

I have always been passionate about sharing knowledge. The joy of seeing a student’s eyes light up when they grasp a new concept is priceless. I wanted to be the one to spark that light, to help students discover their interests and talents. Teaching offered me the perfect platform to do this.

Respect for the Profession

I have always held teachers in high regard. They are the ones who inspire us, motivate us, and guide us towards our goals. They play a pivotal role in shaping our lives. I wanted to be part of this noble profession, to contribute to society in a meaningful way. This respect for the profession was another strong reason why I chose to become a teacher.

Choosing to become a teacher was a decision born out of love for learning, a desire to make a difference, a passion for sharing knowledge, and respect for the profession. It was not just about choosing a job, but about choosing a way of life. It was about choosing to spend my days doing something that I love, something that I believe in, and something that I know can make a real difference in the world.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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  • Essay on Why Did You Choose Engineering
  • Essay on Why Did You Choose Architecture

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What’s it like to be a teacher in america today, public k-12 teachers are stressed about their jobs and few are optimistic about the future of education; many say poverty, absenteeism and mental health are major problems at their school.

A teacher leads an English class at a high school in Richmond, Virginia. (Parker Michels-Boyce/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Pew Research Center conducted this study to better understand the views and experiences of public K-12 school teachers. The analysis in this report is based on an online survey of 2,531 U.S. public K-12 teachers conducted from Oct. 17 to Nov. 14, 2023. The teachers surveyed are members of RAND’s American Teacher Panel, a nationally representative panel of public K-12 school teachers recruited through MDR Education. Survey data is weighted to state and national teacher characteristics to account for differences in sampling and response to ensure they are representative of the target population.

Here are the questions used for this report , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

Low-poverty , medium-poverty and high-poverty schools are based on the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (less than 40%, 40%-59% and 60% or more, respectively).

Secondary schools include both middle schools and high schools.

All references to party affiliation include those who lean toward that party. Republicans include those who identify as Republicans and those who say they lean toward the Republican Party. Democrats include those who identify as Democrats and those who say they lean toward the Democratic Party.

Public K-12 schools in the United States face a host of challenges these days – from teacher shortages to the lingering effects of COVID-19 learning loss to political battles over curriculum .

A horizontal stacked bar chart showing that teachers are less satisfied with their jobs than U.S. workers overall.

In the midst of all this, teachers express low levels of satisfaction with their jobs. In fact, they’re much less satisfied than U.S. workers overall.

Here’s how public K-12 teachers are feeling about their jobs:

  • 77% say their job is frequently stressful.
  • 68% say it’s overwhelming.
  • 70% say their school is understaffed.
  • 52% say they would not advise a young person starting out today to become a teacher.

When it comes to how their students are doing in school, teachers are relatively downbeat about both academic performance and behavior.

Here’s how public K-12 teachers rate academic performance and behavior at their school:

A horizontal stacked bar chart showing that about half of teachers give students at their school low marks for academic performance and behavior.

  • 48% say the academic performance of most students at their school is fair or poor. A third say it’s good, and only 17% describe it as excellent or very good.
  • 49% say the behavior of most students at their school is fair or poor; 35% say it’s good and 13% say it’s excellent or very good.

The COVID-19 pandemic likely compounded these issues. About eight-in-ten teachers (among those who have been teaching for at least a year) say the lasting impact of the pandemic on students’ behavior, academic performance and emotional well-being has been very or somewhat negative.

Assessments of student performance and behavior differ widely by school poverty level. 1 Teachers in high-poverty schools have a much more negative outlook. But feelings of stress and dissatisfaction among teachers are fairly universal, regardless of where they teach.

Related: What Public K-12 Teachers Want Americans To Know About Teaching

A bar chart showing that most teachers see parents’ involvement as insufficient.

As they navigate these challenges, teachers don’t feel they’re getting the support or reinforcement they need from parents.

Majorities of teachers say parents are doing too little when it comes to holding their children accountable if they misbehave in school, helping them with their schoolwork and ensuring their attendance.

Teachers in high- and medium-poverty schools are more likely than those in low-poverty schools to say parents are doing too little in each of these areas.

These findings are based on a survey of 2,531 U.S. public K-12 teachers conducted Oct. 17-Nov. 14, 2023, using the RAND American Teacher Panel. 2 The survey looks at the following aspects of teachers’ experiences:

  • Teachers’ job satisfaction (Chapter 1)
  • How teachers manage their workload (Chapter 2)
  • Problems students are facing at public K-12 schools (Chapter 3)
  • Challenges in the classroom (Chapter 4)
  • Teachers’ views of parent involvement (Chapter 5)
  • Teachers’ views on the state of public K-12 education (Chapter 6)

Problems students are facing

A horizontal stacked bar chart showing that poverty, chronic absenteeism and mental health stand out as major problems at public K-12 schools.

We asked teachers about some of the challenges students at their school are facing. Three problems topped the list:

  • Poverty (53% say this is a major problem among students who attend their school)
  • Chronic absenteeism (49%)
  • Anxiety and depression (48%)

Chronic absenteeism (that is, students missing a substantial number of school days) is a particular challenge at high schools, with 61% of high school teachers saying this is a major problem where they teach. By comparison, 46% of middle school teachers and 43% of elementary school teachers say the same.

Anxiety and depression are viewed as a more serious problem at the secondary school level: 69% of high school teachers and 57% of middle school teachers say this is a major problem among their students, compared with 29% of elementary school teachers.

Fewer teachers (20%) view bullying as a major problem at their school, though the share is significantly higher among middle school teachers (34%).

A look inside the classroom

We also asked teachers how things are going in their classroom and specifically about some of the issues that may get in the way of teaching.

  • 47% of teachers say students showing little or no interest in learning is a major problem in their classroom. The share rises to 58% among high school teachers.
  • 33% say students being distracted by their cellphones is a major problem. This is particularly an issue for high school teachers, with 72% saying this is a major problem.
  • About one-in-five teachers say students getting up and walking around when they’re not supposed to and being disrespectful toward them (21% each) are major problems. Teachers in elementary and middle schools are more likely than those in high schools to see these as challenges.

A majority of teachers (68%) say they’ve experienced verbal abuse from a student – such as being yelled at or threatened. Some 21% say this happens at least a few times a month.

Physical violence is less common. Even so, 40% of teachers say a student has been violent toward them , with 9% saying this happens at least a few times a month.

About two-thirds of teachers (66%) say that the current discipline practices at their school are very or somewhat mild. Only 2% say the discipline practices at their school are very or somewhat harsh, while 31% say they are neither harsh nor mild. Most teachers (67%) say teachers themselves don’t have enough influence in determining discipline practices at their school.

Behavioral issues and mental health challenges

A bar chart showing that two-thirds of teachers in high-poverty schools say they have to address students’ behavioral issues daily.

In addition to their teaching duties, a majority of teachers (58%) say they have to address behavioral issues in their classroom every day. About three-in-ten teachers (28%) say they have to help students with mental health challenges daily.

In each of these areas, elementary and middle school teachers are more likely than those at the high school level to say they do these things on a daily basis.

And teachers in high-poverty schools are more likely than those in medium- and low-poverty schools to say they deal with these issues each day.

Cellphone policies and enforcement

A diverging bar chart showing that most high school teachers say cellphone policies are hard to enforce.

Most teachers (82%) say their school or district has policies regarding cellphone use in the classroom.

Of those, 56% say these policies are at least somewhat easy to enforce, 30% say they’re difficult to enforce, and 14% say they’re neither easy nor difficult to enforce.

Experiences with cellphone policies vary widely across school levels. High school teachers (60%) are much more likely than middle school (30%) and elementary school teachers (12%) to say the policies are difficult to enforce (among those who say their school or district has a cellphone policy).

How teachers are experiencing their jobs

Thinking about the various aspects of their jobs, teachers are most satisfied with their relationship with other teachers at their school (71% are extremely or very satisfied).

They’re least satisfied with how much they’re paid – only 15% are extremely or very satisfied with their pay, while 51% are not too or not at all satisfied.

Among teachers who don’t plan to retire or stop working this year, 29% say it’s at least somewhat likely they will look for a new job in the 2023-24 school year. Within that group, 40% say they would look for a job outside of education, 29% say they’d seek a non-teaching job in education, and only 18% say they’d look for a teaching job at another public K-12 school.

Do teachers find their work fulfilling and enjoyable?

Overall, 56% of teachers say they find their job to be fulfilling extremely often or often; 53% say their job is enjoyable. These are significantly lower than the shares who say their job is frequently stressful (77%) or overwhelming (68%).

Positive experiences are more common among newer teachers. Two-thirds of those who’ve been teaching less than six years say their work is fulfilling extremely often or often, and 62% of this group says their work is frequently enjoyable.

Teachers with longer tenures are somewhat less likely to feel this way. For example, 48% of those who’ve been teaching for six to 10 years say their work is frequently enjoyable.

Balancing the workload

Most teachers (84%) say there’s not enough time during their regular work hours to do tasks like grading, lesson planning, paperwork and answering work emails.

Among those who feel this way, 81% say simply having too much work is a major reason.

Many also point to having to spend time helping students outside the classroom, performing non-teaching duties like lunch duty, and covering other teachers’ classrooms as at least minor reasons they don’t have enough time to get all their work done.

A diverging bar chart showing that a majority of teachers say it’s difficult for them to achieve work-life balance.

A majority of teachers (54%) say it’s very or somewhat difficult for them to balance work and their personal life. About one-in-four (26%) say it’s very or somewhat easy for them to balance these things, and 20% say it’s neither easy nor difficult.

Among teachers, women are more likely than men to say work-life balance is difficult for them (57% vs. 43%). Women teachers are also more likely to say they often find their job stressful or overwhelming.

How teachers view the education system

A large majority of teachers (82%) say the overall state of public K-12 education has gotten worse in the past five years.

Pie charts showing that most teachers say public K-12 education has gotten worse over the past 5 years.

And very few are optimistic about the next five years: Only 20% of teachers say public K-12 education will be a lot or somewhat better five years from now. A narrow majority (53%) say it will be worse.

Among teachers who think things have gotten worse in recent years, majorities say the current political climate (60%) and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (57%) are major reasons. A sizable share (46%) also point to changes in the availability of funding and resources.

Related:  About half of Americans say public K-12 education is going in the wrong direction

Which political party do teachers trust more to deal with educational challenges?

On balance, more teachers say they trust the Democratic Party than say they trust the Republican Party to do a better job handling key issues facing the K-12 education system. But three-in-ten or more across the following issues say they don’t trust either party:

  • Shaping school curriculum (42% say they trust neither party)
  • Ensuring teachers have adequate pay and benefits (35%)
  • Making schools safer (35%)
  • Ensuring adequate funding for schools (33%)
  • Ensuring all students have equal access to high-quality K-12 education (31%)

A majority of public K-12 teachers (58%) identify or lean toward the Democratic Party. This is higher than the share among the general public (47%).

  • Poverty levels are based on the percentage of students in the school who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch. ↩
  • For details, refer to the Methodology section of the report. ↩
  • Urban, suburban and rural schools are based on the location of the school as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (rural includes town). Definitions match those used by the U.S. Census Bureau. ↩

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Report Materials

Table of contents, ‘back to school’ means anytime from late july to after labor day, depending on where in the u.s. you live, among many u.s. children, reading for fun has become less common, federal data shows, most european students learn english in school, for u.s. teens today, summer means more schooling and less leisure time than in the past, about one-in-six u.s. teachers work second jobs – and not just in the summer, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

IMAGES

  1. Essay on Why I want to be a Teacher In English 500+ Words

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  2. What Inspired You to Become a Teacher: [Essay Example], 726 words

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  1. 10 Lines On My Favourite Teacher/Essay On My Favourite Teacher In English/My Favourite Teacher Essay

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COMMENTS

  1. Why I Want to Be a Teacher: [Essay Example], 566 words

    The reasons why I want to be a teacher are very important to me because they would help me mentally and physically. The first reason would be to impact children's lives in the classroom in a good way. Next, having lots of time off during the school year is a good incentive for me to not give up on my forever job.

  2. 19 Top Ideas for a "Why I want to be a Teacher" Essay

    Here are the 19 best reasons you would want to be a teacher that you can include in your essay: To help children learn more effectively. To ensure children have positive mentors. To improve children's lives. To help future generations solve the problems of today. To help the future generations become good citizens.

  3. Top 10 Reasons Why I Love Being a Teacher

    1. I make a difference - As a teacher, I can positively influence a child's way of thinking or doing. Essentially, I can be the positive influence in their lives. 2. I can inspire - I can help students build self-esteem and believe in themselves and their ability to learn, no matter their background or abilities. 3.

  4. What I Love About Teaching

    March 24, 2009. There's a lot I love about being a teacher. Teaching is one of those rare professions that keeps your brain young, allowing you to continue your own journey as a student and a lifelong learner. We as educators speak often about creating lifelong learners, but if we aren't buying into it ourselves, then our students don't stand a ...

  5. Essay About Being a Teacher: Top 5 Examples and Prompts

    Koh wants students to achieve their full potential; teaching to him is engaging, inspirational, and transparent. He wants readers to know that being a teacher is rewarding yet difficult, and is something he holds close to his heart. 2. Teaching in the Pandemic: 'This Is Not Sustainable' by Natasha Singer.

  6. I Want to Become a Teacher Because

    In these 31 student essays, future educators answer the question "I want to become a teacher because …" or "I want to become a teacher to …". The short student essays are grouped thematically, forming the top reasons to become a teacher. Top 7 Inspiring Reasons to Become a Teacher. 1. Giving Brings Its Own Rewards. 2. Help ...

  7. Essay Sample on Why I Want to Be a Teacher

    Making a Difference. Teachers have the ability to make a positive impact on the lives of their students. They can inspire, encourage, and motivate their students to reach their full potential. Love of Learning. Many teachers have a deep passion for learning and want to share that love of learning with others.

  8. Why I Want to Be a Teacher

    By being a high school teacher, I will also be able to inspire students because I am also a beneficiary of the scheme. I am now dreaming of very big things and it makes me feel very energized and gives me a reason to also help others be like me or even better than I am. In the classroom, I will be able to effectively guide the students in the ...

  9. 10 Reasons To Become a Teacher You Can Include in an Essay

    Discussing your desire to build community in your essay can show prospective employers or admissions committees your interest in giving back and contributing positively to your local area. 2. Exercise creativity. Teachers regularly use creative thinking skills.

  10. 20 Inspiring Reasons Why You Love to Teach

    20 Inspiring Reasons Why You Love to Teach. By Samer Rabadi. April 28, 2015. It all started with a quote... When we shared this quote from Rebecca Alber on Edutopia's Facebook page, we were amazed at the reaction--thousands of you shared it with your friends and hundreds responded with your own heartfelt reasons for why you love teaching.

  11. The Heart of Teaching: What It Means to Be a Great Teacher

    Being a kind teacher helps students feel welcomed, cared for, and loved. You are compassionate: Teaching is a very humanistic profession, and compassion is the utmost feeling of understanding and showing others you are concerned about them. A compassionate teacher models that characteristic to the students with her or his actions, and as a ...

  12. Reasons Why I Love Teachers (and Teaching)

    True Role Models. I originally went into teaching because I loved math, science and engineering — and I was really good at it. What I learned early on was that teaching is so much more than just the content. It's about being there for the students. It's about being a role model and building supportive relationships.

  13. Why Do You Want To Be a Teacher Essay And Paragraphs?

    That's why I want to be a teacher - to light the spark that ignites a lifetime of learning. Why I want to be a teacher Top 10 Examples . 1. To ignite the love for learning. I want to be a teacher to inspire a passion for learning in young minds, foster curiosity, and empower students to explore the world of knowledge with enthusiasm. 2.

  14. Despite Everything Going on, Here's Why I Still Love Being a Teacher

    I'm in my fifties now and nearing the end of my career, but if I had it to do over, I would still be a teacher. These are some of the reasons. 1. Working with kids is fun. Yes, it is also exhausting, frustrating, and sometimes infuriating, but at every age, be it kindergarten or 12th grade, kids are fun. Young ones are silly, playful, often ...

  15. Why I'm Happy Being 'Just a Teacher' (Opinion)

    These kinds of teachers are leaders in their own right and are role models for students and staff alike. That's enough of a next step for me. A version of this article appeared in the March 20 ...

  16. Our Favorite Teachers & Why We Remember Them

    Submit an Essay ... even to a 9-year-old that Ms. Moore loved being a teacher. She had high structures in her classroom, but it was a safe place where we were encouraged to share, think, and ...

  17. Essay on I Want To Be A Teacher

    It's a big responsibility, but also a beautiful chance to create a better world, one lesson at a time. In conclusion, being a teacher is my dream because I want to share knowledge, help others, keep learning, and make a difference. It's a job that is full of challenges, but it's also filled with joy and the chance to touch many lives.

  18. Essay on Why Did You Choose To Become A Teacher

    Conclusion. Choosing to become a teacher was a decision born out of love for learning, a desire to make a difference, a passion for sharing knowledge, and respect for the profession. It was not just about choosing a job, but about choosing a way of life. It was about choosing to spend my days doing something that I love, something that I ...

  19. My Vocation Of Being a Teacher Free Essay Example

    4. In this teaching is a vocation essay my target audience is students, the youth group, and educational staff. This is because as a teacher I'll be surrounded by students most of the time and they are included in the youth group which will be part of the next generation in the society, also educational staff because I can educate my co ...

  20. What's It Like To Be a Teacher in America Today?

    77% say their job is frequently stressful. 68% say it's overwhelming. 70% say their school is understaffed. 52% say they would not advise a young person starting out today to become a teacher. When it comes to how their students are doing in school, teachers are relatively downbeat about both academic performance and behavior.