thoughts on being a teacher

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I realized something valuable today that I don't want to ever forget. While I was at work, I am a receptionist at a dental clinic by the way, one of the dentists approached me and wanted to know the cost of tuition at ISU. His daughter is graduating from high school this year and is thinking about attending. The moment I responded with the answer he was looking for my boss, overhearing this conversation, chimed in and asked him what his daughter wanted to major in. With a semi-disappointed look on his face followed by a sigh he muttered, "a teacher" - a response that almost sounded like he was trying to convince himself that it was a joke. I could tell he was embarrassed to say it out loud but not as embarrassed as when my boss said, "Oh, Meagan is going into education!" It was as if he wanted to crawl out of the room with his tail between his legs.

This one experience made me realize that this is not the only time this situation has happened to me. Over and over again I get the same response when anyone asks me what I am going in to. One memory in particular stands out - One of my favorite high school teachers that I admired said, "Why would you ever want to do that? You are way to smart to be a teacher. You would be wasting your talents." I was floored!

And I can tell you that all of these experiences made me react the very same way.

I began to defend my career choice.
Then I'd question why I even chose it in the first place.

I know today won't be the last time that I am faced with this situation but it will certainly be the last that I will feel a need to defend myself or question why I chose it because I KNOW why I chose it.

I chose it to make a difference.
To see the glow in a child's eyes when they learn something new.
To be someone they can depend on when they have no one else.
To teach them things that will make them successful in this world.
And because it makes me incredibly happy.

I am proud of my career choice. The truth is, I know I was meant to be a teacher. Life is too short not to do what you love and what makes you truly happy, and that is something I never want to forget.