Schoolhouse Rock....

For my Intro to Education course we’re supposed to keep a weekly journal with thoughts and evaluations relating to our potential careers in Teaching.

Our first journal assignment is to answer the question “Why Teach?”

I always joke when people ask me what I’m going to school for that I’m “getting into the family business.” My family seems to be comprised of mostly businessmen or teacher/social worker related fields. But becoming a teacher is more than just the family business; it’s something that started when I was young.

I’ve had a rough life and the people that seemed to be a constant stability was always my aunt and my teachers, well the teachers of the schools I stayed the longest in. My aunt taught elementary school for a lot of schools that were located in parts of town with a high poverty rate. I admired her dedication to making a difference in these kids’ lives. I wanted to be like her. I want the same things she’s worked hard to achieve.

In fourth grade my research paper was called “The ups and downs about teaching.” I focused on researching the career I was destine to have. Even with the “bad” I knew this was where I was supposed to be.

As I grew, my interest in teaching faded as I began exploring different interest and for a long time I was insistent upon becoming a journalist when I was in high school. But I realized it wasn’t the writing I loved, but rather the design and layouts I created with the school newspaper.

Soon after high school I got my first camera. I started snapping pictures of everything. I set up photo shoots with friends and began playing with the idea of being a photographer. (I still toy with that idea.) However, the lack of confidence in my artistic ability has atlas pushed me away from the photography career and I found myself wondering what I was going to do with my life.

About this same time I started watching two very amazing little boys while attending school. One of the boys was particularly apt to knowledge, so while we played I would talk to him about what I was learning in my history classes. The first conversation we had been about the Nile and Egypt.

He pounded me with questions wanting to know everything I knew and more. Soon, it became his fascination and I loved the positive feeling it gave me when he would tell me things he had learned from me, or something else. And sure, maybe I did have to tell him “No we will not be embalming your little brother!” even then, I felt a sense of pride.

And then it occurred to me that I should take a hint from my 10-year-old self and revisit my first ambitions, the ones I find I have the most confidence in.

So why teach?

1. Because the world needs good teachers, and I know I could be one.
2. Because somewhere there’s a lost child that was just like me desperate for some direction, and I would love to be able inspire them the way I have been inspired by my aunt and other teachers.
3. Because I enjoy leading and being looked up to.
4. Kids are funny.
5. Lots of glitter.
6. Teaching will help me gain knowledge in the things I love and even open my eyes to new possibilities.
7. I always loved school, might as well stay in it…except this time I’ll be at the front of the classroom, instead of hiding in the back.
8. I get to decide what happens; not very many professional jobs allow the creativity that teaching does.
9. I’m ready for the challenge of shaping the future.
10. Lets be honest, I love being the center of attention, if even for a minute.